This building mirrors the city

After more than two months of online voting, Johnson Controls’ Asia Pacific headquarters, which is designed by world-renowned architectural firm Gensler, has raced ahead to be conferred an AD100 Award in 2019 for the Most Popular Public Architecture in China.

The AD100 list, organized and published by international home and living magazine Architectural Digest, recognizes 100 of the world’s most influential architectural and interior design elites who have made outstanding contributions in the field of architectural design. This pays tribute to the design ideals that shape everyday life; a testimony to China's flourishing architectural design industry. A total of seven popularity awards were decided by online voting, including the Most Popular Public Architecture Award clinched by Johnson Controls’ Asia Pacific headquarters. 

As Gensler shared, this building mirrors the dazzling and prosperous magical city of Shanghai, as well as the everyday lives of its working class.

All of this is Shanghai.
On its cloak woven in just a few hundred years,
are beautiful, glittering patterns,
as well as simple, modest stitches.

In the morning, people don their business wear, and take quick strides with vigor. In the day, they are busy yet organized; they are professional, putting on a smile. At night, they do whatever floats their boat, amble along, and watch as time ticks by. Occasionally, they fish by the water, waltz to the Taichi fan routine, and wait till the sun goes down.

All of this is Shanghai.
Co-existing in harmony,
forming one another’s landscape;
such is the grace and demeanor unique to Shanghai.

What then is the architecture of Shanghai?
For the answer to this question, we turn to the Asia Pacific headquarters of Johnson Controls.

From the exterior, it is a glassy, “upscale” building by the Suzhou River; perhaps looking understated in contrast with the art in its surroundings. In truth, however, the future of smart buildings is here: smart controls, a healthy and comfortable environment and sustainable.

You may know that the building keeps warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but you didn’t know that its insulated glass curtain walls also absorb 90 percent of solar radiation heat.

You may know that it adjusts lighting automatically, but you didn’t know that its daylight sensor system constantly tracks the intensity of the sun as it adjusts its curtains indoors.

You may know that it has a quiet and serene working environment, but you didn’t know that its sound masking system enhances ambient sounds and speech intelligibility.

Hidden in the details
What you don’t see is the Metasys^® Building Automation System, which is like a “smart housekeeper”. It centrally monitors and controls all mechanical and electrical equipment in the building, including centralized air-conditioning systems, water supply and drainage systems, power supply and distribution systems, as well as lighting and elevator systems.

You also don’t see the water source heat pump unit performing large transfers, through which water used to cool the central data room is recycled for cooling and heating by the air-conditioners. Heat from the unit’s exhaust air is combined with solar hot water systems to freely provide hot water 24 hours a day. 

You also don't see the ice storage mechanical system performing the shifting of power between peaks and troughs. At night, ice is stored using the low load period of the power grid. In the day, the energy stored is released during the high load period of the power grid. Besides meeting the demand for air-conditioning and refrigeration, this also saves electricity costs.

Now this is Shanghai,
Where sophistication is behind every comfort, 
and strength lies beneath its simplicity.
Architecture is like a city’s miniature, narrating the life of a city.