Written by Dai Qian

Photographed by Xu Jiechen

The Shanghai Expo Park with an area of 5.28km2 is not only the largest in the history of Expo, but also the largest single construction project in the history of Shanghai. The construction of Shanghai Expo Park has attracted wide attentions from all aspects of the society.

In order to get further information about the construction on the site, we visited Mr. Bai Wenhua, President of Shanghai World Expo Land Holding Co., Ltd., the company which is responsible for major infrastructure construction for Expo......

Reporter: The road construction within 2010 World Expo area has begun. As we know, you've made great efforts in site investigation, verification and pre-construction preparation. My questions are: What are the general requirements for these construction projects? When will construction of the first infrastructures within the Expo area be completed for the next step of construction of the pavilions and supporting facilities?

Bai: Road construction within the Expo area will be done in accordance with master planning requirements,"a high level starting point, well designed concepts, and reflection of Shanghai features", as well as site conditions. A combination of the future development of the city of Shanghai as well as the continued future development of World Expo through Shanghai's experience will be achieved, and promote the development of overall urban construction in Shanghai.

oads within the Expo area are quite different from normal roads in their function: first of all, these roads will provide skeleton accesses to pavilion construction sites; second, they will serve as the major transport circulations within the area during the Expo period. Furthermore, to ensure efficient connection and operation of World Expo and urban transport systems, the relationship between services of these roads during Expo and post Expo, the relationship between the Expo road services and urban public traffic services, the relationship between aboveground and underground transport developments, the relationship between road services within the Expo area and macro road services for World Expo, and the relationship between current and future developments shall be well coordinated..

Therefore, the World Expo road network will be designed as a modern multimode and composite traffic system with required functions and standards, in connection with perimeter environments and landscapes, to create a comfortable and favorable urban activity space of high ecological quality.

Roads and relevant support municipal infrastructures are the first constructions in planning. On 19th of August, construction began on the first 11 roads within Expo Park parcel A and B in Pudong area as well as relevant storm sewers, east to Bailian River, west to Lupu Bridge, south to South Pudong Road and north to Huangpu River, with a total road length of around 11 kilometers and a footprint of about 39 squaremeters, all to be completed within one year. The roads are part of 110 main projects within the World Expo area, which can be classified into 19 categories. It should be pointed out that we are burdened with a heavy task and are pressed for time to complete the infrastructure constructions within Expo area.

Reporter: It is well known that Shanghai World Expo Land Holding Co., Ltd. is good at fighting tough battles. The so called World Expo spirit of "struggling, exploiting, and keep improving"have been well represented in the construction of "Pujiang World Expo Residential Area". We all believe that you will keep moving and carrying forward the World Expo spirit in the infrastructure constructions within the Expo area. Facing the new challenge, how can you ensure the constructions will be finished according to the time schedule and quality requirement?

Bai: For such a heavy task, we've made great efforts in investigation and verification, and developed 3 major principles to guarantee that the construction of each project be completed according to the time schedule and quality requirements: firstly, infrastructure construction will start ahead of pavilion construction and provide necessary conditions for the latter; secondly, project construction and resident relocation will be properly coordinated and mutually promoted; thirdly, projects involving large amounts of engineering work, long construction periods and high difficulties in construction will start in advance. Based on these principles we've made construction arrangements and schedules for each project in a detailed and systematic way.

Engineering construction companies employed for World Expo projects will develop a series of detailed and strict management measures, to define respective responsibilities and duties, and implement the Expo park infrastructure constructions according to time schedules and milestones. Three types of management modes will be adopted:"direct management"for those low tech level projects with heavy workloads and covering areas, including roads and green spaces;"general contracting"for those high tech level projects with heavy workloads, including underground spaces; and commission management for the dismantling, reforming and rebuilding of utility pipelines.

We will attach much more importance to safe construction, suitable material and themovements of staff, to minimize disturbance to surrounding residents and companies. All constructions will be carried out in enclosed areas according to planning plots, resettlement regulations and construction processes and stages rationalized prior to kick-off, with definite assignments of responsibilities and duties.

Reporter: According to time schedules this year, which projects will begin following the first constructions on 19th of August? It is mentioned that landscapes and underground spaces will be provided with many highlights and delicate features. When will the construction of these two projects start?

Bai: Following the development of the first infrastructures (including 11 roads in parcel A and B), construction of landscapes and underground spaces, attracting much more attention, will be started in all respects. The next stage constructions will cover another 7 roads in parcel C, World Expo Park, flood walls, underground spaces and relevant storm sewage pump stations. By the end of this year, open caisson structures for storm sewage pump stations and sinking preparations will be made, landforms will be built for landscaping, flood wall construction will start simultaneously with green spaces within core areas, and the World Expo axis and underground spaces will enter into the construction stage.

In the meantime, preparation work for World Expo Village and supporting facilities has been started . The construction of World Expo Village will begin early next year.

Reporter: It is said that a vast area of riverside greenbelts will be provided within the Expo area and will become a new landmark in Shanghai. Would you please provide a better picture for us?

