A cooperation zone for innovation in science and technology is currently being established between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. One of the first buildings that emerged there is the Hetao Innovation Center – a national center for research and development, for which schneider+schumacher won first prize in an architectural competition. The competition brief called for a seminal design that would set the benchmark for all future development. Located next to the river, this building complex designed by schneider+schumacher rises gradually from the embankment, forming a 120-metre-high office tower. The holistic design approach is representative of a new generation of research buildings that provide laboratories and offices, as well as exhibition areas, conference rooms, and leisure facilities. Two separate development plots formed the basis of the competition site. Through the thoughtful arrangement of the building volumes across the entire property, the complex reads as a unified urban composition, in which the required transformer station integrates seamlessly. The apparently randomly arranged connecting staircases between the building sections reflect the creative process of scientific work in research institutions. The two-story ground floor opens up to the public realm, providing easy access to conferences and exhibitions. Overall, the complex is conceived to support flexible and diverse uses, accommodating a wide range of activities within a coherent architectural framework.