I have recently finished the concept design of a 15,000sf commercial building to the north of Seattle. The form generation acknowledges the important intersection to the southwest corner of the site. A panelized modular facade system answers the need for maximizing the rental potential for all the floors by providing ample light to all corners of the interior. The facade design also helps breakdown the scale of the building so it will be a friendly addition to the urban environment. We will soon meet with the City to work on the approval process.

Ping An Financial Center in Shenzhen boasts nearly half million square meters of floor area and a stunning height of 600-meter. It is the second tallest building in China at the conclusion of phase 1, and will become the tallest building in the country (660M) if the second phase is ever carried out. I was in charge of the re-design of the top of tower (TOT) in 2014 to comply with Shenzhen airport's final approach required obstacle clearance. The originally planned spire was removed and reserved for the second phase (Yes! It was so tall it threatened air traffic safety!). The TOT consists of the Dome and the Pyramid. The Dome encapsulates the Ping An Club at L117 and L118, the MEP mezzanine, and the BMU loft. At the tower's apex, the Pyramid includes the diamond-shaped lighting loft, hoist machine, and abseiling BMU. The re-design posed major challenges to building maintenance unit layout and structural coordination. I put up heroic efforts (e.g. slept a total of 10 hours over a week) to both meet design expectation and construction deadline, while the design was under intense scheduling pressure as the floors of the lower portion were going up day by day.

The tower was officially completed in March 2017 and has since won multiple international awards.

I conducted a six-month research on aerodynamic performance-driven design for supertalls, with sponsorship from RTKL’s Kagan Fellowship. The effects of modifying the shape of the supertalls on the aerodynamic performance have been studied by various scientific researches. Six form-modification strategies are derived from the previous studies, and incorporated into parametric design tools that produce a matrix of 60 prototypes, which are subjected to qualitative and quantitatively evaluation iterations to give the most optimized design, with considerations given to aerodynamic performance, structural robustness, program potential, and image attractiveness. Consulting from RWDI and the use of Autodesk Simulation CFD are involved in the evaluation process. Eventually the 60 prototypes are narrowed down to two design options that are further developed into hypothetical projects.

A multi-staged aerodynamic performance-driven design process is the most important result of the study. In addition, two valuable insights have been obtained: first, to inject a new inspiration into the design of skyscrapers, the Multi-Disciplinary Optimization methodology from the aerospace industry has been used. Second, parametric design that is able to generate interesting forms is backed by quantitative scientific analysis and reasoning. Instead of the Modernist “form follows function”, the philosophy of the new approach is “form follows performance”. This is the train of thought that I have found fascinating: aerodynamic performance, energy performance, and performances of other kinds, will instill new inspiration in design. When we bring in physics into architecture, in a way we are simulating the Nature. Look at what fantastic “architecture” the Nature is able to produce by being performance-driven! 

Darren’s proposal for an aeroport in Nevada, which is designated to be the future base for space tourist flights. The aeroport’s 139,000 sq. ft. area includes reception, guest lounge, administrative offices, and hangar with maintenance and repair areas. The streamlined design of the building is inspired by aerodynamic shape of a futurist aeroplane, and facilitates interior circulation. The titanium exterior panels echo the material of the space age.

Darren proposed a concept design for Dali International Airport Terminal in 2019. The design utilizes a radial configuration in order to maximize operational flexibility and reduce the walking distance between terminals. In plan, the curved six-prone shape draws its inspiration from the feathers of peacock, a bird symbolic of the Yunnan region where Dali is located. In elevation, the sloping gesture of the building, with the apex at the center, resembles the many snow-capped mountain peaks in the region.

The total above-ground area of the airport is 629,000 square meters. It is connected to the city’s public transportation network through a high-speed rail line that arrives directly at the lower level of the terminal. International arriving passengers go through the custom at the lower level, before converging with domestic passengers and picking up their luggages. Departure zones are on the second and third level, where security check, passenger lounges, high-end shopping, restaurants and bars are located.

