The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habit has reported that work has begun on the Bao’an Public Culture and Art Centre in Shenzhen, southeast China.

The construction of the complex was supposed to begin according to the scheme proposed in 2017, but this was delayed due to the pandemic. The project includes the construction of the first concert hall in Shenzhen, which will be scaled and equipped for international operas, as well as a 600-seat hall and rehearsal rooms. The 28,000 sq. m. building will host opera, dance, symphony and drama performances. The center and the rest of the complex will be served by a metro line and shopping streets. The project includes 3 main new areas: the Performing Arts Centre, a Library, and a Youth Palace. The Library was completed in 2013 and the Youth Palace in 2018. The latest addition will be a series of stacked boxes totaling 94,000 sq. m. Terraces will be planted on horizontal surfaces and a view of Shenzhen and the bay will open from the “sky lobby”.

The project has been designed by the East China Institute of Architectural Design and Research (ECADI) in collaboration with French architect Coldefy, while Rocco Design developed the master plan for the 11-ha cultural complex. ECADI is engaged in structural and engineering systems design, as well as landscaping and acoustics. The cultural center is due to be completed in 2026.