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Dezeenwire: the Kingkey Finance Tower by architects Farrells, the tallest tower in Shenzhen, China, topped out today. More details below.

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Farrells tops out the Kingkey Finance Tower

Confirms position as the leading British architect in China

04 March 2011, Terry Farrell and Partners (Farrells) has today announced the official topping out of the Kingkey Finance Tower in Shenzhen, China. The tallest building designed by a British architect to date, Kingkey includes over 100 stories and stands at 441 metres (1,440 ft); the tallest building in Shenzhen and over 130 metres taller than the final height of The Shard, the UK’s tallest skyscraper.

Kingkey Finance Tower is the latest in a number of high-profile commissions for Farrells in China. These include the largest station complex in the world – Guangzhou South Railway Station – which completed in January this year; the publically acclaimed Beijing South Station and the Kowloon Station development and masterplan which fills a reclaimed area the size of Canary Wharf.

In recognition of the scale of this success for a British architect in Asia, Peter Murray and the NLA hosted a reception at the London Guildhall last night for Sir Terry Farrell and his partners from London and Hong Kong, showcasing the work of the team to date.

Peter Murray, Chairman of NLA, commented: “Farrells has been one of the leaders among UK practices working in Asia dating back to designs for The Peak and Kowloon Station in Hong Kong and the Beijing Opera House competition. It is a practice which has a lot to teach us about the export of professional services and future opportunities in the East”

Sir Terry Farrell commented: “The economic growth in China provides a natural opportunity for British architects and engineers and there is a strong appetite for British expertise, design and imagination. The commissions which the Hong Kong team has won and delivered are helping to shape rapidly growing cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. With new projects such as the 500 metre Z-15 tower in Beijing, we’re committed to growing our presence here.”

Key Developments: A Summary

Kingkey Tower, Shenzhen – topped out March 2011

• The tallest tower created by a British architect at 441 metres (1,440 ft) and over 100 storeys
• Twice the height of 1 Canada Square, the original Canary Wharf tower, Kingkey will be the eighth tallest building in the world
• It is part of a 417,000 square metre office, retail, entertainment, apartment and hotel complex

Guangzhou South Station – completed January 2011

• Guangzhou South Railway Station serves as a transport interchange where passengers can easily switch between express rail link, metro, taxi and bus services
• It serves a catchment area of more than 300 million people and is the largest new station in Asia, consisting of 28 elevated island platforms and three underground metro lines and arranged over six floors
• Designed to accommodate an anticipated daily passenger flow of over 300,000 per day by 2030

Kowloon Station, Station Development and Ventilation Building, Kong Hong – Completed 2010

• Farrells’ Kowloon Station scheme provides a transport super-city and is one of the world’s largest station construction projects
• Placed in a new city district on the reclaimed land of West Kowloon with a new 173,500 square metre railway station linking Central Hong Kong to Chek Lap Kok Airport, the scheme included a masterplan for a 1.5 million square metre air-rights property development above the station and a ventilation building
• A 90-storey tower housing retail areas, offices and a luxury hotel at the uppermost levels provides a prominent landmark

Beijing South Station – opened 2008

• Beijing South Station is a fully integrated transportation hub that serves as a “Gateway” to the capital and a vital link in China’s new high-speed intercity network
• Designed for a passenger turnover of 220,000 passengers a day, 80 million passengers annually by 2030
• Recently voted as the most popular new building in Beijing ahead of the Bird’s Nest and the Beijing Airport