Shanghai World Financial Centre contractors

The landmark structure was developed with support from the Chinese government and the municipal authorities of the city of Shanghai.

"The SWFC complex also houses the world's tallest, observation facility at 472m."
The project was designed by the Consortium of China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Shanghai Construction Group.

Global contractors include Kohn, Pedersen, Fox Associates PC (KPF), Leslie E Robertson Associates, RLLP (LERA), Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Group and East China Architectural Design and Research Institute. Mori Building Corporation also contributed to the final stages of the planning process using corporate planning and equipment operations.

Design and structure

The Shanghai World Financial Centre was designed by US super skyscraper specialist KPF. The company has included inverted-trapezoid wind tunnels in the rectangular rooftop opening to reduce wind-induced roof pressure. The wedge-shaped tower houses a multi-use complex with lower elevations that are 58m in radius. The offices at mid-level elevation have been leased to small and medium corporate tenants, while hotels occupy the top floors.


Conceived as a new hub for financial and information exchange across the Asian region, the Shanghai World Financial Centre merges state-of-the-art technology with the knowledge and experience of the companies behind the project, say its designers and developers.



Vertical traffic is managed using 91 lifts inside the skyscraper. The building also has 91 double-decker lifts to improve the handling capacity, 24 of which have adjustable floor height to ensure accurate levelling. With a peak speed of 10m a second, the double-decker lifts are the fastest in the world, and can shoot from B1 to F95 within a minute.