All posts by Giulio

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

Ahead of his time

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Mark Rosenberg ‘one of the pioneers’ of energy-efficient homes in the Toronto area

All the latest talk about energy efficiency in new homes is mostly old hat to Mark Rosenberg.

Since he began building custom homes in the Toronto area back in the 1980s, the president of Mark Rosenberg Design Build and Codyco Properties Ltd. has been offering energy-efficient components to customers.

“I was one of the pioneers of infill housing, incorporating new homes into established areas,” says Rosenberg. “In fact, no one else was doing that at all. Plus, from the outset of my career, I started using triple-glazed windows, high-efficiency HVAC systems, upgraded ceiling and wall insulation, green residential roofing systems, and capturing rainwater to be stored, and used, in irrigation systems.

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“Very early on, I started incorporating smart home features in the homes. Even when clients were hesitant, as they often didn’t understand the early systems, I suggested roughing them in for their future capabilities. Even now, I remind them that, down the road, roughing in can save a lot of money, and damage to the home, if they eventually decide to install them.”

Prior to starting out on his own, Rosenberg worked for a large development company, where he gained expertise in all aspects of building – from development, planning and contract servicing to overseeing construction.

He soon found his own niche in the custom design market, incorporating the contemporary with the traditional. He also likes to “bring the outside in,” which, again, ties in with his penchant for creating environmentally-friendly homes.

“During the day, I want the client to be able to walk through the home with no lights switched on and have the home full of natural light,” he says.


He likes to combine rugged features with elegance and high-end details. And it’s his attention to detail that has won Rosenberg many admirers and repeat customers.

“I always work very closely with my clients and have a personal relationship to ensure they are getting exactly what they want in their new home,” he explains. “I get quite involved from the outset on decisions regarding floor plans, design features, colours, moulding choices, mechanical systems etcetera.”

Bolstered by an architectural background, Rosenberg seamlessly becomes involved in the design process.

“Clients like knowing they have a hands-on builder,” he says. “And I also have tradesmen – or craftsmen, as I like to call them – who have worked for me for over 25 years. These longstanding relationships allow for exceptional service and quality with all the homes we have built together; so much so, that many clients return to us to build their second or third homes, as well as the first homes for their children.”

Web / markrosenberghomes.com

Style, Sustainability, Technology

Ahead of the curve

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Heidan Construction makes it a point to stay ahead of green industry trends Some people try to keep up with the Joneses, but Daniel Meirovitz of Heidan Construction Ltd. goes much further than that.

As president of Heidan Construction, Meirovitz makes it a point to constantly stay ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding the sustainable needs of his clients.

“We definitely keep up with the times and adapt to the changing needs of clients to build exactly what they request for any green project in their homes,” says Meirovitz, whose company offers construction services in the design/building of custom homes, additions, renovations and commercial office spaces.

“Each client has his or her own definition of what they feel they want to spend or understand to do their part to help the environment. For some, it just means simply purchasing more energy-efficient new appliances, but to others it is a top priority.

“From pre-heat solar hot water tanks, geothermal heating, window replacements, smart home technology, green roofs, spray foam insulation to instant hot water tanks – it’s a long list.”

He stresses that staying up to date has become one of the top priorities for Toronto-based Heidan Construction. “For sure, there’s fast-pace change in the industry.”

With over 18 years of experience, Heidan Construction’s goal, Meirovitz says, is to take each client through a seamless and pleasurable process.

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One client, Dr. Michael Aharon of East Village Dental Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, had this to say about the working experience with Heidan Construction: “Heidan Construction contributed immensely to the successful renovation of our dental office. The workmanship, professionalism, and efficiency of the team and sub-contractors met our every expectation. Quality was never compromised, even while working under the strictest guideline. Daniel was available at all times to address questions and concerns. A very positive experience, which produced an amazing modern dental office.”

Heidan Construction strives to deliver all projects in a timely fashion, on budget, and with strict attention to detail, says Meirovitz. “We have proven immaculate customer service and a quality trade force.”

At one time, Meirovitz seemed headed for a legal career. After graduating from university, he was accepted in law school, but he took a year off to pursue his interest in the construction industry. The rest, as they say, is history.

