KK100: TECHNICAL REVIEW AND SPECIFICATIONS

The KK100, formerly known as the Kingkey 100, stands as a testament to extreme slenderness in supertall engineering. Rising 441.8 meters (1,449 feet) in the Luohu District of Shenzhen, China, this skyscraper held the title of the tallest building in the city from 2011 until the completion of the Ping An Finance Center in 2017.

This technical review analyzes the towers remarkable aspect ratio, its parabolic "fountain" geometry, and the unique structural engineering required to support the open-atrium sky lobby at the crown.



ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AND GEOMETRY

Designed by TFP Farrells, the KK100 is defined by its fluid, parabolic form. The building is meant to evoke the image of a fountain or a spring, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. The tower rises from a broad base and curves gently inward as it ascends, creating a sleek, aerodynamic profile.

This curved geometry is not merely symbolic; it serves a crucial aerodynamic function. By eliminating sharp corners and tapering the cross-section, the design significantly reduces the wind load on the upper reaches of the tower. This reduction is vital given the towers extreme slenderness—it has a height-to-width aspect ratio of 9.5:1, making it one of the most slender buildings of its height in the world.

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: SLENDERNESS AND STIFFNESS

To achieve stability with such a high slenderness ratio in a typhoon-prone zone, the structural engineers at Arup devised a specialized "tube-in-tube" system.

The central spine is a high-strength reinforced concrete core. To handle the immense lateral forces, the walls of this core are exceptionally thick at the base and utilize high-grade concrete (C80).



The exterior frame consists of concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) columns. These columns are connected to the core by steel outrigger trusses at mechanical equipment floors. This coupling engages the perimeter columns in resisting overturning moments, effectively creating a wider "stance" for the slender tower. The top of the building features a large-span steel truss system that supports the glazed roof of the hotel atrium. This lightweight steel structure minimizes the mass at the top of the building, which helps reduce the seismic load.

THE SKY LOBBY AND ATRIUM

The crowning feature of the KK100 is the St. Regis Hotel sky lobby and atrium, located on the top floors (95-100). Unlike standard flat-roofed skyscrapers, the KK100 terminates in a curved glass canopy.

This creates a spectacular "cathedral-like" internal space. The structural steel diagrid supporting the glazing is left exposed, allowing visitors to see the engineering that holds the skin against the high-altitude winds. The floor plates in this zone are cut away to create a multi-story void, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the hotel's public spaces.

VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION

The building utilizes a zoned vertical transportation system supplied by Mitsubishi Electric. The tower is mixed-use, requiring separate traffic flows for the office tenants in the lower and mid zones, and hotel guests in the high zone.

High-speed shuttle elevators transport hotel guests non-stop from the ground floor to the 96th-floor lobby. These lifts are pressurized to prevent ear discomfort during the rapid ascent. The office floors are served by double-deck elevators in some zones to maximize passenger throughput within the limited core footprint demanded by the slender design.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

Official Name: KK100 (Kingkey 100)
Chinese Name: Jingji 100
Location: Luohu District, Shenzhen, China
Architect: TFP Farrells
Structural Engineer: Arup
Completion Year: 2011
Architectural Height: 441.8 meters (1,449 feet)
Floor Count: 100
Aspect Ratio: 9.5:1 (Highly Slender)
Primary Function: Office, Hotel (St. Regis Shenzhen), Retail (KK Mall)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is it called KK100?
The name stands for "Kingkey 100," referring to the developer, Kingkey Group, and the fact that the building has exactly 100 floors.

Is it the tallest building in Shenzhen?
No. It was the tallest from 2011 to 2017, but it has since been surpassed by the Ping An Finance Center, which is 599 meters tall. It remains the tallest building in the Luohu District.

What is at the top of the building?
The top floors (75-100) house the St. Regis Shenzhen hotel. The very top features the hotel lobby, restaurants, and a bar located inside the curved glass "lantern" structure.

Is the building shape a parabola?
Yes, the profile of the building follows a parabolic curve, which helps it shed wind vortices and gives it a distinct, fluid appearance compared to the boxier towers nearby.