Foster + Partners has completed the first office tower “Suhe Centre Office Tower” in the newly regenerated Suhewan area of Shanghai. The Suhe Centre for China Resources Land forms the centerpiece of the Suhewan East Urban Complex, which introduces a rich mix of functions to the predominantly residential area. The 200-meter, 42-story signature tower is part of the city’s vision to draw development towards the eastern quarter.
© Runzi Zhu
The Suhe Centre has obtained LEED Platinum certification and has a Green Building 2 Star rating. This is due to a comprehensive sustainability strategy which includes recycling rainwater for irrigation, intelligent systems for optimizing the indoor environment and air quality monitoring, bicycle parking, and charging spaces.
© Runzi Zhu
The building is situated alongside a new urban public green area and Shanghai Suhe Centre MixC, with excellent connections to Line 10 Tiantong Road metro station, acting as a catalyst for bringing people and new businesses to the area. The expressed structure of the tower draws on the industrial aesthetic of the historical Zhejiang Road Bridge and nearby warehouse buildings. The tower’s dark glazing reduces reflective glare and contrasts with the stainless-steel structural frame, which has been pulled away from the corners to maximize views.
© Runzi Zhu
Undulating wall panels inside the Tower lobby visually elongate the 11-meter-tall lobby space, creating a grand sense of arrival for the building’s occupants and visitors. Daylight filters through louvers above the entrance canopy to produce dancing shadows across the walls and floor. A unique reception desk is imprinted with a historic map of the Suhe River, to commemorate the history of the site.
© Runzi Zhu
The lower levels of the tower capture views of the park to the west. As the building rises above the surrounding low-rise residential fabric it opens up to stunning 360-degree panoramic views. Every corner of the tower is a full-height glass space that frames a unique view of the city.
© Runzi Zhu
The column-free, flexible office floorplates have been designed to suit a variety of layouts, from single to multiple tenancies. Every level has detachable floor slabs to allow for connections between them. Along the western façade, the middle section of the building is recessed to allow natural light to flood the office spaces with a row of scenic lifts located within this recess to maximize views of the park and river.
Project Info:
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Architects: Foster + Partners
- Country: Chang Ning Qu , China
- Year: 2023
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Photographs: Runzi Zhu
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.