Established in 1990, Tian’An Cyber Park is the biggest industrial real estate investment company in China, providing flexible and affordable office space that allows hundreds of entrepreneurs to grow and thrive. The strategically placed park in Longgang is a multi-functional development with retail and office space, an I-MAX cinema, and headquarters for multiple corporations. SOM brought a unique architectural approach to the Longgang parcel, which is a modern 21st-century village with narrow streets defined by triangulated building mass.
The landscape is a vibrant response to urban blight, establishing a new urban destination with its amphitheater, unique kaleidoscope plaza, and pub row, while at the same time serving as a soothing harbor for the people who work there. A green core library serves the needs of high-tech industry while providing a tranquil retreat. Elaborate paving pattern reflects the buildings’ crisp geometry while blurring distinctions between the indoor and outdoor experience. The Incubator plaza hints at Tian’An’s lifelong partnership with startup entrepreneurs, serving to catalyze urban land value while stimulating the economy.
One Uptown
Bringing a singular landscape design expression to a site featuring two buildings designed by different architects, the SWA/Balsley team worked to seamlessly integrate a variety of outdoor spaces to accommodate the mixed-use One Uptown. At the ground level, tree-lined streetscapes and bike lanes lead visitors to a coworking and dining courtyard along Burnet Ro...
Gubei Gold Street
SWA was selected to conceptualize, design, and realize a rare find in bustling Shanghai—a pedestrian mall (Gold Street). The corridor occupies three city blocks, is flanked by 20-story high-rise residential towers with retail at street level and book-ended by SWA-designed parks. Creating an iconic presence and enlivening the area, the mall features plazas, fou...
Riyadh East Sub-Center
SWA provided comprehensive planning for a new 300-hectare commercial, mixed-use center in northeast Riyadh abutting the KKI Airport. This area is part of an urban management framework being developed to guide the future growth of the city. SWA developed a plan and implementation strategy to establish an urban center comprising residential neighborhoods, corpor...
The Landing
A new life sciences campus in Burlingame, California, The Landing’s landscape design centers on accessibility, ecological function, and experience, creating a welcoming and high-quality public realm within a high-performance biotech environment. Shaded seating areas, native and climate-responsive planting, and open-air gathering spaces offer everyday val...