MONOCOQUE ROOF OVER SUZHOU RETAIL DEVELOPMENT TO SET WORLD RECORD

A Suzhou development set for completion in 2017 will set a record for the world’s biggest monocoque roof structure.

The Suzhou Center is a high-end integrated development located in the western section of the Suzhou Industrial Park. The collaboration by CapitaMalls Asia and Suzhou Industrial Park Jinji Lake Urban Development is set on a 16 ha site and includes retail space, offices, homes, a hotel and entertainment and cultural spaces. Architect and interior designer Benoy is behind the development’s major retail component, featuring the monocoque roof spanning 36,000 m2. Benoy Director Winnie Tsang said the roof design was inspired by the Chinese phoenix and would become a symbol of architectural innovation. The development will serve a catchment of 13 million residents across Suzhou and another 8 million tourists each year.