From 1978, work focus of the central government transferred to economic development. Reform and opening up policy was followed out throughout the country and the survey and design industry entered a period of rapid growth. In 1979, the “Two Institutes” became enterprise pilots and enterprise management policy was carried out in the government-affiliated institutions. In 1982, three development zones in Minhang, Hongqiao and Caohejing were about to establish. The “Two Institutes” contributed intelligence to the process by sending experts to each development zone to work as administrators. The “Two Institutes” designed landmark buildings in the development zones, including Pacific Hotel, Jinqiao Mansion, Yangtze River Hotel, International Trade Center, Sun Plaza, Hongqiao Exhibition Center, World Trade Mall, Hongqiao Friendship Shopping Center, Sino-Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and the 14th Radio Factory. At the same time, besides large industrial projects, the “Two Institutes” also played a part in design of municipal transportation, residential areas, star-rated hotels and large office buildings. With the successively built commercial, financial, transportation, office and hotel buildings as well as residential communities, livelihood environment and city image of Shanghai have been improved continuously. In terms of transportation, there are Shanghai Railway Station, Hongqiao Airport and Shiliupu Dock; in terms of hotels, there are Cypress Hotel, Huating Hotel and Jin Jiang Hotel; in terms of business buildings, there are Union Building, Telecom Building and Stock Exchange Building; in terms of livelihood, there are Quyang Village and Wanli Community; in terms of culture, there are Shanghai Film Center, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Library and Shanghai Grand Theater and in terms of commerce, there are Shanghai Center, Yuyuan Shopping Center and Shanghai First Yaohan.
The government’s pilot fee notice for survey and design institutes, 1979
The Shanghai Institute became the construction consultant of the Hongqiao Development Zone on demands of the Construction Committee at that time. At first, the Shanghai Institute was strong in structure, HVAC and construction but weak in architecture. Development of architecture was related to industrial technology because it was about the use of integrated technology. In the construction of the Hongqiao Development Zone and cooperation with overseas design firms, the Shanghai Institute gradually improved in architecture and finally played a “key role” instead of a “consultant”.
Quoted from Mr. Qian Xuezhong’s speech at the Symposium on the Past 60 Years
Mr. Kong Qingzhong, Head of ECADI, Mr. Ye Rutang, Vice Minister of Ministry of Construction, Mr. Hong Birong, VP of SIADR
Residential Design Institute of SIADR established, 1985
SIADR Hainan branch established, 1988
Signing ceremony of ECADI with Shanghai Caohejing Industrial City, 1988
The first project undertaken by the East China Institute in the Hongqiao Development Zone was the Hongqiao Exhibition Center that was designed by Mr. Ling Benli as Chief Architect and Mr. Zhou Lixiang and Mr. You Xiangzhen as Head of structural design. Challenges in this project were steel structure, air conditioning system and complicated requirements on devices, let along the short construction period. So it was designed in construction. The second project undertaken was World Trade Mall and the third was Hongqiao Friendship Shopping Center, which could be regarded as the top works of the East China Institute then.
Quoted from Mr. Kong Qingzhong’s speech at the Symposium on the Past 60 Years
