The high-rise office development surge in China's subtropical areas resulted from rapid urbanization and led to the adoption of large-area glass curtain walls that produce significant energy consumption challenges and thermal comfort issues. The research analyzes subtropical climate building envelope design strategies using typical office space in Shenzhen as case study. Through analysis of over 90 representative modern office buildings, four primary envelope types were identified: the primary office building envelope types consist of single-layer curtain walls at 59% followed by single-layer curtain walls with shading at 32% and double-layer curtain walls at 5% and continuous shading structures at 4% in two major metropolises in Southeastern China - Guangzhou and Shenzhen. We conducted envelope type evaluations using parametric analysis by means of orthogonal experimentation based on design parameters such as heat transfer coefficients and window-to-wall ratio and shading configurations. Performance was assessed using two primary metrics: comfortable hours during transition seasons and useful daylight illuminance (UDI). Building envelopes with single-layer curtain walls with shading elements demonstrate the highest overall performance score at 0.85 while double-layer curtain walls obtain a second position at 0.78. Building envelope design recommendations for quantifiable analysis establish window-to-wall ratios spanning 0.4 to 0.6 and glass heat transfer coefficients spanning 1.7 to 3.8 W/m2·K in addition to external shading coefficients from 0.4 to 0.6. The study demonstrates how architects together with engineers can create energy-efficient building envelopes through design methods that maintain occupant comfort in subtropical climates.