Büro Ole Scheeren has unveiled the design of a new global headquarters in Shenzhen’s Longhua district for KeDaLi Industries (KDL), a Chinese manufacturer of structural components for high-performance batteries.
Currently under construction, the project brings together offices, research and development facilities, short-stay apartments, exhibition spaces, and a lecture hall within a 120-metre tower overlooking a reservoir park.
Scheduled for completion in 2027, the 36,380m² development occupies a prominent site within one of Shenzhen’s emerging business districts, where it is expected to become one of the area’s first major corporate landmarks.
A headquarters organised around shared spaces
The defining feature of the project is a series of large curvilinear openings, known as Portals, that project from the building’s façade and shape both its appearance and internal organisation.
Facing the city and the adjacent reservoir, the openings create a sequence of collective spaces that extend beyond the conventional office floorplate. Some accommodate collaborative work areas, workshops, and informal meeting spaces, while others incorporate stair-linked platforms designed for talks, gatherings, and day-to-day interaction between employees.
The Portals also generate a series of terraces and outdoor spaces at different levels of the tower, forming a visual and physical connection between the building, the city, and the surrounding landscape.
Internally, the headquarters departs from the typical central-core office tower arrangement. Services and vertical circulation are concentrated on one side of the building, freeing larger floorplates with direct access to daylight, views, and the shared Portal spaces.
Connecting research, work, and daily life
KDL Portal comprises research laboratories, workplaces, hospitality facilities, exhibition spaces, and accommodation for visitors. Employees, researchers, business partners, and guests will occupy different parts of the building while sharing a network of communal spaces distributed throughout the tower.
Landscaped terraces, internal planting, and extensive glazing introduce natural light and views across the headquarters, strengthening its relationship with the neighbouring reservoir park.
The project is organised as a series of interconnected environments rather than distinct programme zones, bringing workplace, research, and hospitality functions together within a single high-rise building.
A landmark project in Shenzhen’s Longhua district
The headquarters occupies a prominent site in one of Longhua’s emerging business clusters, where it is expected to become one of the district’s most recognisable buildings.
For KDL, the project establishes a visible corporate presence for a company whose products have largely operated behind the scenes of the global battery supply chain. Founded in 1996, the company has expanded beyond China, establishing manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America while supplying components used in high-performance battery production.
When completed in 2027, KDL Portal will provide a permanent architectural expression of that evolution. The headquarters arrives as KDL marks its 30th anniversary, providing a new architectural identity for a business that has grown alongside the rise of the global battery industry.