“As I was honing and developing my skills I knew I would need within the construction industry, I realized I wanted to pursue my passion for construction,” he recalls. “I’ve never looked back.”
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After earning his construction-management certificate at George Brown College, he worked as a carpenter before becoming a superintendent for a subdivision builder. He soon realized, after building over 100 houses and two blocks of townhouses in nine months, that he could branch out on his own.

Some of the diverse projects Meirovitz has been involved with over the years include: The Niagara Fallsview Casino, various high-rise developments, restoration projects, medical/dental offices, subdivision and townhouse complexes, as well as exclusive custom homes.

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“I always try to keep up with the times and understand technology so I can stay ahead of my clients to offer ideas and suggestions to meet their needs,” he adds. “A lot of builders take on a project, hire a super, and then show up once or twice a week. But I’m on-site every day. I have a relationship with my clients, and I think that’s one of the things that separates me from other builders.”

Web / heidanconstruction.com

Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Sustainability, Technology

A 50th birthday to remember

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Bel-Con Design-Builders made sure ‘more than the tractors are green’ at Clow Farm Equipment

Clow Farm Equipment celebrated its 50th anniversary in a big way thanks to a full-scale green makeover provided by Bel-Con Design-Builders.

The Kingston-area company, founded by Oakley Clow, left no stone unturned, either, building a brand new store situated on Highway 15 just north of Highway 401, equipped with a full complement of sustainable features.

“Oakley and his son Doug, were concerned about quality, fit and finish right from the start,” says Bel-Con president Tom Gunsinger. “ They’d seen a similar John Deere Dealership constructed by Rice Construction, the Butler Builder in St John New Brunswick. The Clow family Oakley, Shirley and Doug were all great to work with and a breath of fresh air with their commitment to constructing an efficient, comfortable, low maintenance building.”

(In “industry terms,” the facility in New Brunswick is referred to as a ‘Butler building.’ That means, to the layman, that a ‘Butler building’ utilizes the Butler Manufacturing building-solutions company for the design, manufacture, and marketing of metal building systems for commercial construction.)

Clow Farm Equipment was all in, as it turned out.

“The client appreciated Butler’s attention to details, right down to the trims,” says Gunsinger, whose Belleville-based company has been affiliated with Butler since 1978. “And, when they contacted us, they expressed their desire to have an energy-efficient and comfortable building. “
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For starters, Bel-Con worked the following features into the new Clow Farm Equipment building:

  • The wall system is Butler’s eShadowall panel with an accredited tested R-value of R21.1;
  • The MR-24 roof system utilizes Butler’s Thermal Liner System (TLS-12) which has an accredited tested R-value of R38.7;
  • And natural light was important as well, Butler’s SunLite Strips were used in the shop to provide daylight harvesting.

Gunsinger points out that the use of Butler’s systems provided other green building benefits, as well, including high recycled content of the entire structure, roof and wall systems.

“The client also had a desire to ensure comfort for their staff, so we incorporated radiant in-floor heat in the perimeter offices and showroom, as well as throughout the entire shop,” explains Gunsinger. “The mechanics, we were told, are often on the floor when servicing the equipment, so that keeps out the cold. We also included energy-efficient lighting systems, occupancy sensors and low-flow plumbing fixtures.”

Butler’s attention to building green hinges on the premise that “taking actions today so opportunities for future generations won’t be inhibited.’ They combine green technologies and practices with systems’ construction efficiencies to make sustainable buildings more affordable.

Some examples of how Butler Manufacturing is doing that, include:

  • Products that reduce material use. All Butler projects optimize the amount of steel used to meet exact design specifications;
  • Salvaged/recycled products. Butler building systems contain up to 74 per cent recycled steel;
  • Reusable or recyclable materials. Butler steel buildings can be disassembled, relocated and reused, making them adaptable to different end uses and extending their usable life;
  • Butler buildings require minimal maintenance to last much longer than their intended warranties. The MR-24 roof system has a proven in-place performance of over 40 years.

Gunsinger says Bel-Con is definitely on the same page.

“Our focus is to encourage our clients to look at the total cost of ownership (TCO), as opposed to just the initial construction costs,” he explains. “Studies have shown that, on average, the construction cost only accounts for 10% of the TCO of a facility, with the other 90% spent on lighting, heating, cooling and maintenance.

