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The 420-meter-high Jin Mao Tower was China’s tallest building at the time of its completion and today remains its most iconic. Recalling historic pagoda forms, with setbacks that create a rhythmic pattern, the 88-story tower has become a model for skyscraper design throughout the country.
A 555-room Grand Hyatt Hotel, offering impressive views of the city and surrounding terrain, occupies the top 38 floors, while offices make up the lower 50. A six-story podium contains a conference and exhibition center, a cinema, and 20,000 square meters of retail space. A landscaped courtyard with seating and a reflective pool encircles the tower’s base, offering visitors peaceful respite from Shanghai’s busy streets.
Advanced structural engineering techniques protect the building from the typhoons and earthquakes typical of the area. The structure’s metal-and-glass curtain wall reflects the city’s constantly changing skies, while at night the tower shaft and crown are illuminated.
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Information provided in part by: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill