Guangxi China Resources Tower Wins CTBUH 2023 Best Tall Building Award 400+ Meters

Guangxi China Resources Tower, a 403-meter-tall (1,322-foot-tall) skyscraper in Nanning, China, took home the top honor in the tallest building category at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Awards Ceremony, held on October 18 at the council’s international conference in Singapore this year. Designed by architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) and developed by CR Land, the 86-story tower totals 272,260 square meters, including the 320-key Shangri-La Nanning hotel, 172,740 square meters of office space and 5,930 square meters of retail. The hotel amenity terrace on Level 71 also features the world’s highest outdoor pool—at 323 meters (1,060 feet) above grade.

“We are honored to receive the recognition this year among the best tall buildings worldwide,” said GP CEO and President James Zheng, AIA, LEED AP. “As the tallest building to-date by both GP and CR Land, the tower is a defining achievement for each company and a true landmark for the city of Nanning.”

The crystalline tower form tapers asymmetrically as it rises, culminating in an illuminated crown that creates a distinctive silhouette redefining the Nanning skyline both day and night. The office program is located on the lower floors of the tower, featuring an amenity-rich sky lobby that provides transfer and access to the two uppermost office zones. High-performance floor-to-ceiling glass encloses the building, with integrated active and passive shading devices ensuring that all spaces are glare-free and solar-responsive. Atop the office volume, a dramatic shift in the building profile occurs as the hotel program begins. A monumental terrace at Level 71 caps the lower volume and creates a singular outdoor sky space, featuring the hotel pool. Unmatched views of the surrounding lakes, parks and mountains extend in all directions, enlivened by the 180-degree view from sunrise to sunset.

“The tower form is a sculptural expression that unites the needs of each program contained within,” noted Paul De Santis, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, partner and co-design director at GP. “The resulting silhouette embodies the spirit of growth and prosperity commonly associated with the crystal formations unique to the region.”

In addition to winning the top honor for Best Tall Building 400 Meters and Above, the Guangxi tower was recognized with an Award of Excellence in the same category. Another GP project developed by CR Land, the China Resources Qianhai Center, also received an Award of Excellence in the Urban Habitat category. The CR Qianhai Center is a massive mixed-use complex located in Shenzhen, China. The development totals more than 500,000 square meters and includes three office towers, a five-star hotel tower, an apartment tower, and a terraced retail complex. GP designed all of the towers and co-developed the master plan with UK-based design firm Benoy, who also designed the retail complex.

The annual CTBUH Awards Program honors projects and individuals that have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment and achieve sustainability at the highest and most impactful level. Judged by an international panel of experts, the program recognizes projects in more than 20 categories and subcategories, including Best Tall Building, Urban Habitat, Innovation, Structure, and Construction. The program aspires to provide a more comprehensive and sophisticated view of these industry-leading projects, drive improvements in every aspect of performance, and showcase those that deliver the greatest benefit to the individuals and communities who interact with them. Projects recognized with an Award of Excellence are presented by architects and their clients at the international conference, with juries selecting the winners in each category.