“By investing in high-efficiency and long-lasting systems the owner can realize significant savings over the life of the building. Another study shows that for every $1 invested in energy efficiency, there will typically be a savings of about $6 in total building operating costs. The roof system, itself, is very sustainable as its life expectancy is over 30 years. In fact, for another client, we recently replaced a metal roof that had been there for 47 years!”

Web / bel-con.com / greentractors.ca

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Green Building Expo

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The first Canadian trade show for green building

It’s no surprise that Green Buildings & Sustainable Strategies magazine is leading the way in cost-efficient virtual trade show technology for the green construction industry.

After all, part of the magazine’s mandate is to alert readers and advertisers to the latest sustainable development trends.

The countdown to Canada’s first virtual trade show for the green construction industry is underway and the wheels are already in motion on a number of fronts.

Utilizing cutting-edge virtual trade show technology, we are pleased to announce Green Building Expo. This first-of-its-kind show will be held in “cyberspace” starting April 12, 2016 and running for a full year.

What we have planned is an affordable way for you to engage all of Canada in the latest green building endeavours in very interesting and cost-efficient way. The event itself will celebrate Canada’s greenest and most successful building projects. Each exhibit will showcase sustainable construction solutions to the right attendees in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Participants will be able to exchange contact information with Canada’s most active green building professionals. Green Building Expo is budget-friendly for participating exhibitors and free for attendees. Our coverage area is Canada, but being held in cyberspace, exhibitors can reach out to a global audience to generate a high volume of leads and prospects.

Green Building Expo will bring together technology, materials, products, and service providers, developers, general contractors, architects, consultants, engineers, interior designers, builders, specifiers, project managers, green investors, bankers, building owners, facilities managers, along with municipalities, expert organizations and other key stakeholders of green building projects; saving money and eliminating travel time, construction, logistics, and associated carbon emissions with physical meetings and trade exhibitions.

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Instead of being up and running for only a few days, similar to a traditional trade show, the individual booths will remain active for an entire year and available online 24/7. When not stuffed exhibition booths function as a website and the exhibitors can still have the visibility and availability of their information.

And additional exhibitors can join at any time during the duration of the show.

Relevant, compelling, engaging events with live webcasts of expert speakers will be added throughout the year to motivate participation on particular days around particular themes.

Bolstered by advance print and online media and advertising, Green Building Expo will enjoy a social media strategy using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and others that will actively promote the event beforehand and during the event as well as provide follow up activities.

Attendees and exhibitors can easily interact through text, audio and video capabilities. The functionality allows both one-on-one and group conversations, thus allowing for meaningful discussions.

Product manuals, demos, brochures, posters, videos and other informational material can be conveniently downloaded by visitors to be saved permanently.

In the auditorium exhibitors can deliver stunning webinars which can be hosted live or made available on-demand to visitors even after the event is over. They can now enjoy greater control in delivering their webinars and drive higher levels of visitor engagement using social media integration.

Studies show that over 40% of traffic on virtual events of any kind come through a mobile device. That figure is only growing, making the mobile experience absolutely critical for success for events hosted online. Thus, Green Building Expo offers a mobile-friendly version for the event, packing it with interaction tools to ensure mobile visitors remain equally engaged and productive.

The mobile experience comes with a comprehensive chat application, allowing mobile visitors to interact seamlessly with exhibitors. This affords visitors even more flexibility as they can keep communicating even when they are on the move. Furthermore, the chat experience is intuitive and familiar, allowing visitors to focus on the conversation, rather than figuring out how it all works.

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Exhibitors will have access to the following information:

• Number of visitors to their booth;

• Number of clicks on their brochures, products, videos, and posters;

• Contact details listed on each visitors;

• Downloaded content;

• Site traffic, unique and total visits;

• Number of visitors contacted in chat.

For more information about the event go to www.green-building-expo.com or contact Giulio Marinescu, Executive Managing Director at 416-250-0664 or by e-mail giulio@green-building-expo.com.

Architecture, Green Energy, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology

Doing it right

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No stone unturned with an EcoVicar ENERGY STAR® home

Taking a page from its corporate mantra, the company’s EcoVicar ENERGY STAR® homes are constructed with the same attention to detail.

