New Century Global Centre is a multipurpose building in the Tianfu New Area of Chengdu, China. The 100 m (330 ft) structure is 500 by 400 m (1,600 by 1,300 ft) with 1,700,000 square metres (18,000,000 sq ft) of floor space, making it the world's biggest building measured by floor space.[1] [3][2] The Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Washington has the largest volume, and the Aalsmeer Flower Auction Building in Aalsmeer, Netherlands, has the largest footprint.
| New Century Global Centre | |
|---|---|
新世纪环球中心 | |
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Location | Chengdu, China |
| Construction started | 2010 |
| Estimated completion | 2013 |
| Opening | 1 July 2013 |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 100 m (328 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 1,700,000 m2 (18,298,600 sq ft) |
| References | |
| [1][2] | |
Development
Developed by billionaire Deng Hong's Entertainment and Travel Group (ETG), nearly 400,000 m2 (4,300,000 sq ft) of the building is devoted to shopping. It also houses offices, conference rooms, a university complex, two commercial centres, hotels, an IMAX cinema, a "Mediterranean village", a pirate ship and skating rink. The centrepiece of the building is an 5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft) artificial beach, where a giant 150 by 40 m (490 by 130 ft) screen forms the horizon to offer sunrises and sunsets. At night, a stage extends out over the pool for concerts. A stand has been built overlooking the pool with a food court and entrance underneath at the floor level. The new Intercontinental Hotel will feature 1,009 rooms that are spread over 6 x 8 story blocks around the edge of the complex. The centre is connected to Line 1 of the Chengdu Metro.
The building will eventually face the Chengdu Contemporary Arts Centre, designed by award-winning British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.[4]
Opening and corruption charges
Whilst parts of the shopping area were opened in early 2013, the centre was to have formally opened with its hosting of the Global Fortune 500 conference in March 2013. However, after Deng Hong was arrested on corruption charges, for political reasons the conference was moved to the Shangri-La Hotel. The opening was then planned for 22 August 2013, but was calmed down and scaled back after the arrest of more than 50 local government officials being detained in a series of overlapping investigations.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Rob Williams (1 July 2013). "World's largest building: The New Century Global Center officially opens in China". The Independent. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ a b "China eyes April opening of world's largest building". CNN. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
- ^ "Stately pleasure dome New Century Global Centre rises in China's Chengdu". The Straits Times. 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
- ^ "World's largest building nears completion". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10308029/Corruption-and-the-worlds-biggest-building.html