On May 19, 1952, East China Industry Bureau Architectural Design Company - Shanghai’s first
state-owned design institute and predecessor of East China Architectural Design & Research
Institute (ECADI) - was established. In the following year, Shanghai Municipal Architectural
Engineering Bureau Manufacture and Technology Office established its own Design Division – as
Shanghai’s first municipal design institute, it was the predecessor of Shanghai Institute of
Architectural Design & Research (SIADR). Both were pioneers for New China’s architectural
design
industry based in Shanghai. With this origin, ECADI and SIADR - the predecessors of Arcplus -
commenced their journey in which they would engrave their footmarks all over China and the
globe.
In the 1950s and 1960s, ECADI and SIADR implemented several important civil engineering projects
and
completed many science and defense engineering projects with the application of cutting-edge
technology.
In the period following the adoption of China’s Reform and Opening-Up Policy in 1978, ECADI and
SIADR actively adjusted their equity structures, re-grouped and established a series of
specialized
corporations to promote specialization and to optimize their business chain. ECADI and SIADR
created
a number of firsts - several of these projects are recognized as significant in the historical
development of architecture in China. Such projects encompass transportation facilities,
residential
buildings, hotels and resorts, large-scale office buildings, hospitals, and sports stadiums.
In the early 1990s, the world-renowned international financial center in Pudong New Area of
Shanghai
commenced its development. ECADI and SIADR took the main responsibility for the design of
tremendous
projects, including the landmark of Shanghai, Oriental Pearl Tower. The creative design of ECADI
and
SIADR significantly influenced the city’s improved functionality.
In March 1998, with the Government’s support, East China Architectural Design & Research
Institute and Shanghai Institute of Architectural Design & Research were merged into
Shanghai
Xian Dai Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd, a high-tech enterprise centering on
architectural
design.
Since this time, Xian Dai has developed into a group company which includes more than 15
professional subsidiary companies providing a full spectrum of services under one roof. Xian Dai
has
participated in the design work of a large number of significant and enduring diversified
projects,
including financial buildings, offices blocks, hotels and resorts, residential buildings, sports
stadiums, hospitals, schools and transportation facilities, contributing to a constant
beautification of Shanghai.
For the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, Xian Dai either directly lead or participated in the design of
61
major Expo pavilions, including Expo Axis, Expo Center, Expo Cultural Center, the China National
Pavilion plus a series of Expo supporting facilities.
Engineering projects mainly designed by Xian Dai amount to more than 30,000, covering 29
provinces
and cities domestically and 54 countries and regions internationally; more than 70% of the
landmark
buildings in Shanghai are designed by the group.
In 2015, the Xian Dai Group listed its main business of design and consulting by integrating
East
China Architectural Design & Research Institute into Arcplus Group PLC, and became the
controlling shareholder of Arcplus.
For more information about the history of the Xian Dai Group, please refer to
www.xd-ad.com.cn
.
The continued reform and innovation of Arcplus provides a system and mechanism that
guarantees the
continued development of our quality and cost-efficiency. With China's sustained and rapid
economic
development, Arcplus, through its abundant experience and comprehensive strength, has completed
a
large number of landmark projects across the country and in turn emerged as China’s leading
brand in
design.
