Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower is the compelling story of the making of China’s tallest building, the 632-meter-tall (2,073 feet) centerpiece of Shanghai’s Lujiazui commercial district. A spiraling glass column that tapers as it rises, the tower expresses the dream of transcendence—honoring the past, acknowledging the present, and pointing to a promising future. This visually driven volume captures the emotion and spirit of a tower that is transformative in nature, setting new precedents for how public spaces can be integrated throughout supertall buildings. In the tower, designed by Gensler, references to nature and Chinese cultural traditions are fused—recast vertically in a form inspired by the traditional lane houses that are unique to Shanghai. Brief essays by company founder Art Gensler and principals Jun Xia, Xiaomei Lee, and Dan Winey provide meaningful context to the tower, by which the commission was won in an international design competition.