Taiwan Breaks Ground on a Trio of Green-Roofed Skyscrapers
Posted By Mike Chino On March 2, 2009 @ 5:00 am In Architecture,green roof | 3 Comments
[4]
Taiwan [5] recently broke ground on a trio of interconnected energy-efficient skyscrapers topped with lush rooftop gardens [6]. Designed by Los Angeles-based NBBJ Architects [7] in collaboration with Fei & Cheng Associates, the Chinatrust Bank Headquarters will take advantage of a host of green building strategies geared towards reducing energy consumption and optimizing passive heating and cooling [8]. The complex is expected to receive the Taiwanese equivalent of a LEED Gold [9] rating upon its completion in 2012.
Inspired by principles of informal connections and communication, the 2.5 million square-foot Chinatrust complex comprises three high-rises: a 30-story headquarter building, a 21 story office, and a 10 story hotel. A community-centered retail base will occupy the lower 4 levels, and an open-air central plaza will unite all of the spaces into one cohesive unit.
NBBJ Architects [7] paid careful attention to the project’s site and climate to optimize each building’s passive heating and cooling [10] properties. The towers feature vertical atriums and cutting-edge facades [11] that are optimized to channel daylight throughout the interior spaces. The top of each skyscraper will feature a rooftop garden that helps to insulate the interiors, reduce rainwater runoff, and mitigate the urban heat island effect [12].
Via Bustler [13] and Arch Daily [14]
Article printed from Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building: http://inhabitat.com
URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/chinatrust-headquarters-by-nbbj-architects/
URLs in this post:
[1] Tweet: http://twitter.com/share
[2] Share on Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/share
[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/chinatrust-headquarters-by-nbbj-architects/
[4] Image: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/03/02/chinatrust-headquarters-by-nbbj-architects/
[5] Taiwan: http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/07/next-gene-20-project-taiwan/
[6] rooftop gardens: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/09/synthe-green-roof-by-alexis-rochas/
[7] NBBJ Architects: http://www.nbbj.com/
[8] passive heating and cooling: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/15/passive-houses-in-germany/
[9] LEED Gold: http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/03/31/grand-rapids-art-museum/
[10] passive heating and cooling: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/30/llorenc-house-eneseis-arquitectura/
[11] cutting-edge facades: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/02/11/mode-gakuen-spiral-towers-by-nikken-sekkei/
[12] urban heat island effect: http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/01/27/europes-grass-lined-green-railways-good-urban-design/
[13] Bustler: http://bustler.net/index.php/article/nbbj_la_designed_chinatrust_bank_headquarters_breaks_ground/
[14] Arch Daily: http://www.archdaily.com/15394/chinatrust-bank-headquarters-designed-by-nbbj/
Click here to print.