Bai: World Expo Park is one of the landscaping highlights within the World Expo area. The park is located in Pudong area, adjacent to the public activity center to be built by Shanghai World Expo Group. This is a riverside park, a park for Shanghai World Expo, and a park for downtown Shanghai. Besides these functions, the park shall possess the following 4 characteristics:

Firstly, the grand plan: To build a modern urban forest in close proximity to Nanpu Bridge, Lupu Bridge and Huangpu River, creating an echo with these large scale forms. Secondly, to create a smooth and natural form: To delicately link with The Bund's topographic forms, color and alternating features of plants and elements including water areas, plants and wet lands. Thirdly, green city philosophy: By using different methods of treatment and means, build up a harmonious environment (as well as an urban green lung) along Huangpu River, with ecology and environmental protection considerations. Fourthly, strong technical support: A series of indepth researches and investigations have been made for technologies concerning waters and wet lands, and plants and native tree species.

Reporter: Shanghai World Expo will receive alarge flow of visitors. Aboveground roads alonewill hardlycope with all the visitor flows. In addition, World Expo will be held in the summer season, and sufficient heatstroke prevention measures will be undertaken accordingly.According to World Expo master planning, large underground spaces will be provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to build an effective landscape as well. As a consequence, infrastructure constructions will face a lot of difficulties. Would you please talk about the features in construction of World Expo axis and underground spaces?

Bai: the World Expo axis is an important landscape axis within the Expo area, as well as a traffic hub connecting four permanent zones (the public event center, China pavilion zone, theme pavilion zone, and performing art center) and pedestrian trestles on the east and west sides. The World Expo axis is provided with a combination of different functions - traffic, municipal support and commercial. Via this axis, four permanent Expo zones will be directly connected or linked with metro stations of line No.7, line No.8 and line No. 13, as well as stations with the maglev passing through the Expo area.

The World Expo axis and underground spaces are designed and are to be constructed to function integrally, not only to meet Expo transport and landscape requirements, but to afford a rational alternation of architectural and structural layouts. Underground spaces design will follow modern philosophies and trends in development, emphasizing convenience and comfort as well as sun-lighting and ecological requirements.

The World Expo axis will greatly promote Expo transport capabilities, create new public urban spaces, and improve Expo landscape quality and the image of Expo . In the meantime, the axis will become the core of the future underground city, and present our new direction in urban construction to the world.

Major underground spaces for World Expo are located in Pudong area, among which the World Expo axis underground spaces (around 180,000 squaremeters) constitute the backbone of underground space master planning in Pudong. In the near future, underground spaces of around 400,000 ~ 500,000 squaremeters will be built. This underground construction is momentous in Shanghai’s history, guiding the future development of urban spaces and putting forward new requirements in infrastructure constructions within the Expo area.

Reporter: As an important participant in World Expo area construction, Shanghai World Expo Land Holding Co., Ltd. is committed to fulfill the engineering construction in combination with World Expo theme development , technical innovation, and post-expo services. How can you combine and demonstrate these elements in construction?

Bai:"High-tech Expo"and"ecologic Expo"are our guidance and focus in Expo construction. Wandering around World Expo area via pedestrian trestles of different elevations, you'll reach all Expo zones and find concrete and detailed constructions that are high-tech and ecological.

No catch basin cover or water accumulation will be encountered on the ground surface roads within the Expo area. All pedestrian ways will be built with advanced materials of high water permeability, and storm water will penetrate into the subsurface all the time. Roads will be paved with waste asphalt and waste materials, including ground tiles made with waste residues and glass. Entering underground accesses you'll not feel suppression, for this is a bright, ecologic and pollution free underground network, supported by advanced ventilation and environmental technologies. Furthermore, the feasibility of utilization of solar energy & PV generation technology is under study. Outdoor canopies will be provided with eco-techniques including mist cooling, making you feel comfortable in the summer season.

Reporter: It is heard that many old buildings and workshops within Expo area will be rebuilt and reused. Would you please make a brief introduction of the major functions of these rebuilt buildings and workshops, and your considerations?

Bai: World Expo area is built on land with the highest density of industrial heritage in Shanghai. Many old manufacturing buildings here will serve to recollect our memories of old Shanghai. Shanghai Expo will rebuild and reuse a large amount of old manufacturing buildings, which will become a unique element of Expo. According to current planning, the overall building area of Shanghai Expo is around 800,000squaremeters, of which nearly one third (250,000 squaremeters) will be composed of old manufacturing buildings that have been rebuilt. It is hardly possible to find a successful precedent of reusing historical buildings in World Expo history. Most previous World Expos were convened in suburb areas provided with all newly built buildings. Shanghai Expo will be held in a downtown area, an area of profound historical backgrounds. The protection and rebuilding of old buildings for Expo purposes has become an inevitable element. Shanghai Expo will make a great attempt and hope to leave a successful and classical example in World Expo history.

After rebuilding, these old buildings and workshops will have five major functions as follows: 1) wide span manufacturing buildings that can be directly used for construction of state pavilions; 2) as a logistic base. For instance, if Shanghai Expo receives 400,000 visitors per day and each consumes 2 bottles of beverage, daily consumption will reach 800,000 bottles; 3) as administrative office buildings. The present World Expo Construction Building is rebuilt from an old manufacturing building, and future Expo administrative facilities will also be built based on these buildings; 4) as service supporting facilities, such as shops, supermarkets and riverside restaurants within World Expo Village. There are 9 villas standing within World Expo area, which will be kept and reused; 5) as museums. This is a building reform project attracting much more concerns. Many workshops within Jiangnan Ship Yard will be rebuilt into an industrial museum complex (including a ship building industrial museum and aviation industrial museum), a new highlight of Shanghai, showing the past and future of manufacturing industries.