With flexible workspaces integrated with nature and the outdoors, the new headquarters for WeBank advances the company’s vision of finance and technology in an increasingly connected world.
A workplace designed for comfort, connection, and performance
Located in the Qianhai District of Shenzhen, the 30-story WeBank Headquarters is home to China’s first digital-only bank. The new building merges technology, sustainability, and wellness to support a digitally connected, collaborative workforce.
Rather than build to the site’s maximum height, SOM’s competition-winning design focuses on generous, open floor plates and multi-story atria that bring in light, encourage airflow, and strengthen connections between teams. Each floor spans more than 4,000 square meters, allowing for a range of layouts and working styles to evolve over time.
Open-air terraces, double-height spaces, and planted gardens create a porous building envelope that blurs the boundary between inside and out. Shared indoor atria and flexible breakout zones foster collaboration and community, while a suite of wellness-focused amenities—including a basketball court, gym, outdoor pool, cafeteria, and auditorium—support movement, balance, and well-being throughout the day.
Strategies for sustainability and well-being
WeBank Headquarters integrates passive and active systems tailored to Shenzhen’s subtropical climate. Solar-responsive facades with recessed balconies and horizontal overhangs reduce solar radiation by more than 50 percent, lowering cooling demands and maintaining a consistent indoor environment.
A holistic indoor environmental quality (IEQ) strategy combines operable facades, environmental sensors, and stack-effect atria to maximize natural ventilation when conditions allow—reducing mechanical loads while improving comfort, health, and cognitive performance. Circulating air passes through terraces planted with species native to the region, which help filter pollutants and enrich the indoor microbial environment. Natural materials and circadian lighting systems further reinforce comfort and well-being.
A landscaped rooftop garden offers space for respite while managing stormwater and supporting the local aquifer. The roof is also solar-ready—designed to accommodate future photovoltaic or thermal systems in alignment with WeBank’s long-term sustainability goals.
Design:
Architect: Huasen Architectural & Engineering Designing Consultants Ltd
Landscape Design: ACLA Limited
Lighting Design Consultant: LEOX Design Partnership
Interiors: J&A
Photography: Dave Burk © SOM
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