Tianjin 117 is located within the core of the Binhai High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Xiqing District, Tianjin. The master plan for the area encompasses a central business district, residential communities, and the Tianjin Asia-Pacific International Polo Sports Theme Park. A future Metro Line 11 station is planned nearby, positioning the area within a 30-minute commute of central Tianjin and further reinforcing its strategic location and connectivity. The development aims to establish a modern urban center that integrates industry, retail, and residential programs.
P&T Group provided master planning and design services for the entire development with a total site area of 832,138 square meters. The master plan provides approximately 900,000 square meters of office space and 710,000 square meters of residential space, complemented by retail, entertainment facilities, hotels, serviced apartments, and a conference center to support the development of a vibrant and integrated community.
(Overall Master Plan)
The Central Business District (CBD) is located on the eastern side of the master plan. Tianjin 117 and the 222-meter-tall twin towers framing the main entrance will establish a pair of defining landmarks within the overall development. The design is rooted in a strong geometric language, using rigorous proportional relationships to establish a cohesive architectural form and spatial logic.
(CBD Master Plan)
Tianjin 117 Architectural Design
Tianjin 117 is the centerpiece and defining landmark of the entire development, rising 597 meters with a structural height of 596.5 meters across 117 floors. The design translates the traditional Chinese cosmological concept of “Round Heaven and Square Earth” (Tian Yuan Di Fang) into an architectural language. The square form of the tower embodies the Eastern philosophy of stability and balance, while subtle chamfers soften its four corners and the four façades gently curve outward. The tower occupies its largest footprint at the base and gradually tapers upward in a straight, elegant profile, culminating in a distinctive diamond-shaped crown.
Simplicity is the guiding principle of the façade design. Aluminum panels accentuate the chamfered corners, while the interplay of solid and glazed surfaces, together with subtle color contrasts, enhances the tower’s strong linear expression and emphasizes its monumental massing. The resulting form is both elegant and striking, combining a distinctly contemporary character with a sense of monumentality.
(Façade and Crown Design Development)
The ground floor features four separate lobbies: a low-zone office lobby to the south, two mid-zone office lobbies to the east and west, and a high-zone hotel lobby to the north. Shuttle elevators from the east, west, and north lobbies provide direct access to Office Sky Lobby 1 (L32), Office Sky Lobby 2 (L63), and the Hotel Sky Lobby (L94), respectively.
Levels 115–117 comprise the tower crown, accessible via dedicated elevators from the Hotel Sky Lobby. From the lower to upper levels, the crown accommodates a range of distinctive spaces, including a sky leisure center with swimming pool, sky dining, observation deck, and sky lounge& bar, creating a series of elevated destinations at the top of the tower.
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Full-Cycle Management & Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Looking back to the project’s inception 15 years ago, few projects at the time had ever approached the 597-meter scale. From the outset, the project therefore faced unprecedented technical challenges—not simply as a test of height, but as an exploration of new approaches to codes, structural systems, and construction logic.
To address this complex engineering challenge, P&T adopted a “full-cycle coordination” approach—one that reflects a core strength of the practice. Combining a global perspective with extensive local expertise, P&T was responsible for the project’s concept design, design development, code compliance review, authority submission documentation, and full-cycle project management.
Delivering a complex engineering project is never a solo performance, but an orchestration of expertise across a multidisciplinary team. As the project’s overall coordinator, one of P&T’s key responsibilities was to bring together the collective expertise of all consultants and transform it into a unified course of action. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to every partner who worked alongside us:
- P&T × East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI): Through close technical integration, the two teams combined an international design vision with strong local engineering and delivery expertise, ensuring the project progressed with both ambition and technical rigor.
- P&T × ARUP: Working together on the tower’s distinctive tapered façade and complex curtain wall geometry, the teams addressed key structural challenges associated with the seismic and wind performance of a supertall tower.
- P&T × PBA (now WSP) × P&T Mechanical & Electrical Engineering (PTME): Through close collaboration, the teams developed an efficient and reliable MEP infrastructure for the supertall, addressing critical challenges in vertical transportation and energy supply.
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(High-Speed Shuttle Elevators at the Hotel Sky Lobby)
Vision Beyond Time
A truly exceptional building should have the resilience to transcend economic cycles. The design standards established for Tianjin 117 15 years ago remain highly competitive even when viewed against today’s market conditions. From the outset, P&T positioned the project as a Triple-A Grade A office development, while allowing generous flexibility across its key performance parameters:
- Clear Height & Views: Anticipating the evolving spatial requirements of contemporary corporate headquarters, the design provides competitive clear heights and expansive views.
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- Structural Loading: The floor loading capacity was designed with sufficient flexibility to accommodate potential future conversions, including large-scale plant rooms or data centers.
- Vertical Transportation: A sophisticated high-speed elevator zoning and intelligent destination-control system efficiently addresses the demands of high-density office environments.
- MEP Systems: The integrated MEP systems were developed to provide high standards of fresh air, temperature control, and power reliability, meeting today’s stringent requirements for green, low-carbon, and smart buildings.
These forward-looking technical decisions form the core value of the project as a long-term, resilient asset.
Conclusion
True landmarks are never diminished by the passage of time; exceptional design often reveals its enduring value after weathering economic cycles. According to the latest updates, leasing for the 117 Tower has surpassed 80%, with 17 central government-owned, state-owned, and private enterprises having established a presence in the tower. The development is poised to become a new headquarters hub in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region.
For P&T, this project is about more than constructing a landmark—it is about bringing an architectural vision for the city to life. As Tianjin 117 makes its spectacular return to the skyline, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of architectural ambition.
For more images and video of the Tianjin 117, please visit our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/riJLmJibCtI.