The Rising Workplace

The tower meets the ground with a typical square footprint with rounded corners that gradually morphs into an ellipse at its soaring crown. The tower prioritizes view corridors to the northwest, towards CCTV and China World Trade Center Tower III, as well as to the southeast, facing the downtown skyline. The lower, square footprint lends itself to a typical office lease-out for multiple tenants, while the more unusual curves of the summit accommodates Sunshine Insurance’s requirements as a single tenant occupant.

The transition from an orthogonal to curved geometry is elegant with clean detailing. Internal three-story atriums dot the broad face of the tower, culminating in a full-floor, five-story atrium a and multi-functional space t Level 49, providing entertainment and events facilities with 360-degree views.

“Knowing your context is an important part of developing buildings like this, you don’t want it to be subservient to other buildings in the context.”  

1. What was the technological approach to designing a tower of this height?

The Beijing Sunshine Financial Center exemplifies a technological approach that balances functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability. The design transitions from a square base to an elliptical crown, creating a geometric transformation that not only provides a visually striking silhouette but also optimizes the building’s structural performance. The tower employs advanced engineering techniques such as wind tunnel testing, geometric optimization and performance-based design to ensure stability and resistance to wind loads while maintaining its unique shape transition. 

The building’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its high-performance, energy-saving glass façade. Through innovative parametric design and analysis, the team achieved 87% standardization of facade panels, significantly reducing production, installation, and other potential costs. The facade features protective fins that shield the building from Beijing’s intense sun while creating dynamic shadow patterns throughout the day. Drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese landscape painting, the glass facade transitions to progressively lighter shades of blue as the tower rises. 

The 45° rotation of the design provides optimal views of City Gardens and strategic sightlines through the void of the CCTV tower, showcasing a technological approach that considers both urban planning and environmental impact, leading to energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint. 

2. What impact will this building have on the surrounding community/how is it people-centric?  

The Beijing Sunshine Financial Center isn’t just another tower – it’s a vibrant hub designed to transform and energize the entire neighborhood. By activating the street level with dynamic retail spaces, flexible workspaces, inviting meeting rooms, and an exclusive clubhouse, the tower will have a significant positive impact on the surrounding community. Its lower square footprint welcomes multiple tenants, creating a thriving ecosystem of diverse businesses that will bring new life and energy to the area. 

The building’s spectacular 5-floor, 20,000 sqm podium will foster community interaction, acting as a catalyst for local economic growth and social connection. A distinctive design feature is the curved double screens on three sides of the building. Inspired by the graceful petals of lotus flowers, these screens house state-of-the-art LED displays that will transform the building into a dazzling beacon of light. 

Lead architect Patrick Daly, AIA, explains, “one of goals was to express the timelessness and stability of the Sunshine brand. As designers of People Architecture, we wanted to provide Sunshine’s workforce with an environment that promotes wellness, productivity, and collaboration, and is integrated into its community.” 

3. What’s unique about designing a tall tower/what challenges did you need to overcome?  

The Beijing Sunshine Financial Center presented an exciting engineering challenge: how to create a tower that transforms from a square base into an elliptical crown while incorporating dramatic sky gardens at extreme heights. We solved this through innovative structural engineering that manages the forces at play during this geometric transition. The crowning achievement is our full-floor, two-story atrium at Level 42, offering breathtaking 360-degree views. What makes this particularly special is how we integrated the curved double screens – inspired by lotus petals – to serve both as a distinctive brand element and a crucial part of the building’s structural system.