Goettsch Partners (GP) has completed the Zhuhai China Resources Bank Headquarters, an ultra-low-energy office high-rise that advances high-performance design within China’s rapidly evolving urban and environmental framework. Developed by CR Land, the project is among the developer’s first ultra-low-energy office buildings and reflects China’s national “dual carbon” goals to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.
Located in northern Zhuhai near the city’s North Railway Station, the 60,000-square-meter building and bank hall complex achieves a 46 percent overall energy savings rate, with 15percent of total energy demand supplied by on-site renewable sources. Ultra-low-energy performance was established as a guiding principle from the earliest stages of design, shaping decisions related to massing, façade composition, building systems, and renewable integration.
A key contributor to the project’s performance is its extensive use of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). More than 1,100 square meters of photovoltaic panels are embedded within the spandrel zones of the south façade—accounting for 28 percent of the curtain wall surface area—while an additional 2,100 square meters of panels are installed across the building and podium roofs. Together, the 3,200 square meters of photovoltaic surface enable a high renewable utilization rate for an office high-rise.
The BIPV system is seamlessly integrated into laminated spandrel glass, preserving the curtain wall’s high-gloss, transparent appearance while generating energy on site. Complementing this strategy, the unitized curtain wall achieves a window-to-wall ratio of nearly 0.5 on all façades, with triple low-emissivity coatings delivering a solar heat gain coefficient of 0.22 and thermal breaks minimizing heat transfer.
Vertical piers incorporated into the façade provide operable natural ventilation, offering occupants access to fresh air while maintaining thermal performance. Spaced at regular intervals, the piers reflect a passive design approach that balances comfort, efficiency, and enclosure integrity.
With the completion of the Zhuhai China Resources Bank Headquarters, the project demonstrates how tall office buildings can integrate advanced façade systems, renewable energy, and passive strategies to support carbon-reduction goals in dense urban environments.
Read more at GP Chicago.