2024-05-22T23:46:00-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150162879/citic-tower-beijing-s-new-tallest-building-opens-just-in-time-for-china-s-national-celebrations Alexander Walter 2019-10-04T16:17:00-04:00 >2024-03-15T01:45:58-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c8/c86917daffff9368c385c86361b2aa0d.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Beijing is seeing the completion of two high-profile, record-setting skyscrapers this fall: while the Zaha Hadid Architects-designed <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/150162864/zha-designed-tower-containing-the-word-s-tallest-atrium-is-nearly-complete" target="_blank">Leeza SOHO Tower</a> with its 623-foot-tall, full-height atrium (the world's tallest) will open to the public in November, the 1,732-foot supertall CITIC Tower already opened this week and officially took the crown as the city's new tallest building.<br></p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c1/c1dcb971f683e059aa69c41bca050df5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c1/c1dcb971f683e059aa69c41bca050df5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>CITIC (China Zun) Tower. Photo: Li Lei</figcaption></figure><p>"CITIC Tower&rsquo;s design draws inspiration from the 'zun', a ritual vessel originating in Bronze Age China," explains the project description from the architects behind the structure's design, <a href="https://archinect.com/kohnpedersenfox" target="_blank">Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates</a>. <br></p> <p>"In profile, the tower abstracts and refines the zun&rsquo;s vase-like form, balancing composition and articulation with structural requirements and leasing depth needs. In plan, the building is square with rounded corners; its width transforms vertically from its 78-meter-wide base to its 54-meter-wide 'waist' to its 69-meter-wide top. Broader at its base than ...</p>