“The key to a successful home is based on a solid foundation, built with quality material and by experienced craftsmanship. We built our company the same way we build your house.”

Those criteria are evident, in spades, with the meticulous detail found in the EcoVicar homes. Not only are health and safety paramount, but the myriad of options and features ensures fresh air distribution throughout.

With an EcoVicar home, making a house airtight keeps the living space free of outdoor dust, pollen and noise. And each home is equipped with an intelligent ventilation system that doesn’t just flush out odours, but brings in new fresh outside air and distributes it throughout the home.

And standards are maintained with the ENERGY STAR® stamp of approval. The federal government-backed labelling program has a reputation for producing significantly better buildings and ensures consistent quality with inspections and tests.  

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EcoVicar welcomes inspectors. Unlike a ‘code-built’ house, EcoVicar solicits third-party trained and certified auditors to test air tightness air barrier systems and inspect key mechanical systems to make sure they meet the upgraded specifications set by the ENERGY STAR® program. And the key plank in any ENERGY STAR® home is setting a stringent limit on indiscriminate air leakage. This saves money, while ensuring an abundance of fresh air. (Air leakage in a home leads to discomfort, dryness, excessive noise, dust and pollens from outside.)

There are five key, balanced features, namely:

* A complete thermal enclosure system for comfort, durability and reduced maintenance;

* Fresh air, with an airtight thermal envelope;

* Efficient lighting and appliances, which mean reduced operating costs;

* Integrated inside and outside water systems;

* And an integrated heating, ventilation and cooling system with optimal design and installation.

Comprehensive air sealing, properly installed insulation and high-performance windows combine to deliver better comfort, better durability, reduced maintenance costs and lower monthly bills. During construction, partners must meet all the requirements of the EPA’s comprehensive thermal enclosure system inspection.
Because the designed intent of an EcoVicar home is to save money and produce a more durable building by ensuring an airtight thermal envelope, it’s paramount to exchange the stale air produced indoors by a typical family. Most new homes in Ontario use ‘exhaust’ only strategies to pull in outside air through a leaky house, but that approach can cause issues that are easily avoided by installing ‘balanced’ ventilation and heat-recovery ventilator.

A little-known fact is that the lighting and appliances in homes come with two price tags – the purchase price and operating costs. EcoVicar homes offer higher quality appliances that require less maintenance, are quieter, and provide lower monthly utility bills, all the while creating a perfect style most homeowners are looking for.

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Managing water both inside and outside homes has never been more important. EcoVicar homes provide features that conserve water volume, but also lower the cost of producing warm water for a growing family. Additionally, the homes come with built-in features that ensure rainwater is managed with a passive system and backed-up power systems.

The ENERGY STAR® program insists on ensuring the mechanical system is sized precisely for the house and that the mechanical components selected for the house communicate well and co-operate for maximum efficiency. The process doesn’t stop at the planning stage but carries on through to field inspections to ensure that the planned specifications are followed and specified models are installed. During construction, ENERGY STAR builder partners must meet all of the requirements of EPA’s comprehensive heating and cooling system.

As a result, you get a home with a complete heating, ventilation and cooling system – a better approach to building a better home.

Web / vicarhomes.com

Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

The Edelweiss House

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The Edelweiss House in Wakefield, Quebec, becomes Canada’s first LEED v4 certified building and the second LEED v4 Platinum certified home in the world

Ecohome’s Edelweiss House project, a passively heated, cold climate demonstration home located in Wakefield, Quebec, has become the first project in Canada to earn LEED v4 certification. Edelweiss is not only the first project in Canada to be certified under LEED v4, but it has also earned the highest level possible – Platinum – making it only the second LEED v4 home in the world to reach LEED’s most rigorous level.

The hyper-efficient cold climate house boasts an average price tag and an extremely low operational budget. Located 40 minutes from Ottawa in the Gatineau Hills, this 1,552 sq. ft. home was less than $250,000 to build and its energy bills are estimated to be less than $1.40/day. In comparison, a standard new home of comparable size consumes roughly 10 times more energy.

The Edelweiss House was designed and built by Emmanuel Cosgrove and Mike Reynolds, co-founders of Ecohome. “We don’t really build anymore as our mission is education,” they say. “We undertook this project to show builders and homeowners that it isn’t that hard or expensive to build better performing homes, and that your true monthly overhead can actually be lower, right from the moment you move in.”