In early 2011, our small team at RTKL won a competition to design the Art and Culture Center for Suzhou Tech Park. I was the team leader and the designer of the winning option (two options were entered by each team).

Totaling 22,500 sqm, the building program includes theaters, cultural center, retails, and food & beverage areas. Taking advantage of the beautiful scenery around the site, especially the lake to its south, the design proposes to arrange the theaters and culture centers as two "mountains" that will bring the visitors up to an undulating roof garden, from where the breath-holding view of the surroundings will unfold.

The overhanging roof echoes the form of the mountains to the north. Lighted by LED, it will provide a highly visible and attractive landmark to the Tech Park at night. 

While at the RTKL Washington DC office in the first half of 2013, I was responsible for the design of the four office towers of the Xi’an International Center mixed-use project. I generated the forms of the towers parametrically using Grasshopper scripting, subjected the entire project and its urban context to solar irradiation and energy simulation using the DIVA solar and thermal components, and found the most cost-effective louver configuration in reducing cooling load in summer. To minimize façade construction cost, I also developed scripts to unitize the curtain wall panel geometry of towers T1 and T2, and developed the façade details. In addition, I coordinated with consultants including Thornton Tomasetti and Schindler in developing the structural system and core configuration for the two taller towers.

Xuhui Waterfront CBD is a 500,000 square-meter mixed-use project in Shanghai. I was the project architect from 2014-15. The development consists of four office towers and a large retail podium. The entire project is modeled in REVIT, a parametric BIM tool, and design studies are conducted in Rhino, a freehand-style, flexible design software. While the towers are mainly rational square-ish floor plates optimized for efficiency, the retail podiums take advantage of a "courtyard" concept, with retails cubes balancing open green space in an yin and yang fashion. The curtain walls of the towers transitioned into horizontal "drapes" to cover the courtyards and provide protection of the weather, and to create semi-outdoor experience. 

By the end of 2010, our team at RTKL entered the competition for the National Sinology Center. I worked as the team captain, leading the team to pump out ideas, organizing day to day design critiques, and directing the final production phase. It was three exciting and productive months. The days approaching the submission were filled with exhausting work, all-nighters, and drama. Our final stretch to the officially designated submission location was blocked by the Chinese president's motorcade along the Chang'an Avenue, who was on his way to a state visit to the US. Our submission was two minutes late, and consequently disqualified.

Nevertheless, I believe we had a very convincing design at the end. The complex program, a 62,000 sqm mixture of exhibition, training, research, and office spaces, is answered by a spiraling arrangement of the 3-dimensional promenade that brings the visitors from the ground level to the roof garden. The auditorium and training rooms are placed underground, with light brought in through sunken garden. The research center, the apex of the program, is enthroned on the top, overlooking the roof garden.

The spatial concept is embodied in the shape of an “ink block” atop a “bowl”. Being the traditional Chinese notion of collective wealth, the bowl not only brings cultural symbolism but also frees up the ground for public plaza. From the ink block and roof-top garden, the splendid view of the Bird’s Nest and the rest of the Olympic Park will be enjoyed by the cultural elite as well as the general public. The formal contrast between the ink block and the bowl echoes the tension of an increasingly stratified Chinese society, where the elites, established by their political and economic prowess, are accustomed to be privileged over the masses. Is there an opportunity to break up the bipolarity and fill-in the gap between the two classes? We tried throughout the process but found it will contradict the program requirement, although would answer better to our conscience.

A mixed-use project with a vast program of 125,000sqm, including retail, hotel, and residential, the MahaNakhon Tower is an important landmark in Bangkok, in addition to being the tallest building in the city at a height of 304m. The focus of the project concept is the spiral of pixels that trickles down the tower and, when coming close to the ground, merges into the podium and becomes outdoor terraces. By doing so, the Hill (podium) resolves the tension between the urban context and the tower. In the reversed direction, the urban activities in the city spiral up the tower and enliven the pixelated balconies. The tropical urban life of Bangkok is infused into each single tower unit.

