Kuntai Headquarters exterior street view Kuntai Headquarters Renovation street level Kuntai Headquarters building exterior with visible interior stairwell Kuntai Headquarters building exterior Kuntai Headquarters street view Kuntai Headquarters exterior Kuntai Headquarters facade closeup from below Kuntai Headquarters interior with stairs Kuntai Headquarters building exterior Kuntai Headquarters building exterior
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Kuntai Tower Renovation

Beijing, China

The Kuntai tower renovation project has pioneered the ChaoWai Street urban renewal area it calls home. The renovation design aims to rebrand Kuntai into a culture hub on ChaoWai Street that creates stories of innovation, activates community connections, and creates a memorable experience for everyone.

Transparency, permeability, and flexibility are the key elements of the tower design. By introducing a full-height retail atrium on the north side facing the main street and a double-height office lobby on the south-facing side, the headquarters design enhances both physical and visual connectivity and creates an anchor point. Flexibility across floors enables various programs and supports a range of tenants, activating both the retail podium and tower offices to create diverse experiences. By replacing the 1990’s-era facade with a highly efficient curtain wall system, the Kuntai headquarters offers a well-lit and connected office environment and acts as an iconic beacon from the street level.

The project uses curved terracotta as curtain wall mullion — an homage to local history and culture — while also introducing spaces for displaying modern art and digital installations, including a clear staircase, a retail atrium with a full-height art installation, a transparent LED screen for digital display, and a terrace space on the crown that acts as an outdoor gallery venue. The Kuntai tower renovation is not just a building that connects and activates urban renewal, but also a place to link time and culture, creating a future art and cultural destination on ChaoWai street.