Park Avenue Central’s defining feature is its 180-metre-tall Grade A tower. This next-generation commercial building advances sustainability, energy efficiency and technology integration.
State-of-the-art technology includes intelligent lighting and a real-time, data-driven Building Management System to optimise performance while minimising energy consumption. A custom-designed app personalises the tenant experience, and a facial recognition system integrates with the tower’s lifts.
Flexibility and view lines are paramount. Open-plan floorplates with column-free corners mean the tower remains extra-efficient and adaptable to the changing needs of single or multiple tenants on each floor. High-performance, floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in abundant natural light and expansive views.
The jewel in the tower’s crown is a two-storey penthouse office with an exclusive terrace and breathtaking views across Shanghai — the prime position in a development attracting some of the city’s most prized tenants and employees.
Brick is the common façade language throughout Park Avenue Central, enlivening the expression of the tower podium, the balconies and connected terraces. The varied finer grain of brickwork provides textural richness and dappled light around the retail areas and public spaces.
Park Avenue Central integrates seamlessly with the unique urban context of Shanghai’s Jing’An District — a desirable area where old meets new. Embedded in a “City in Nature” vision, the development features an elevated, interconnected landscape where buildings merge with lush terraces, inviting exploration. A welcoming garden extends public space to embrace the local community.
Faced with the challenge of bridging the vast scale difference between the office tower, the retail district and various urban areas, our design team drew inspiration from the neighbourhood’s historic Shikumen housing. This architectural vernacular is subtly reimagined throughout the development, from the dynamic, lattice pattern that animates the tower’s podium façade to the more intimate, textured brickwork.
The tower’s street-level and lower levels provide a refreshing open-air departure from the typical shopping mall box. Two main streets — distinct but complementary in character — define the retail, food and beverage precinct.
The main public promenades are lined with large-scale retail stores, connected terraces and bridges. The ‘urban edge’ of the dynamic retail area acts as a gateway into the precinct from the bustling city. The other end of the site faces the nearby residential area and comprises smaller scale, one- and two-storey elements set within terraces and cascading greenery that transition the dense urban environment into secluded gardens.
We really pushed the boundaries to bring genuine natural spaces into a highly dense and busy urban retail precinct.
PAC’s success stems from our planning approach, one that carefully considers the surrounding urban landscape, respects the neighbourhood’s proportions, and prioritises the needs of the community it serves.
Across the many scales and frontages, the architecture provides a subtle nod to the traditional Shanghai Longtang style of planning and housing, where narrow, winding alleyways and compact, multi-story houses foster a close-knit community environment, with shared spaces and intimate streetscapes.
Being a generous neighbour — not only to those within Park Avenue Central but also to the surrounding community — is a foundation of our design approach. The tower’s ground-level public spaces are specifically designed for hosting events and activities all year round.
Park Avenue Central is an optimistic, socially inclusive place where moments can be shared and great memories are made.
