The atrium features a 30-story high operable window set back into the tower's narrow elevations. Acting as a 'lung,' it allows air to flow into the tower and floods the interior with natural light. The shape of the tower'which aids the building's sustainable performance'was determined through the use of highly advanced aerodynamic modeling techniques. The design was subjected to a series of digital wind tests that allowed the form to be fine tuned. Convex primary facades and concave short facades have been shaped to decrease the building's structural loads and increase natural ventilation flow.

Low quality air presents an environmental challenge in Wujiang. To respond to this, a high-performance system of digital controls meters and directs the flow of air into and through the main atrium. The system also controls the opening and closing of windows throughout the building. Modulated fresh air intake cools apartments and hotel rooms during Wujiang's hot summer months, and helps facilitate mixed-mode ventilation in lobbies and other public spaces. When natural ventilation is not favorable, variable-speed fan coil units condition interior spaces.

In the winter, the atrium's vertical stack effect helps maintain warmer interior temperatures and reduces the use of underfloor radiant heating. Other major energy saving strategies include high performance facade, natural light harvesting using daylight responsive controls, energy recovery systems, and lighting energy optimization using efficient fixtures and occupancy controls. Water management, conservation, and reuse strategies include efficient building fixtures, rain water harvesting, condensate recovery, and an efficient use of processed water.

The overall site's potable water savings are projected to be 50% less than a conventional building."