HYATECH Headquarters Office Building

Qingshan Wu

HYATECH Headquarters Office Building Architectural Samples for the Development of Private Enterprises in Southern Jiangsu

• Architects, Interior & Landscape Design

Private enterprises in Southern Jiangsu face exceptionally fierce competition. In the course of time, old enterprises continue to collapse while new ones emerge. It is precisely in this constant process of renewal and replacement that private enterprises have achieved large-scale upgrading, transformation, and iteration. Different enterprises at different stages of development have varying requirements for their own buildings.

HYATECH is a high-tech enterprise specializing in the research, production, and sales of key components for aviation engine and medical orthopedic implant forgings. Its main products include high-performance components such as aviation engine compressor blades, rotating parts and structural components, and medical orthopedic implant forgings. It has become a supplier to major domestic and foreign engine companies such as Aero Engine Corporation of China, SAFRAN, Rolls-Royce, and GE Aerospace. HYATECH was established in 2013 and went public in 2020. From the beginning, they entrusted MINAX Architecture with the design of their first factory building and office building.

For start-up enterprises facing intense competition, the primary task is survival. How to achieve a good start and maximum practical value within limited funds and resources becomes the top priority. At the same time, the architectural and spatial design should also fully reflect the characteristics and spirit of the enterprise, conveying confidence in the future. The land initially obtained by the enterprise was not large enough, only sufficient for a basic standard production workshop and approximately 3000 square meters of office space. The traditional and efficient approach is to integrate the workshop and office space, allocating a portion of the workshop area for office use. However, for technology enterprises like HYATECH, which mainly targets foreign clients and attaches great importance to brand value in their products, a good corporate image can not only reflect the unique vision of the enterprise but also convey a brand image different from ordinary processing enterprises in the process of communication with customers.

Although the office and public areas are not large, we still recommend separating this part of the building from the standard workshop, forming functional blocks. Through the methods of combination blocks' turning and the courtyard spaces, a relatively rich and multi-level experience is created within the limited space. This way of enhancing value within a limited scope reflects a meticulous and dedicated attitude under strict constraints, consistent with the inherent spirit of HYATECH products.

The standard workshop features an aluminum alloy corrugated panel façade, emphasizing the industrial character of the building. The front area of the building is divided into two parts: one for offices, research, and business, and the other containing a restaurant and employee care facilities. Drawing inspiration from the shape and generation characteristics of HYATECH aerospace products, we combined the building with the shape of airflow in wind tunnel experiments, naturally depicting the unique appearance of the two buildings with flowing curved forms. The concave front plaza is enclosed by the two streamlined buildings, with a flagpole axis arranged facing the workshop's gable.

The two buildings on either side are connected by glass corridors. We convinced the client to create a small courtyard within the precious workshop space. Water and trees are arranged in the courtyard, allowing the glass corridor to pass overhead. This enables people to enjoy the precious natural environment embedded in the small space between the workshop and the office building at different elevations, with the moonlight on the half wall, the dappled shadows of the cassia trees, and the ever-changing breeze, creating a lovely atmosphere.

The streamlined buildings consist of glass curtain walls with evenly-distributed aluminum alloy horizontal sunshade components. The horizontal movement of the metal components enhances the sense of streamline, visually maintaining a consistent appearance for the public building and the production workshop. Although there are only minor design variations in the facade and space, the introduction of changing elements enriches the building in different scales, with the overlapping of lines and surfaces shaping a unique architectural image. As trees gradually flourish, filling the spaces we reserved, the building reflects the richness of nature through flickering sunlight and swaying tree shadows.

MINAX Architecture has always believed that each building should have its unique character, intimately tied to its users. During the process of establishing an enterprise, the demands may vary at different stages , but what remains consistent throughout the different development stages of the enterprise is its intrinsic spirit. Exploring and shaping this spirit is an important aspect of our architectural creation. The expression of a building may vary at different times and scales, but its inherent characteristics will accompany the growth and expansion of the enterprise, becoming the most tangible and visible sample of its spirit.