Foster+Partners reveal new China Merchants Bank HQ in Shenzhen
- Jake Nicholas
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 3
China Merchants Bank is nearing completion of its striking new global headquarters in Shenzhen Bay—a 1,289-foot tower designed by Foster + Partners that will anchor the city’s emerging Super Headquarters Base. Topped out in 2024 and slated to open in 2025, the 77-story skyscraper is accompanied by a second 591-foot hotel and commercial building, forming a seamless corporate campus along the waterfront.
The headquarters will bring 13,000 employees together under one roof, with open floorplates, soaring double-height sky atriums, and a dramatic observatory garden near the crown. Its design draws inspiration from natural rock formations and traditional Chinese paper folding, with facades that shift between clean bay-window geometry and angular glass folds that shimmer with the light. From sunrise to sunset, the building’s sculptural form constantly transforms with its surroundings.
Throughout the interior, flexibility was a guiding principle. By placing offset twin cores on either side of the structure, the architects eliminated the need for interior columns—freeing up the floorplates for a variety of workspace configurations and unbroken views. This structural decision also allowed the tower to be lifted off the ground, making space for shaded, open-air public areas and a landscaped plaza that blurs the line between corporate and civic space. The upper levels are punctuated by double-height sky gardens—lush, light-filled spaces that offer a moment of calm high above the bay.
The building’s ability to breathe—quite literally—is one of its most forward-thinking features. A unique structural system, paired with smart column profiling, allows natural cross-ventilation on every floor. When conditions are right, fresh air flows through the workspace without reliance on mechanical systems, improving occupant comfort while reducing energy use. These strategies are paired with real-time building sensors that calibrate lighting and temperature based on occupancy and sunlight—quietly optimizing the indoor environment without anyone noticing.
Environmental performance wasn’t an afterthought—it was baked into every design move. The project achieved China’s top green building certification and includes a long list of integrated systems: rainwater capture and filtration, permeable paving to prevent runoff, sponge-city-inspired landscaping, and the use of low-emission materials. Even the facades were computationally modeled to mitigate glare and solar heat gain, shifting form to respond to the building’s orientation and time of day.
At street level, the tower connects to a vibrant network of urban plazas, cultural venues, and a luxury hotel, all seamlessly linked to the Shenzhen Metro. A central pedestrian axis ties the campus to a larger waterfront park system, reinforcing the site’s accessibility and civic presence. Its location in the 117-hectare Super Headquarters Base—home to future flagships for Tencent, JD.com, and others—cements its role in the Greater Bay Area’s rise as a world-class innovation corridor.
For China Merchants Bank, this project marks a return to its roots. Founded in nearby Shekou in 1987, the bank now makes a bold statement about its future—investing in a workplace that blends cutting-edge design with the energy of a city on the move. In a skyline filled with ambition, the new headquarters stands as both a beacon for business and a reflection of Shenzhen’s momentum as one of Asia’s most dynamic destinations.
