Located in the heart of Hong Kong’s central business district, The Henderson is a new and iconic office tower with a unique, complex curved glass façade resembling a Bauhinia bud about to blossom. RLP Asia was the Lead Architect for The Henderson, working with Design Architect Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) and other partners to coordinate all technical, aesthetic, structural, and interior-related aspects of the project.
RLP Asia’s expertise in high-rise, high-density commercial development, understanding of the site context and insight into the market played a pivotal role in the creation of this incredible building.
This 36-storey tower has a flowing, organic visual form that embraces nearby parks and gardens to create a new urban oasis for the CBD. Though its complex design and close proximity to one of the world’s busiest transportation networks produced numerous design challenges, RLP Asia’s wealth of experience in coordinating and managing design projects and our expertise in using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to ensure precision in ultra-complex projects was instrumental in developing innovative solutions.
We devised the top-down construction method used to accelerate the work, implementing deep basement and above-ground construction at the same time. With six live underground train tunnels located just 3.3 metres away from the basement walls, extra stabilisation and preventive measures were put in place during the construction of the foundation and basement levels to ensure the live railway traffic was not disturbed or interrupted.
In collaboration with ZHA and our façade consultants, RLP Asia oversaw the manufacture, delivery and installation of The Henderson’s intricate curved glass façade, made from about 4,000 panels of four-ply, double-laminated curved, insulated glass. Specifically designed to withstand extreme weather, including super-typhoons and intense rainstorms, the panels also have zero UV penetration, reducing heat penetration into the interior and increasing energy efficiency.
The glass panels were designed and analysed using BIM, and underwent advanced high-precision 3D scanning prior to shipment from their manufacturing locations in Europe and Zhuhai to ensure that their on-site installation was error-free, producing The Henderson’s smooth, sculptural built form. This high-performance façade, in combination with smart chiller plant systems, high-efficiency HVAC equipment and optimised artificial lighting through daylight sensors produces an overall 26% reduction in energy consumption.
A stunning column-free banquet hall enclosed by a glass façade and skylight tops the tower. Its eight-metre, full-height, curved laminated glass ceiling is the first of its kind in a high-rise building in Hong Kong, and has spectacular panoramic views of the city’ skyline.
Each office floor has patented solar responsive ventilators (SRVs) that reduce solar radiation penetration through the west-facing façade. Powered by photovoltaics on the building’s rooftop, the low-speed, virtually silent SRVs stream a channel of cool air to improve occupant comfort along the perimeter. The Henderson holds another revolutionary patent, for lift sterilisation technology. Equipped with air quality monitors, high-efficiency ionisers and UV-C disinfection lamps, the technology kills viruses and bacteria, improves the air quality in office lift cars and safeguards occupant health.
The Henderson’s state-of-the-art smart building management system creates a hands-free contactless access experience from the street to the workstation. Using mobile phones or contactless smart cards, occupants enter the building, pass security, call lifts to their office floors, and gain access to building facilities including restrooms and nursery facilities.
RLP Asia worked ensure that The Henderson achieved the highest possible ratings in multiple international and regional sustainability accreditations, including LEED and WELL provisional Platinum ratings and the China Green Building Rating Programme’s highest 3-star rating.
