Galaxy Soho

The SOHO China corporation is the largest real-estate developer in China.  The corporation focuses on commercial/office real estate in the central districts of Beijing and Shanghai and are particularly known for their futuristic architecture.

Here's the newest SOHO building, the Galaxy SOHO, which occupies prime real estate on the 2nd Ring Road in Beijing.

In a city that sometimes looks almost militaristic/Soviet in its boxy architecture, the SOHO buildings, and the Galaxy SOHO in particular stand out with their curved lines.

The pedestrian level has a few levels of commercial whereas the top floors are offices.  It seems to follow a pretty standard business model.

It looks grand, but there appear to be some shoddy cosmetic work as een here by the offset in the seam.

I nicknamed this the "canyon."  Along the length of the SOHO Galaxy, you can look down the length of the complex.  This long axis of the building parallels the 2nd Ring Road.

There are four "pods."  Here it is looking up from the inside of one of the "pods."

The place has JUST opening up.  That's my colleague JPC in the empty ground floor commercial area of one of the "pods."

Commercial Real Estate is READY for occupancy.

In a foresighted move, the SOHO Galaxy has direct underground access to Line 2 of the Beijing Metro.  Still, more empty commercial space.  We'll see if it fills up.

The canyon area has some cool art.

One last picture.  SOHO China is building an even larger and grander complex in the Wangjing area of Beijing.  It's scheduled to open in 2014.  Let's see what they come up with!  Without a doubt it will be join the pantheon of iconic buildings that have sprung up in Beijing in the past decade!

Here is a link for more information on the SOHO Galaxy.