Zaha Hadid Architects has designed the 36-story Murray Road project for Henderson Land, in the heart of Hong Kong’s central business district. The project is located in proximity to both Central and Admiralty MTR metro stations.
The new development is replacing a multi-story car park is connected to adjacent public gardens and parks, through an elevated base sheltering courtyards cultivated with trees and plants. These outdoor areas seamlessly flow into the communal spaces of the interior. The design generates a very wide span of naturally lit, column-free, Grade A office space with a 5-meter floor-to-floor height giving maximum flexibility.
The facade includes 4-ply of double-laminated, double-curved insulated glass units, in order to insulate effectively the building and reduce its cooling load as well as build resilience. “Hybrid ventilation is controlled by the building’s automated management system and enables all office levels to be naturally ventilated”.
Two weather stations, connected to the building’s automated management system and installed at street level and roof level will monitor real-time outdoor conditions, informing occupants of outdoor air quality. “A 26% reduction in electricity demand will be achieved with the use of smart chiller plant optimization, high-efficiency HVAC equipment, and daylight sensors that reduce artificial lighting during periods of sufficient natural light”. Achieving LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum pre-certification together with the highest 3-Star rating of China’s Green Building Rating Program, the project is targeting full certification at occupancy.
The building’s smart management system creates a contactless experience. Using a mobile phone, contactless smart card or biometric recognition, occupants can enter the building and pass security, call lifts to their office floor and access other zones.
To accelerate the redevelopment program on-site by implementing deep basement and above-ground construction at the same time, the project took on a top-down construction method.