New Century Global Center
| New Century Global Center | |
|---|---|
| 新世纪环球中心 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Location | Chengdu, China |
| Construction started | 2010 |
| Completed | 2013 |
| Opening | 1 July 2013 |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 100 metres (330 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 1,700,000 square metres (18,000,000 sq ft) |
| References | |
| [1][2] | |
New Century Global Center is a multipurpose building in the Tianfu New Area of Chengdu, China, and is the world's largest building in terms of floor area.[3]
Size
The 100-metre-tall (330 ft) structure is 500 by 400 metres (1,600 by 1,300 ft) in size with 1,700,000 square metres (18,000,000 sq ft) of floor space, making it the world's largest building measured by floor space.[1][2][4] The Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Washington, in the United States has the largest volume, while the Aalsmeer Flower Auction building in Aalsmeer, Netherlands, has the largest footprint.
Development
Developed by billionaire Deng Hong's Entertainment and Travel Group (ETG), nearly 400,000 square metres (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 a water park ("Paradise Island Water Park"), containing a 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 6x8 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 British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.[5]
Controversy
Although parts of the shopping area opened in early 2013, the centre was supposed to have formally opened in March 2013 when it hosted the Global Fortune 500 conference. However, the businessman behind the project, Deng Hong, was arrested on corruption charges, and "given the potential for political humiliation" the conference was moved to the Shangri-La Hotel in Chengdu.
The opening was delayed until 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.[6]
See also
References
- 1 2 Rob Williams (1 July 2013). "World's largest building: The New Century Global Center officially opens in China". The Independent. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- 1 2 "China eyes April opening of world's largest building". CNN. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
- ↑ Roberto A. Ferdman (3 July 2013). "The world’s new largest building is four times the size of Vatican City". Quartz. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Malcolm Moore (September 13, 2013). "Corruption and the world's biggest building". The Telegraph.