Constructing a greener future: Shanghai Tower soars above the rest

Population growth is happening in tandem with urbanisation. Not only has the world’s population more than doubled in the last fifty years, but more people are now living in cities. Today, 4 billion people reside in cities, compared with just 7% of the world’s population in the early 1900s. This, in turn, creates a greater need for high-rise constructions which save space in densely populated areas.

Taller buildings are on the rise

In 2018, a record 230 towers over 200 metres tall were due to finish construction in 69 cities across 23 countries, which is a 60% increase from the previous year. This has implications far beyond the visibly busying skylines. It’s also affecting the planet. Buildings are responsible for around 40% of greenhouse gas emissions each year, which includes ‘embodied carbon’ (emissions derived from all stages of a building’s life cycle) and ‘operational carbon’, the emissions that result from running a building. The former accounts for around 28% of emissions produced by the building sector alone, while the latter makes up 11%. 

Sky-high emissions

Skyscrapers are particularly bad for the environment, as taller buildings use more energy than low-rise ones, and emit twice as much carbon. High-rise buildings have greater operational emissions, with studies finding that electricity use is more than doubled in buildings with 20 or more storeys, and gas use is 40% higher, compared with buildings of six storeys or fewer. According to The Times, six of Britain’s well-known skyscrapers produce more than 12,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, that’s the equivalent of the yearly emissions of 3,000 cars.

Reflections on the glass

The environmental impacts of skyscrapers are exacerbated by their exteriors. Glass is a widely popular material for high-rise offices and towers, creating not just a trendy aesthetic for a modern skyline, but also stunning views for the occupants. There’s also the added benefit of natural light, decreasing the need for artificial light sources. However, glass exteriors are accelerating skyscrapers’ carbon footprints. This is because sunlight can easily penetrate the glass, making it harder to control the internal temperature of the building. Therefore, these buildings rely greatly on air conditioning, which makes their carbon emissions 60% higher than buildings with natural ventilation.  

A breath taking view of the future

Fortunately, architects are responding to the growing criticisms of skyscrapers and their environmental impacts. A glowing example is the awe-inspiring Shanghai Tower. At a whopping 632 metres, Shanghai Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. With 128 floors and 106 elevators that transport visitors from retail malls to hotels and offices, it’s easy to see why the colossal construction is often referred to as ‘the city within a city’. 

The stats:

Construction: Shanghai Tower

Opened: 2nd February 2015

Structural Engineers: Thornton Tomasetti

Mechanical Engineers: Cosentini Associates

Designers: Architectural firm Gensler

Architects: Jun Xia, Marshall Strabala, Arthur Gensler

Cost: est. 2.4 billion USD 

The tower proves that modernity doesn’t have to come at a heavy cost to the planet. Not only does it offer stunning views of the surrounding Lujiazui Finance District (the highest accessible point is 587 metres), but it also boasts 43 sustainable technologies. Led by Jun Xia, the team of architects managed to construct one of the most sustainably advanced tall buildings in the world.

Designing a greener skyline

Taking trendy glass exteriors into the future, Shanghai Tower’s team of architects designed an ingenious double skin around the tower’s facade, creating an insulating atrium that reduces energy consumption by 21%. These atriums work by modifying the temperature between the two layers, allowing the cool air to be warmed during the winter and cooled during the summer, avoiding the issues created by traditional glass skyscrapers. Indeed, it has been estimated that Shanghai Tower uses 80% less energy for heating and cooling than equivalent towers.

Sustainability has wind in its sails

A whopping 270 wind turbines have been built into the tower, which generate 10% of the building’s electricity. The tower also has a nifty 120 degree twist as it rises, designed to reduce the effects of wind on the building. Usually, skyscrapers rely heavily on strong metals like steel to brace them against the wind, which has far-reaching implications for the planet due to emissions produced from iron-making. Shanghai Tower’s unique design not only improves its wind resistance by up to 24%, but this also means that 25% less structural steel was needed for its construction, compared with older skyscrapers. 

More than a drop in the ocean

Not only does the tower collect rainwater and reuse waste water, but it also has 6,700 water control valves provided by Danish company Danfoss. These valves are designed to increase efficiency of water use, ensuring that the right balance of water flows through the pipes, saving 20% of energy consumption. It has been estimated that Shanghai Tower recycles 62.1 million gallons of water per year, and uses an extra 5.28 million gallons of grey water (water from sinks, baths and showers) and rain water. This recycled water is used for toilet flushing and for the tower’s green spaces. Furthermore, water tanks have been placed throughout the tower to save energy on water pumping, and it is thought that these strategies save 38% of source water consumption.  

Green Spaces

A whopping one third of Shanghai Tower is dedicated to green spaces, which includes gardens and green walls on the first few floors and a park every 14 floors. On the lower levels, the parks are around 50,000 square feet. The inclusion of green spaces in the design further sets Shanghai Tower apart from other skyscrapers, elevating it to more than just an office building with restaurants and hotels. It shows that the architects wanted to promote not just an awe-inspiring experience of a ‘city within a city’, but also a greater consciousness of nature and what we can do to protect it.

The new modernity is eco-friendly

Shanghai Tower is a remarkable example of sustainable architecture. Not only have the designers employed many sustainable technologies to improve the tower’s energy efficiency and water consumption, but they have also retained the trendy aesthetic that is favoured for a modern skyline. This shows that sustainability is far from bland, and it’s possible to offer visitors an exciting experience while also ensuring that a building’s operational emissions are as responsible as possible. Jun Xia and his team are leading the way, proving that true modernity is eco-friendly.