An large abandoned construction site in bustling downtown Gongbei is being transformed into a diamond-shaped commercial complex consisting of office areas, shopping, leisure entertainment, hotels, convention and exhibition spaces, and public services.

Construction of the upcoming center initially commenced in August 2019 at the site of a proposed Lotus Wangjing City that was suspended in December 1998. The new complex, OneLink International Center, will occupy floorage of 290,000 sq m (72 acres) on a rectangular Qiaoguang Road plot between Lianhua Pedestrian Street and South Shuiwan Road, about 500 m (1/3 mile) from Gongbei Checkpoint, according Zhuhai Zhongbao Real Estate.

Rendering of Onelink commercial complex [Photo provided to Zhuhai Media Group]

Its 300-m (984-ft) main tower will have 65 floors of hotel-styled office areas, hotels, aerial restaurants, and rooftop sightseeing. The 250-m (820-ft) annex building will house both commercial areas and residences over 71 floors.

Seven lowest floors will contain business, culture, entertainment, cinemas, hotel supportive facilities, and banquet halls. B2 and B3 of four underground levels will be connected to the parking lot of southern Gongbei, which will accommodate up to 816 vehicles.

Design of the complex was done by American architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. SOM has four decades of experience in China that include modern buildings in Shenzhen and Guangzhou and also the iconic Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre and, more recently, Terminal 2 and SkyPlaza at Hong Kong International Airport. 

The new project is expected to take five years to complete.

Elsewhere, other unfinished buildings are expected to take on a new look as the Treatment Methods of Unfinished Buildings in Zhuhai released by the city Natural Resources Bureau came into effect July 7.