2/8/2018 – World Construction Network: Gafcon to lead master plan for Shanghai’s Zizhu Purple Bay project
Gafcon has been selected to lead the master planning and development for the Zizhu Purple Bay residential community project on an 800-acre waterfront site along the Huangpu river, located 18 miles south of the Bund of Shanghai in China.
The community will improve the urban centre with yacht homes, condos, a nature and education centre with an approximately 125,000ft2 aquarium and botanical garden, rowing club, community services district with a health clinic, senior housing, youth centre and multiple schools.
Construction has begun on portions of the Purple Bay site with the Gafcon-led Phase 2 master plan beginning in March of 2018 on the InnoTown business, technology and university hub, with an active marina and a walkable downtown centre.
Upon completion, Purple Bay will feature a variety of residential and commercial developments with a focus on high-tech industry and educational institutions.
The list of committed tenants includes University of Southern California, General Electric and Coca-Cola.
The Purple Bay project builds on the vision of the 70-acre Seaport San Diego. The Seaport San Diego project is being led by Gaffen’s development company, Protea Waterfront Development, and includes members of the Purple Bay team, including AVRP Skyport, the project’s architect.
As the programme manager of Purple Bay, Gafcon has led a team, including AVRP Skyport, McCullough Landscape Architecture, Moffat & Nichol (marine engineering), and OdySea (aquarium operation) in developing the master design.
Gafcon CEO Yehudi ‘Gaf’ Gaffen said: “This is a legacy project at a tremendous scale. We are essentially building a new city from the ground up. It already has attention from high-profile companies, universities and individuals.”
AVRP Skyport principal Frank Wolden said: “Zizhu Purple Bay will be one of AVRP Skyport’s signature urban, waterfront properties.
“New community assets will connect with the region’s greatest resource – the waterfront – into one incredible experience. The cohesive design will create a livable, desirable and thriving community.”