New DJI headquarters are called DJI Sky City Innovation Hub

Today, the world’s largest drone maker announced that the new DJI headquarters have officially been opened. The two connected towers are called the DJI Sky City Innovation Hub.

In line with the drone maker’s mission to create a creative community for the sky, DJI has unveiled DJI Sky City, its new corporate headquarters. This cutting-edge innovation center has ground-breaking architectural features never previously seen in high-rise buildings of this size.

The two buildings, which have 44 and 40 stories, respectively, were created by the internationally renowned and award-winning architectural firm Foster + Partners and are slated to become a major, sustainable new landmark in Shenzhen, China, one of the top ten UNESCO Cities of Design.

“Drone technology has changed the way we experience the world around us, while pushing the boundaries of aerial possibilities,” said Lord Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman, Foster + Partners. “I have enjoyed using DJI products for more than a decade. We are delighted to have partnered with DJI in creating their new headquarters in Shenzhen, which will be the company’s premier center of research and innovation.”

DJI Sky City

As a result of the company’s fast expansion, DJI personnel were dispersed over many Shenzhen buildings. The towers bring them together in a specially designed building that gives physical expression to the company’s moniker, Da-Jiang Innovations (大疆创新, or “Innovation Without Borders” in Mandarin).

DJI Sky City, with its 200-meter height, serves as an example of how DJI has developed from a start-up in flying technology to a leader in worldwide innovation.

The company’s office, research, and development spaces are distributed between the towers in floating volumes that are supported by massive mega trusses and give the structures the appearance of floating in midair from a distance.

The unique construction, which is the first asymmetrical suspension steel structure used in high-rise towers of this size, eliminates the need for columns to provide continuous workspaces that reflect “Innovation Without Borders” in terms of architecture.

The building also has four stories of drone flight testing facilities that are specifically designed for the company’s best-in-class product development procedures. The towers’ distinctive V-shaped trusses, which stand out against Shenzhen’s cityscape, make this feasible.

A lightweight component that forms a beautiful link between the two volumes, the 90-meter-long suspension sky bridge that connects the towers at a height of 105 meters. It provides as a visual representation of how all DJI divisions work together to achieve a single objective.

By use of a public, sloping platform garden, the elevated volumes at ground level bring the surrounding vegetation towards the base of the structures. A community healthcare center and other public amenities are located on the ground level.

As a sign of DJI’s respect for the urban surroundings and its commitment to the community, the building’s grounds are open and welcoming in this manner. The tower entrances provide the first indication of Sky City’s pragmatic, aesthetically pleasing, and innovative attitude to work.

Each lobby has a black pine tree surrounded by a Zen garden, placed against a rammed-earth wall with striated patterns. The end result is a peaceful synthesis of strained geometry and undulating nature, the development of tomorrow, and the roots of the past.

Foster + Partners came up with answers to the business’s desire to build sustainably. The floorplates’ layout optimizes daylight while using less energy. The creative TWIN lift technology enhances the amount of useable office floor space while lowering the need for shafts.

Additionally, it’s sophisticated control system enables off-peak energy usage decrease. Gray water is recycled for irrigation of the landscape, which also serves as a rainwater buffer during the monsoon season. Rainwater is collected and stored for future use.

“It took us six years to build the new DJI Headquarters, which is the result of the wisdom and determination of DJI and our valued partners,” said Frank Wang, Founder and CEO of DJI. “We see Sky City as a product unlike any we’ve ever made: our real home. At the beginning of a new era for DJI, we pay great attention to the growth and well-being of every employee. This starts with a work environment that is both practical and delightful. I hope that Sky City will inspire all of us to work together and scale new heights of progress, wisdom, and possibilities to develop solutions that benefit society.”

Photos of the DJI headquarters or DJI Sky City

Photos: courtesy of DJI and DealsDrone.