Chinese state television has a new headquarters designed by Koolhaas

Beijing - After ten years of construction, the new headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV) has been inaugurated in Beijing. The futuristic-looking building, which symbolizes China’s rise on the global stage, was designed by German architect Ole Scheeren in collaboration with Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas from the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).
     The CCTV Tower, standing 234 meters tall, is located in Beijing's business district. It consists of two L-shaped towers connected at the base by a cross, with a 70-meter rectangular cantilever connecting them at a height of 160 meters. Construction began in 2004 based on an unusual design from the turn of the millennium. The shell of the building was completed four years ago, followed by the construction of the interior. According to DPA, the first broadcasts from CCTV are expected to be sports transmissions, including the Summer Olympics in London.
     Ole Scheeren, 41, said about the building that it is not easy to define clearly. The structure symbolizes a turning point and "represents a new China in a different sense."
     CCTV began looking for creators of its new headquarters in 2002, shortly after China became a member of the World Trade Organization and the decision was made to host the Summer Olympics in 2008. According to Scheeren, these moments explain why unusual architectural designs took hold in the country.
     According to DPA, the Chinese do not have a strong fondness for state television, as it operates as a tool of propaganda for the ruling Communist Party. They are reportedly not thrilled with the CCTV Tower either, which has been dubbed "big boxer shorts" due to its unusual shape.
     The project's creator declined to disclose the cost, but estimates suggest it will amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.