Times Centre HQ Public Space

Located in Xi’an’s Central Business District, Times Centre is an SOM designed Grade-A commercial tower of 230 m tall with 5 levels of retail podium. The interior fit-out concept took its design cue from the architecture of the Tower by morphing its bold yet simple linearity into the interior atmosphere.

All publicly accessible interior spaces are designed in a minimalist, reflective and abstract interior atmosphere. In synchrony with the exterior facade, the interior is rational and aligned with the exterior, unifying the architectural language of the tower design, and creating an awe-inspiring interior experience for visitors and users. Stripped of all design formalism, the interior space is meant to inspire and draw introspection.

The Ground floor Office lobby, one of the primary public space of the Times Centre complex, blurs the boundaries between the interiors and the surrounding exterior urban landscape. The principle material is polished mirror finished stainless steel panels mounted on metal frames and organized in standardized panels for walls and ceilings that follow the existing facade units resulting into a 3-dimensional grid that creates a stunning visual effect. A sculptural translucent cloud floats above the ground floor lobby to give sense of scale and drama to the lobby space.

The second major public space, ground floor retail lobby, is both inviting and intriguing. Composed of an undulating ceiling of crystal glass pieces that shines and reflects the interior and exterior lighting, a dark terrazzo floor of small glass inserts with grey terrazzo strips, and large reflective steel corrugated wall panels, the overall atmosphere is one of surprise and unexpected scale change, and visual scintillations.

Other public zones include the retail circulation in the podium levels, the 5th floor cafe-social hub and office tower public circulation including all lift lobbies.