This 280-meter-high tower is the tallest building in Zhengzhou, a fast-growing metropolis in north-central China. Conceived as a classical column, the attention-grabbing skyscraper glows like a beacon at night and sits at the heart of a new mixed-use development. The tower houses offices on its lower floors and a hotel on the upper levels.

SOM utilized advanced environmental technologies in the design of the building. Encircling the tower are aluminum screens configured at an outward cant; the tilted screens enhance interior daylighting through scientifically calculated reflections and reduce the need for artificial lighting. In addition, a solar reflector on the tower’s crown funnels sunlight into the hotel atrium. The building also features a smart-control system that utilizes external wind pressure and internal stack effect to create a well-ventilated environment.