michael sorkin’s xi’an office building under construction

michael sorkin’s xi’an office building under construction
all images courtesy of michael sorkin studio

currently under construction in the rapidly developing city of xi’an, the new office building designed by michael sorkin studio is meant as a support structure to the nearby airport, serving as one of the first buildings that will welcome visitors to the young city. the building will serve primarily as a headquarters for the development authority but also contains a vast array of other program including customs and shipping operations service space, rental offices, exhibition and dining areas, meeting rooms and retail space. strategically located near the wei river, the building exists within a transforming context, transitioning between the old redevelopment and the new central business district being feircely erected all around the site. the structure consists of a series of radially-organized curved concrete ribs that form an irregular ring around a central courtyard. spaces around all sides of the interior have access to natural light and air due to the nature of the footprint. on the rooftop, a strip skylight spans across the pitched canopy forming a void for natural light to seep into the office spaces.

street-side facade

courtyard

sky-lit hallway

aerial view

concrete ribs act as supports for the internal steel structure

site plan

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