Nanning Logan Century 1 is a highly organized mix-use development that manages to incorporate a wide variety of programs without overcomplicating the building’s structure. The tower’s shape recalls that of a blossoming flower. The rectangular building appears to be divided into four parts – each representing a flower petal beginning to bloom. At the top of the structure, a helipad joins the petals together. Along the height of the building, layers of secondary petals mimic the motif at the zenith of the structure.

The variability of the building’s programs (including office space, an observation deck, and a hotel) required the project team to carefully scrutinize all design elements to ensure that they function as a complete whole. This was a particularly important consideration when designing the central core of the tower in order to accommodate all elevator requirements for passengers and goods, fire egress, and structural support. The ultimate solution was to create a series of separated vertical transportation systems. There are separate shuttle lifts for the public to reach the observation deck and hotel guests to go to the sky lobby; three lift zones for office users; and an independent entrance for hotel staff. Taking advantage of varying levels at the ground floor, lobbies are clearly segregated for the different groups of users.

The shell of the building functions as a unifying element for the disparate functions within. The façade system utilizes a curtain wall with aluminum vertical fins. These fins are not only decorative, but also serve to reduce solar heat gain. To differentiate the exterior visually, glass is tinted different colors along each section of the tower, ranging from white to grayish-blue.