At the forefront of 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) in design, construction management and building operations, Zaha Hadid Architects and SOHO China implement proven technologies to reduce the energy consumption and emissions in this mixed-use urban space project in Beijing

Leeza SOHO

Fact File
Site area: 14,365 m²
Gross floor area: 172,800 m²
Number of floors: 45 above ground, 4 below ground
Top of façade: 199.99 m
Top of atrium: 194.15 m
Standard floor to floor height: 4.1 m
Completion: 19 November 2019
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Executive Architect: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design
Photos: Hufton+Crow

This 45-storey 172,800m² Leeza SOHO tower responds to demand from small and medium-sized businesses in Beijing for flexible and efficient Grade A office space. Leeza SOHO’s site is diagonally dissected by an underground subway service tunnel. Straddling this tunnel, the tower’s design divides its volume into two halves enclosed by a single facade shell. The emerging space between these two halves extends the full height of the tower, creating the world’s tallest atrium at 194.15m which rotates through the building as the tower rises to realign the upper floors. This rotation of the atrium intertwines the two halves with connecting skybridges on levels 13, 24, 35 and 45.

Leeza SOHO

The atrium acts as a public square for the new business district, linking all spaces within the tower and providing varying views due to its twisting, sculptural form. It brings natural light deep within the building, acting as a thermal chimney with an integrated ventilation system that maintains positive pressure at low level to limit air ingress and provides an effective clean air filtration process within the tower’s internal environment.

The double-insulated, unitised glass curtain wall system steps the glazing units on each floor at an angle, providing narrow ventilating registers to draw outside air through operable cavities where required; creating extremely efficient environmental control for each floor. The two halves of the tower shade the atrium’s public spaces, while the double-insulated low-e glazing maintains a comfortable indoor environment in Beijing’s extreme weather conditions. With a u-value of 2.0 W/m²K, the glazing has a shading coefficient of 0.4. The tower’s overall external envelope u-value is 0.55 W/m²K.

Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification by the USGBC, Leeza SOHO’s advanced 3D BIM energy management system monitors real-time environmental control and energy efficiency, and also includes heat recovery from exhaust air and high-efficiency pumps, fans, chillers boilers, lighting and controls.

Leeza SOHO

The tower incorporates water-collection, low-flow rate fixtures and grey water flushing as well as an insulating green roof with photovoltaic array to harvest solar energy. 2,680 bicycle parking spaces, lockers, shower facilities and charging spaces for electric and hybrid cars are located below ground. Low-VOC materials are installed throughout to minimise interior pollutants, while high efficiency filters remove particulates via the air-handling system.