The mainland's buoyant economy is attracting an increasing number of multinational corporations to set up offices in either Beijing or Shanghai. These companies, along with their local counterparts, are looking for stylish office buildings. Tenants are looking for premium office complexes that suit their image, they want offices in central business districts with convenient transportation, easy access, top-grade interiors that include green features, and a world-class building management. Occupiers are once again placing greater emphasis on the quality and flexibility of office accommodations versus making decisions based on costs alone, says Tim O'Connor, senior director and head of office services at CB Richard Ellis (Shanghai). 'Increased activity is being seen from high-value-added manufacturing companies, pharmaceutical firms and the professional services sector, as real estate decisions are being made with an eye on the future,' O'Connor says. Situated in Jing'an District in Puxi, Shanghai, Wheelock Square is the only premium office tower that will be completed in the district this year. 'Puxi's office market is on the road to steady recovery,' says Anthony Couse, managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle (Shanghai). 'It has witnessed net absorption for two consecutive quarters since the fourth quarter of last year. 'Many multinational corporations have started to re-evaluate expansion plans on the back of a robust economy in China and it is reflected by the increased level of inquiries for Wheelock Square,' Couse says. 'As the new landmark in Nanjing Road West, we are confident that the strong leasing momentum of Wheelock Square will continue.' CB Richard Ellis and Jones Lang LaSalle are joint marketing and leasing agents for the office tower. Developers, with a long history on the mainland, are relaunching or introducing new development projects, especially in Shanghai where the World Expo 2010 is being staged. 'We have a long and proud history in Shanghai and are very pleased to be developing such a prominent site,' says Dave Siu, general manager of estates management (Shanghai) at Wharf China Estates, a subsidiary of Wharf Holdings, in Shanghai. 'Wheelock Square will further enhance Shanghai's dynamic skyline and will redefine the landscape of this vibrant business district,' Siu says. 'The investment we've made reaffirms our confidence in the business opportunities in China.' Positioned at the heart of Jing'an District, Wheelock Square is directly opposite Jing'an Temple Metro Station, where Metro lines 2, 7 and 14 cross, and links the office tower to locations such as People's Square in Lijiazui and the Shanghai World Expo 2010 sites. It is next to the Yan'an Elevated Highway, granting access to Shanghai's domestic and international airports. The office tower is a five-minute walk from the City Bus Terminal and is conveniently linked to the Pudong International Airport. The 270-metre, 61-storey Wheelock Square is designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox and provides what appears to be the most prestigious office space in the Puxi area. The office tower features refined symmetrical lines combined with subtle design elegance. This will allow occupants to enjoy their work environment and enhances their efficiency through environmentally-friendly features and high-quality provisions. With a floor plate of about 2,100 square metres, the building incorporates 46 office floors with a clear ceiling height of 3.05 metres, and four specified trading floors with a ceiling height of 3.30 metres. The four trading floors provide optional internal staircases for companies with offices on connected floors. The building has advanced facilities including sophisticated fibre-optic and satellite telecommunication systems. It also has a 180-watt per-square-metre cooling capacity, a 100VA per-square-metre power supply and advanced air conditioning systems - all of which are aimed at boosting productivity. All floors in the office tower feature high-quality marble finishes and executive washrooms. Tenants can also install their own auxiliary air-conditioning system on floors in designated areas. The nine-metre-high main lobby at Wheelock Square has double entrances and exits. There is also direct vehicular access to drop-off points at the building, thereby reducing the walking distance for tenants and visitors arriving by car. Tenants and visitors may also park their cars in the basement, designed to accommodate more than 500 cars. The office tower is linked by covered walkways to the southern and northern annexes, which are low-rise blocks containing food and beverage outlets and high-end retail shops. International five-star hotels, including the Portman Ritz-Carlton and Shanghai JC Mandarin Hotel, and more shopping outlets are within walking distance. The building offers top-quality amenities, security and safety specifications. It's environmentally-friendly features aim to enhance work efficiency. The building is energy-efficient and its glass facade is able to maximise natural light. Green gardens in the office tower are designed to improve the work environment and provide a pleasant space to relax. The Wheelock Square office tower concierge, housekeeping and security services are of international standards, including a management team which is on duty 24 hours a day. The team controls air conditioning and energy efficiency. The building's security includes CCTV, door-contact monitoring and wireless patrol tours. 'Wheelock Square has been very favourably received which is testament to the quality of its design and technical infrastructure,' O'Connor says. 'Considerable interest is coming from tenants wanting to upgrade as they position their business for future growth.'