by Brianna Crandall — October 9, 2013—Architecture firm Goettsch Partners, which traces its roots to 1938 when renowned architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe established his design practice in Chicago, has won two recent design competitions in China for the Greenland Group, one of the country’s largest real estate developers. Located in the cities of Foshan and Suzhou, the projects are both mixed-use, multi-building developments, together encompassing more than 650,000 square meters.
Foshan
In Foshan, the Chancheng Greenland Center involves a two-phased, 430,000-square-meter development located east of the Old City District on a major arterial roadway linking Foshan with Guangzhou. The first-phase planning consists of a six-tower residential complex totaling 86,660 square meters; a 34,500-square-meter street retail environment composed of two- and three-story shops; and a 100-meter-tall commercial office tower.
The second phase calls for two 200-meter-tall Class A office towers totaling 173,280 square meters; a 100-meter-tall, 37,570-square-meter commercial office tower; and a four-story, 70,000-square-meter shopping mall. Master planning and design for the retail program elements were key factors in the selection of the winning submission.
Suzhou
In Suzhou, the mixed-use project totals 234,000 square meters across two city parcels. The main parcel features a 50-story, 250-meter-tall office tower totaling 97,000 square meters; a 24-story, 35,000-square-meter hotel; and 10,000 square meters of connecting retail. The second parcel features three apartment towers—two at 40 stories and one at 50 stories—together totaling 100,000 square meters.
“We are very pleased to have our designs selected for these two major competitions,” said GP president James Zheng, AIA, LEED AP. “We also look forward to working with Greenland again, continuing our relationship from previous and current assignments in Xi’an, Zhengzhou.”
Early construction of the Foshan development is already underway, and the Suzhou project is in advanced design, with construction expected to start next year. Both projects are slated for completion in 2016.
Goettsch Partners is a self-described innovative architecture firm with a global perspective, emphasizing a singular design approach across offices in Chicago, Shanghai and Abu Dhabi. Focused on combining exceptional design, technical expertise and unmatched service, the firm seeks to create measurable value and environmentally responsible solutions. Services include architecture, interiors, planning and building enclosure design. Diverse projects around the world share a consistent emphasis on bringing bold design clarity to complex challenges, says the firm.