The Tower

With its distinctive sculptural appearance, the tower has been carefully carved to introduce a three-dimensional ribbon of pixels that circulate the tower’s full height, as if excavating portions of the elegant glass curtain wall to reveal the inner life of the building. The glass skyboxes thus generated have sweeping views and generous indoor/outdoor spaces with plunge pools and oversized terraces.

Hill, Cube, and Plaza

The terraces on the Hill and Cube (shopping mall building) face each other and form an outdoor natural valley, offering a network of social spaces with a selection of dining and leisure facilities. The plaza is intimately connected to the space between the Hill and Cube. This dynamic public plaza, intended to be a meeting place, a spot for planned and spontaneous cultural events, will be a landscaped retreat for the city’s inhabitants.  A direct above-ground pedestrian link connects the Hill and Cube to the Skytrain station and future rapid bus transit system.

Facade

The project has two major types of facade: "cassette" for the primary curtain wall and "pixel" for the carved away portions. The cassettes and pixels align on center at the boundary of each module. Twenty unique conditions exist throughout the building and are addressed individually.

Weehawken 1800 is a 282-unit high-end condominium community on the waterfront of Hudson River, privileged with spectacular panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. The “mini-tower” concept enables multiple lines of corner units throughout the building. The curvature language in the facade echos the dynamic nature of the river, and a curtain wall system guarantees fast construction process and robust built quality. The project boosts about 20,000 sq. ft. indoor amenities, including residential lounge, indoor-outdoor pool, spa, fitness center, half basketball court, multi-media room, kids room, game room, library and co-working space, etc. The outdoor amenities will include pool, dining and kitchen stations, sun deck, firepit and lounge seating. Its convenient location allow a 10-20 minutes commute to Midtown Manhattan. I am the project lead in charge of development, design and construction of this project.

75 Park Lane is a 37-story, 358-unit luxury condo building in Jersey City. Only 15 minutes commute time to downtown Manhattan and the West Village, it is positioned to compete with high-end condo projects in New York City. The classic modern style is materialized in the walnut millwork, Calacatta marble, Madreporala waterfall kitchen island, and Eastern White marble covered master bath. The building boosts 20,000 square feet of amenities including indoor swimming pool, gym, and private lounge. The project was successfully launched at the end of 2019. I was the Design Director and Marketing Director for this project.

Shore House is a Nouveau Industrial style luxury condominium in Jersey City. Utilizing blackened steel, reclaimed timber, oil-rubbed bronze fixtures, and subway tiles, it pickes up the aura of Tribeca style loft, meanwhile makes no compromise on the luxury quality by providing Cararra marble kitchen countertop and White Bergonia covered master bath. It consists of totally seven stories with 71 residences, an executive gym, and roof top terrace. The construction was completed in fall 2018. I was the Design Director and Marketing Director for this project.

Park and Shore Sales Gallery is a small space with big ambition - it strives to condense the key design features of two large scale luxury condo buildings, as well as multi-media exhibition and interactive sales tools into a mere 4,000sf. It begins a visitor’s journey in the “Experience Tunnel”, something that resembles an art installation, then transitions into a 360-degree immersive video, followed by the Gallery where a 1:100-scale model and printed aluminum-boards offer the best visuals of the projects. Large screen TVs on the wall are programmed with interactive sales tools. The journey culminates at the model rooms, where the best features of Park and Shore’s living room, kitchen, master bathroom and powder room are on display. The sales gallery is also equipped with a tastefully designed reception space, conference room and offices with digital communication tools, and a functional kitchen. I was responsible for the entire process from concept generation, design, construction, FFE, A/V and interactive tools, to the final commission.

Hudson Park is a high-end large rental apartment complex in Yonkers, NY, consisting of nearly 800 residences.