The home will now be used for full-day workshops, as well as for short-term rentals that allow building professionals or future homeowners to experience the comfort of a passive solar home first hand.

With a slab-on-grade foundation and a living green roof, the house heats by harnessing warmth from the sun, the occupants and their various appliances. Built with non-toxic building materials and FSC certified wood, the home also features finishing materials such as locally-sourced slate, reclaimed sunken river wood, sandblasted antique doors, and a quartz countertop made of recycled porcelain plates, bottles and mirrors. Edelweiss House is also extremely water-efficient, with a projected water savings of 60 per cent over an equivalent new home.

This ultra-low energy home has earned high praise from the CaGBC for its innovation and leadership. “The Edelweiss House is a phenomenal achievement – the first Canadian project to meet the stringent requirements of the latest version of LEED at its highest level,” said Thomas Mueller, President and CEO of the CaGBC. “I commend Ecohome for being a leader in the Canadian home building community and for demonstrating to the industry that high sustainability standards can be achieved right here in Canada, right now.”

Canada currently has nine additional projects registered for LEED v4 certification in Canada, with this certification marking the first of its kind for any project type. More information on the house, including a step-by-step video series following its construction can be found online at ecohome.net. For more information on additional LEED v4 registered project in Canada, visitCaGBC’s LEED v4 Leaderboard webpage.

 

Additional information about the home:

Passive Solar Index (PSI): The Edelweiss House will act as a vehicle to launch Ecohome’s Passive Solar Index, a simple program designed to affix an energy efficiency value to homes. PSI recognizes homes that perform at a level below 50 kWh/m²/year, where most newly built homes in Canada consume over 150 kWh/m²/year of energy for heating.

Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

Sergio Galli

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Rock star in both music and designing/building homes

You may have heard of Sergio Galli from his notoriety as the founding member and guitarist of the multi-platinum-selling rock group Platinum Blonde – especially if you grew up in the ‘80s.

But Galli has another passion – designing and building custom homes for Canada’s elite. In 1989, Sergio began his architecture career designing homes, but he soon began to design and build special gems after getting steady requests from his clients.

Sergio continues to build impressive, custom luxury homes with the latest appointments. Wine cellars, private theatres, indoor swimming pools, elevators and tennis courts are just some of the standard client requests he incorporates into his designs.

In addition, Sergio has recently begun offering his design flair and expertise for renovation projects.

“I’m having a lot of fun with this,” says Galli. “I especially enjoy doing facelifts – for houses that is. Every house has the potential to look amazing with a little effort. Then there’s curb appeal, which is very important and often overlooked.”

When Galli’s not at his desk designing, or in the field overseeing a build, he’s busy making music and is currently in the midst of writing and recording a new studio album of original songs.

Galli’s newest project, Platinum Series Estates, launches in the spring of 2016 and will consist of 28 estates, each on two-acre lots, built around the prestigious Lakeridge Links Golf Club located just north of Whitby, Ontario. The custom homes will range in price from $1.8-million to $3.2-million.

This approach is somewhat of a departure for Galli, who typically has private clients who want a custom home designed and built specifically for a lot they already own.

But Galli insists that there will be very little difference in the way he has been operating. “I will still be working directly with each individual purchaser to design a home specifically for them.”

Galli’s duties don’t end at designing and producing architectural plans.
“I know that the interior of a home is every bit as important as the exterior,” he says. “I find that I spend as much time on the interior. There are so many choices and decisions, but in the end there must be a flow, a continuity, if you will.”

In addition to aesthetics, Galli is also an advocate of green building practices. With the Platinum Estates Series, for example, the use of materials with low embodied energy will help protect the environment. Galli will also be using the best double-glazed while increasing the number of windows with southern exposure – resulting in substantial energy savings.
Walls, he says, will be nearly air tight and highly insulated, meeting the rigorous standard of energy-efficient construction. Passive ventilation will cool the houses. Windows on the end gables will open, as will the skylights, creating a strong cross-breeze that moves along the length of each house and pushes warm air up and outward.

