Guangzhou International Finance Center also called Guangzhou West Tower is situated at Zhujiang Avenue West in Tianhe District at Guangzhou, China. With 103 floors, including 4 basement, it is 440 meters (1,444 ft) high it is among 10 the tallest buildings in the world. The building’s value is L 280 million. Construction of GIFC began in December 2005, and finished in 2010. GIFC was opened on Oct. 15, 2011 and it is completely functional since. The building is used as a business centre, hotel and office building.
The building was in the beginning called Guangzhou West Tower and had a similar project, the Guangzhou East Tower which would have been taller for about 30 metres. But that project has been given to a different design by Kohn Pedersen Fox, so the building will not be comparable. This tower will be the 530 m (1,740 ft) tall and it will be referred to as Chow Tai Fook Centre.
Construction
Guangzhou International Finance Center is the world’s first tower supported by diagonally positioned columns. Each and every column is made of steel tubes filled with reinforced concrete capable of resisting fire, explosions, even strong winds. The whole building structure is electronically monitored with structural damage signals to alarm immediate repair if it is needed. The structure has reinforced laminated glass curtain wall and even two levels of water proof systems that are included in the cladding to withstand the strongest rainstorms typical for that area.
Floors
The main tower is 66 floors of offices and 38 floors of Four Seasons hotel organized around an atrium. Floors 1 through 66 are used as offices, floors 67 and 68 are for mechanical equipment. Floors 69 to 98 have a Four Seasons Hotel with the reception on the 70th floor. The 99-100th floors are world-famous restaurants and high-class health and fitness centers.
Guangzhou International Finance Center timeline
20.09.2005. Guangzhou City Construction & Development Won the Bid
06.06.2007. Upper Ground Construction Started
31.12.2008. Topping-out Ceremony of GZIFC
Guangzhou International Finance Center informations
Completion Date: 2010
Height: 440 m (1,444 ft)
Stories: 103
Gross Floor Area: 250,095 m² (2,692,000 ft²)
Use: Hotel/Office
Owner/Developer: Yue Xiu Group
Design Architect: Wilkinson Eyre Architects