The Shanghai St. Regis Hotel is a five-star international hotel operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts as a member of their exclusive Luxury Collection. The hotel, located in the Pudong New Area, is 38 stories tall with 318 rooms, including 48 suites. The guestrooms, at 48m2 are the largest in Shanghai. The 24-meter high podium contains the essential hotel functions including a three-story high lobby, ballroom, five restaurants, fitness center, indoor pool, tennis court and conference/business center facilities. The gently curving peaks at the top of the tower are set at different heights, and point in opposite directions while a glass enclosed central corridor sandwiched between the stone-clad slabs rises up and allows expansive views of the city from a restaurant and lounge at the top. Sydness Architects was commissioned for the project after winning an invited international design competition involving four firms. Construction began in 1998 and the hotel opened in July 2001.