Shenzhen Stock Exchange HQ | OMA

Defying the conventional building typology of tower-on-podium, SZSE’s three-story base is cantilevered 36m above the ground, allowing for a generous public space below and a lush roof garden on top. The raised podium contains the listing hall and offices of the Stock Exchange; in its elevated position, it can “broadcast” the activities of the stock market to the entire city.

Photography by © Philippe Ruault

While the generic square form of the tower blends in with the surrounding homogenous buildings, the façade of SZSE is differentiated through its materiality: a translucent layer of patterned glass wraps the tower grid and raised podium, rendering the façade mysterious and enigmatic, while revealing the construction behind. The façade changes continually with the weather, becoming a reflection of its environment.
The SZSE project was led by OMA partners Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten, and associate Michael Kokora, in collaboration with partners Ellen van Loon and Shohei Shigematsu.

Photography by © Philippe Ruault

Rem Koolhaas: “The Shenzhen Stock Exchange embodies the Pearl River Delta’s phenomenal transformation over the past thirty years. We are greatly excited about the building from an architectural standpoint, but I believe its true significance emerges when viewed in an economic, political, and ultimately social context. We are immensely honored to contribute to Shenzhen’s 21st-century landscape.”

Photography by © Philippe Ruault

David Gianotten: “It is exciting to see OMA’s extensive research on Shenzhen materialize as a building in the city. The experience of building in Shenzhen further informs our vision for the future of the city. SZSE has a simple and powerful concept – it transcends a generic form into an innovative prospect through the simple gesture of lifting the podium.”
Michael Kokora: “For our team, it is a very special moment to see the building begin to engage the city at multiple scales.  We hope that future buildings in the city will react to the building and new forms of architecture and urbanism will emerge and engage the public.”

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Construction was overseen by OMA Asia’s Hong Kong office and OMA’s on-site office in Shenzhen, working day-to-day with the client and contractors throughout the construction process. OMA’s team consisted of over 75 architects at various points in the design and construction phases.
SZSE was developed in collaboration with the local design institute SADI, and consultants DHV, Inside Outside, L&B and Arup. OMA won the competition for SZSE in 2006 and construction began in October 2008. OMA is currently designing a number of other buildings in China, including the Tencent Headquarters in Beijing and the Prince Bay Masterplan in Shenzhen.