The building with the world’s highest observation deck was completed in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area.

The exterior of this 101- story building describes a curve that gets narrower as it approaches the top of the structure, with a square opening at the top of this unique design. Several reconsiderations of the design resulted in the building overall being lit from below with fresh white up-lights while the contour line and triangular slope at the top were lit with color LEDs.

Strobes used in the up- lights for the opening and roof provided an accent. About 80 up-lights wash up the horizontal fins covering the almost 500-meter tall building’s exterior, giving the feeling of an updraft of light flowing up the tower toward the Shanghai sky.

Long-life, easy-to-maintain color lights clearly outline the building’s impressive silhouette, even in this often foggy area. The top opening has a transparent floor deck, so various measures, such as installation of custom louvers on the floodlight fittings, were taken to prevent uncomfortable glare.
In a city overflowing with light, this new building provided an elegant breath of fresh air in the Shanghai nightscape.

Architects:
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), New York
East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co.