Suzhou Zhongnan Center
Facts of Suzhou Zhongnan Center
Location: in the center of Suzhou Industrial Park
Construction started in: 2014
Completed in: around 2021
Height: 729 meters (about 2392 feet)
Floors: 5 underground, 138 above ground
Observation Deck: 136F
Functions of Main Floors
The first floor to the sixth floor will be built for business, for example shopping malls and restaurants; the 7th to 27th floors are offices; the 28th to 39th floors are SOHO – a real estate development company; the 40th floor to the 101st floor are superior apartments; the 102th to 135th are top hotels including seven-star hotels; the 136th is the sightseeing observatory.
Possible Reasons for Construction Stoppages
The Developers - Zhongnan Construction Group’s insufficient cash flow: high asset-liability ratio and low current ratio weaken the company’s ability to borrow money, limit future financing space, and affect the business development ability. Zhongnan Construction Group has announced the transfer of 100% equity of Suzhou Zhongnan Center Investment and Construction co., LTD.
The Chinese government has tightened approvals for super-tall buildings. Zhongnan Construction revealed that they have submitted a new design plan to the government and is still waiting for approval. “The super high-rise complex – Suzhou Zhongnan Center is not a conventional real estate development project. The development cycle of this project is too long, and the capital occupation is big, so the government has yet to make a final plan at present”, Zhongnan Construction Group told the media.Future Planning
In the new design submitted to the government, the exterior of Suzhou Zhongnan Center is different from the previous “thin-pencil” appearance. The whole building is inspired by lotus and silk. The lines of each face look very concise and generous, and then converge at the top to form a unique shape.
Further Reading on China’s Sky Scrapers
The Gate of the Orient:
With a height of 301.8 meters (about 990 feet), The Gate of the Orient is the most complicated super-tall building in China. The sky garden at the top of the Gate of the Orient in Suzhou is the highlight of the whole building. The unique vaulted glass wall at the top encloses an open “greenhouse space” designed as two presidential suites in the classic Chinese style.
Shanghai Tower:With a height of 632 meters (about 2,073.5 feet), Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China. Located on the 118th floor, the sightseeing hall offers a panoramic view of the whole city. In addition, the ultra-high-speed elevator, which can reach the height of 546 meters in 55 seconds, provides you with a exciting trip to the top.