The headquarters rises above Shenzhen with a distinctive sculpted form that reflects its role as a corporate landmark © Foster + Partners
Curated by ArchiRev Editorial | Published September 1st, 2026 | Source: Foster + Partners
Project Details
Architect: Foster + Partners
Location: Shenzhen, China
Typologies: Office, Headquarters, Commercial
Themes: Workplace Design, High-Rise Architecture, Sustainable Design, Employee Well-Being, Urban Integration
Status: Completed
Client: China Merchants Bank
As the finance sector continues to change, it is expected that future headquarters will foster collaboration and innovation and be good for its employees, as well as add value to the cityscape. Foster + Partners’ China Merchants Bank Headquarters meets these requirements by creating a high-rise building that not only incorporates effective office organization but also sustainability and communal space. The tower is situated in Shenzhen and creates an impressive civic landmark, which provides a flexible work environment in line with the modern nature of the bank.
Instead of being yet another standard office building, it was designed with attention to such aspects as maximizing access to daylight, views, and environmental performance. The elegant shape adds to the dynamic skyline of Shenzhen and at the same time meets the requirements of the tight urban environment.
Light-filled office floors and shared atrium spaces encourage collaboration throughout the tower © Foster + Partners
The HQ consists of flexible office floors that provide multiple ways of working and can be used in the future to satisfy various needs of operations. Big and effective floor plates enable changing departments and creating a good connection throughout the whole work area. Collaboration zones, meeting places, and other facilities for employees are located throughout the building and stimulate interaction in addition to standard office space.
Natural daylight is one of the major factors influencing the internal space. Daylight is provided through many glass surfaces and illuminates interiors, making them comfortable and reducing the need for additional lighting. Effective circulation routes contribute to better connectivity between departments.
High-performance façades and landscaped terraces enhance environmental performance and employee wellbeing © Foster + Partners
Environmentally efficient performance is integrated into the architectural design of the tower. An energy-efficient facade system regulates heat gain through the building while also allowing a lot of natural light to enter and creating large outward views. The orientation and envelope of the building combine to form an adaptive work space that is suitable for Shenzhen’s subtropical environment.
Landscape terraces provide green areas at different levels of the building, allowing employees to meet outside in informal settings. They not only promote employee health but also connect architecture and nature through the vertical workplace.
The headquarters integrates advanced engineering with flexible workplace design © Foster + Partners
Efficiency in structure is the main feature of the building, which provides large and open office areas with few interior columns. This ensures organizational needs and the future adaptability of the building. Systems for maintenance and climate are incorporated within the architecture, ensuring efficiency in work without making the building look messy from inside. The corporate headquarters also features a number of amenities for the employees, which help create comfortable conditions for work.
The tower strengthens Shenzhen’s financial district through its contemporary architectural identity © Foster + Partners
Apart from serving as a headquarters for the company, the building also enhances the overall urban structure through its ability to create a strong connection with the rest of the city. Public spaces and proper entrances enhance the pedestrian experience while highlighting the importance of the tower in the financial district of Shenzhen.
The architecture strikes the right balance between civic duty and corporate image, creating a memorable structure that does not need to be formal in order to be identified. The well-conceived proportions of the building also contribute to its timelessness.
The completed headquarters represents a new generation of sustainable high-rise workplaces © Foster + Partners
China Merchants Bank Headquarters is a great example of how Foster + Partners creates buildings with a modern vision of a workplace by including flexibility, environmental efficiency, and the wellbeing of employees in their design concept. Creating flexible office spaces, providing daylight, creating roof terraces, and designing an efficient structure allow the building to create a working space able to adjust to the needs of one of China’s biggest financial companies.
However, more than a commercial building, this project shows the potential of skyscrapers as collaborative, sustainable, and resilient structures that could become a landmark for the city of Shenzhen.