The most advanced technologies – such as LED Lighting, home security and motion sensor room applications – will be used in building this community. The roof, wall and floor insulation will meet the highest standard of green friendly products. Also provided will be luxury energy-efficient appliances, plus water-conserving low-flow faucets, toilets and showerheads.

Energy Star-rated HVAC systems will be included and will be properly installed to make sure they perform to their full potential.

To top this off, Galli will be utilizing Bionest System Wastewater Treatment Solutions™ (BCM), which offers a robust, simple and economical treatment solution for high organic load wastewaters. The system’s functioning principle is based on aerated basins, an already proven existing technology. The high aeration level in the BCM rapidly reduces the wastewaters’ organic load (soluble BOD), virtually allowing all wastewater to return to a drinkable state.

During the winter months, a geothermal heat pump will extract heat from deep underground to power each home’s HVAC system. Conversely, in the summer, heat will be extracted from the air and moved back into the earth through a loop system.

The one takeaway each client gets is Sergio Galli – a rock star in the world of music, as well as in the world of designing and building custom luxury and eco-friendly homes.

Web / sergiogalli.ca

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, HVAC, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Top Stories, Trends

True to form

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Soon-to-be-completed Shanghai Tower maintains lofty sustainable goals

Much has been made about the sheer magnitude of the Shanghai Tower, touted as the tallest building in China, and second-tallest skyscraper in the world.

Due for completion in 2015, this spiraling megastructure will soar 2,074 feet (632 metres) into the skyline in Shanghai’s Lujiazui commercial district, right beside two other building behemoths: The Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center.

And within the 121 storeys, Shanghai Tower will house Class-A office space, entertainment venues, retail outlets, a conference centre, luxury hotel and cultural amenity spaces.


Not to be overshadowed, however, is the fact the tower will be targeting a China Green Building three-star rating and LEED gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. And that’s largely due to the fact that sustainability is at the core of the tower’s design.

Dan Winey, of the tower’s Gensler design team, says Shanghai Tower is one of the most advanced sustainable tall buildings in the world, showcasing a number of green technologies.

“One of the original goals for the Shanghai Tower was to design the most sustainable super high-rise building in the world,” writes Winey, a member of Gensler’s board of directors who helped launch the company’s offices in Shanghai. “Our design team’s goal was to design a truly sustainable community within the context of a high-rise building.”

To that end, the results have been noticeable. As the skyline’s most prominent icon, the tower’s transparent, spiral form is showcasing cutting-edge sustainable strategies and public spaces that set new standards for green community.

Sustainability is at the core of the design. The façade’s taper, texture and asymmetry work in partnership to reduce wind loads on the building by 24 per cent, offering a $58-million U.S. savings in overall building materials. The building’s transparent inner and outer skins admit maximum natural daylight, thereby reducing the need for electric light. The tower’s outer skin also insulates the building, reducing energy use for heating and cooling. The tower’s spiraling parapet collects rainwater, which is used for the tower’s heating and air conditioning systems.

Wind turbines located directly beneath the parapet generate on-site power for the upper floors of the building, with a 2,130kW natural gas-fired cogeneration system onsite providing electricity and heat energy to the lower floors. Fully one third of the site will be green space with landscaping that cools the site. Overall, Gensler says Shanghai Tower’s sustainable strategies will reduce the building’s carbon footprint by 34,000 metric tons per year.

Overall, the tower has nine cylindrical buildings stacked one on top of the other. The inner layer of the double-skin façade encloses the stacked buildings, while the exterior façade creates the building envelope, which rotates 120 degrees as it rises and provides the distinctive, curving appearance. The spaces between the two façade layers create nine atrium sky gardens. Much like plazas and civic squares in traditional cities, the public sky atria offer spaces for interaction and community gathering space with restaurants, cafés, coffee shops and convenience stores, as well as lush landscaping, throughout. With sky gardens lining its perimeter, the tower is literally enveloped in public spaces.

“With the topping out of Shanghai Tower, the Lujiazui trio will serve as a stunning representation of our past, our present and China’s boundless future,” said Jun Xia, Shanghai Tower design leader and Gensler principal. “This tower takes inspiration from Shanghai’s tradition of parks and neighborhoods, recasting that history in a high-density, urban form symbolizing the emergence of modern Shanghai and China.”