Greater Bay Area Science Hall unveiled as new landmark for innovation

On Dec 12, the Greater Bay Area Science Hall (the permanent venue for the Greater Bay Area Science Forum) made its full debut in Nansha's Mingzhu Bay, Guangzhou.

The Greater Bay Area Science Hall. [Photo/WeChat account: nanshafabu]

This new addition serves as another world-class scientific exchange landmark in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Covering about 92,600 square meters, the complex combines an academic center, a science museum, and supporting facilities.

The building stands out for its innovative structural design. It boasts the country's largest uninterrupted wave-shaped welded stainless steel roof, made up of 26 concave curved panels. Inside, it is supported by China's first continuous wave-shaped single-layer rigid suspended grid-shell structure, which acts as the main framework, with the roof extending up to 75 meters in span. The north and south facades feature grid steel curtain walls tilted at angles up to 82.6 degrees, resembling enormous sails. Construction accuracy was achieved using 3D laser scanning and robotic welding technology.

The project fully adheres to green and low-carbon principles, aiming to become a near-zero carbon building. Its roof features photovoltaic glass that produces 96,000 kilowatt-hour of electricity each year. The curtain walls are made from corrosion-resistant, self-cleaning materials. In addition, the smart cable-net curtain wall includes embedded sensing systems for real-time monitoring and early warning. The use of high-efficiency plant room technology and lightweight microcrystalline ceiling materials, along with other innovative techniques and materials, greatly lowers operational energy use and expenses.

The Greater Bay Area Science Hall will function as a central platform to enhance cooperation in the region. It aims to facilitate scientific exchange and industrial collaboration, acting as a key support for strengthening synergistic innovation and fostering a transparent, interconnected science and technology ecosystem.