Tall & Urban News

With the facade in place, The Henderson, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is a landmark building in the city of Hong Kong and getting closer to completion. Built on the theme of being "the future of workplace well-being," it is equipped with smart and sustainable design features.

Due to open in the third quarter of 2024, the office building features smart lifts, contactless journeys, a bespoke tenant app and more. Developed by Henderson Land, the design relates to the shift towards hybrid work models and an emphasis on well-being in the workplace. 

The design is inspired by the bud of the Bauhinia blakeana, as seen in the curved glass facade. THis facade uses highly resilient UV-blocking and weatherproof glass that insulates it from solar heating to achieve optimum thermal comfort and energy efficiency within, helping to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. A key design requirement was that the building would be able to withstand extreme weather conditions, including super-typhoons. This led to a breakthrough in the engineering of the facade, which is constructed from bespoke, four-ply, double-laminated glass panels that are shaped into a curve using a custom-made digital mould.

The solar-responsive ventilators (SRV)—designed for The Henderson and patented by the developer—compensate for radiant heat coming into the building from the exterior, creating an air cushion between walls and office spaces and maintaining a comfortable temperature for the occupants. Each SRV has a predetermined angle for both its intake and outlet to drive air from a cool inward area to the glass facade. The patented device boosts ventilation, which means each office has its own dedicated airflow system along the building’s facade.

And in keeping with its core philosophy of well-being, The Henderson is surrounded by parks and landscaped gardens, while a Sky Garden on the 22nd floor is open to all the building’s users for moments of respite.

The advanced technologies adopted in the building will, according to the company, reduce its overall energy consumption and carbon emissions by 26 percent, while the building has already achieved seven sustainable and smart building accreditations, including LEED Platinum and WELL Platinum pre-certifications. It has also received a double Platinum WiredScore and SmartScore certification for outstanding digital connectivity and advanced smart technology, and a Platinum Leadership accreditation for the China Smart Building Label.

The building has already attracted confirmed tenants such as Christie’s auction house, leading global investment firm Carlyle and luxury Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet.

Learn more about this story at the South China Morning Post.