Impressive Groundbreaking Ceremony for China Life Insurance Center in Beijing

Now that‘s a groundbreaking: One year ago, in January 2009, Bustler reported on German Henn Architekten winning the 1st prize in the international competition for the China Life Insurance Research & Development Center. Now, just a few weeks ago on September 17, 2009, an enormous ceremonial groundbreaking was celebrated traditionally with dragons and all the bells and whistles for the center on the rural outskirts of Beijing.

Here some more info about the project:

The proposal takes up the parameters of Chinese traditional buildings and translates them into highly technologically developed, forward-looking design. The complex for China’s biggest insurance company consists of a main building, a research and laboratory building and a training center with a connected boarding house.

Similar in shape to a Chinese character, the main building is laid out on a square plan arrangement and symbolizes the strength of China Life Insurance. A garden opens up at its center, which, as the core of the whole ensemble, serves as a place of communication and contemplation. Delicately detailed interior courtyards adopt the tradition of classical Chinese residential construction and open up the main building on all floors in the corner zones.

Vertical glass lamellae in the two projecting upper stories lend the company head office a dynamic character. The jade-colored solar protection glass lamellae are able to track the course of the sun, without obstructing the view of the surrounding area or into the internal courtyard. Red, illuminated, glass-clad elevators can be found on each side of the reception in the foyer of the main building.

The whole development, ringed with areas of open water, is planned and based on resource conserving and sustainable parameters.

Project Details:
Client: China Life Insurance
Location: Beijing, China
Area: BA 1: 205,000 sqm (2,206,600 sqft), BA 2+3 180,000 sqm (1,937,500 sqft)
Gross floor area: 20 ha
International Competition: 2008, 1. prize
In co-operation with: CCDI Beijing
Design period: BA 1: 2009
Construction period: 2010 – 2011
Functional areas: Computer Center, Data Processing, Innovation Center, Educational Building, Sports Facilities, Apartment Area, Restaurant

Images: Henn Architekten