The 121 storey building will stand at 632 meters when it is completed.
The tower will be organised as nine cylindrical buildings stacked atop each other, enclosed by the glass façade’s inner layer. Between that and the outer layer, which twists as it rises, nine indoor gardens at different levels will provide a public space for Shanghai residents.
The skyscraper is one of a slew of government-funded construction projects that authorities are using to stimulate growth and create jobs. The Shanghai Tower has been in planning since the early 1990’s, but various hold-ups delayed the start of construction.
The tower was designed by San-Francisco-based firm Gensler, while Tongji University’s design institute will be the project’s local partner.
The structure is due to be completed in 2014, at a cost of over £1.5 bn.