New Century Global Center

New Century Global Center (Chinese: 新世纪环球中心) is a multipurpose building in the Tianfu New Area of Chengdu, Sichuan, and is the world's largest building in terms of floor area.[3] It is served by Line 1 of the Chengdu Metro.

Night view of Global Center
New Century Global Center
新世纪环球中心
The eastern facade of the New Century Global Center in 2016
General information
StatusComplete
LocationTianfu New Area, Chengdu, Sichuan
CountryChina
Coordinates30°34′16″N 104°3′38″E
Construction started2010
Completed2013
Opening1 July 2013
Height
Architectural100 meters (330 ft)
Technical details
Floor area1,700,000 square meters (18,000,000 sq ft)
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese新世纪环球中心
Traditional Chinese新世紀環球中心
References
[1][2]

Size

The 100-meter (330 ft)-tall structure is 500 by 400 meters (1,600 by 1,300 ft) in size with 1,700,000 square meters (18,000,000 sq ft) of floor space, making it the world's largest building measured by floor space.[1][2][4] The Boeing Everett Factory in Everett, Washington, in the United States has the largest volume, while AvtoVAZ main assembly building has the largest footprint.

Development

Developed by billionaire Deng Hong's Entertainment and Travel Group (ETG), nearly 400,000 square meters (4,300,000 sq ft) of the building is devoted to shopping. It also houses offices, conference rooms, a university complex, two commercial centers, hotels, an IMAX cinema, a "Mediterranean village", a pirate ship and an Olympic-size skating rink. The centerpiece of the building is a water park ("Paradise Island Water Park"), containing a 5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft) artificial beach, where a giant 150 by 40 m (490 by 130 ft) screen forms the horizon to offer sunrises and sunsets. At night, a stage extends out over the pool for concerts. A stand has been built overlooking the pool with a food court and entrance underneath at the floor level. The new Intercontinental Hotel will feature 1,009 rooms that are spread over 6x8 story blocks around the edge of the complex. The center is connected to Line 1 of the Chengdu Metro.

The building will eventually face the Chengdu Contemporary Arts Center, designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.[5]

Controversy

Although parts of the shopping area opened in early 2013, the center was supposed to have formally opened in March 2013 when it hosted the Global Fortune 500 conference. However, the businessman behind the project, Deng Hong, was arrested on corruption charges, and "given the potential for political humiliation" the conference was moved to the Shangri-La Hotel in Chengdu.

The opening was delayed until 22 August 2013, but was then scaled back after the arrest of more than 50 local government officials being detained in a series of overlapping investigations.[6]

See also

References
  1. Rob Williams (1 July 2013). "World's largest building: The New Century Global Center officially opens in China". The Independent. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  2. "China eyes April opening of world's largest building". CNN. 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  3. Roberto A. Ferdman (3 July 2013). "The world's new largest building is four times the size of Vatican City". Quartz. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  4. "Stately pleasure dome New Century Global Center rises in China's Chengdu". The Straits Times. 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  5. "World's largest building nears completion". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  6. Malcolm Moore (September 13, 2013). "Corruption and the world's biggest building". The Telegraph.
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