Arup has been chosen as masterplanner of the first phase of the multi-billion pound Dongtan “eco-city”, in China.
The new city is being developed by Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation the Hong Kong quoted investment arm of the Shanghai city government.
The city will be built on the eastern end of Chongming, a large island that sits in the mouth of the Yangtze river delta a few miles northeast of the city centre, and close to Shanghai’s new airport.
The development will eventually extend to cover around 8,000 ha roughly equivalent to New York’s Manhattan Island. The city is expected to be able to house several million people, a range of new technology industries and leisure facilities.
Arup clinched the deal last week following an international design competition that began three years ago and intense talks with Shanghai industrial that have run for more than a year.
References: The Sunday Times Business 28/08/05 page 3
