Looking Back | A Beijing Urban Renewal Case - A Visit to Haidian District's Dinghao Building
The following article is taken from ULI (Urban Land Institute), author ULI (Urban Land Institute)
ULI (Urban Land Institute).
The Urban Land Institute is a membership-based education and research association that is dedicated to advancing the Institute's mission: shaping the evolving built environment for communities around the world.
One of the most high-profile renovation projects in Beijing - Tower A of Dinghao Building Phase I, has been successfully renovated. On July 8, the Dinghao DH3 team joined hands with ULI to invite a diverse range of experts to Dinghao to discuss funding models in urban renewal and how to collaborate across organizations to solve urban renewal problems.
Lu Zhongxiao, executive director and chief designer at Nikken Design, gave a presentation entitled "Transformation and Rebirth: Renovation of Dinghao Building in Zhongguancun, Beijing". From the three aspects of urban context, value improvement, and urban image, the presentation explained how to extend the TOD concept in urban renewal, especially the "urban core", to improve the quality of underground space and guide connection with the urban context; architectural space follows the market and the times, and Dinghao's transition from an electronics market to a headquarters for innovation is an improvement to the value of the commercial and office buildings; the renovation of the exterior to landmark status is an updated image that shows the new look of Zhongguancun.
Wang Jianfeng, general manager of the Dinghao Building, explained the process of the renovation. After its incarnation as an electronics market in 2003, and its partial transition in 2010 to new business offerings and bringing in business incubators, 2019 is Dinghao's third renovation. The project based its positioning on the planning of Beijing City and Haidian District, matched itself to the needs of technology companies, has created an interaction platform for the technology innovation ecosystem, and has gradually established the goals of becoming a source of China's technological innovation, a key hub for global innovation in the future, and a new benchmark for Zhongguancun. Mr. Wang also explained the details of how the project investors and project management team worked together, the construction problems encountered in the renovation, as well as the online platform for management, control, and data sharing, innovative construction technology, and the application of BIM technology in the management of the construction project.
Meng Zhixin, general manager of Beijing Shilian Mingde Commercial Management, presided over the subsequent roundtable discussion - "How to Collaborate Across Organizations to Solve Urban Renewal Problems". Fu Siman, Haidian Street planning consultant, introduced the "1+1+N" mechanism for planning consultants, which plays a bridging role in urban renewal and promotes urban environment improvement. Wang Jianfeng, general manager of Dinggu Dinghao Industrial Co., Ltd., explained that cross-organization synergy depends on active support at all levels of government, understanding funding requirements, communicating with property owners, and cooperating with professionals. Xu Xiaolin, ECOLAND project partner and chief designer at the Yilan Planning and Design Institute, discussed how breaking design barriers and coordinating traffic, greening, residential communities, and other directly managed departments have been able to turn urban green spaces into developed urban public spaces. Wang Qian, founder of Hantong Capital, said, "Urban renewal is especially significant for urban development, revitalizing existing assets, and awakening urban vitality. There are often policy uncertainties in urban renewal, such as the zoning of the land, the age of the land lease, and the approval process, that are encountered during the renovation. Each issue may determine the success or failure of the project, but seeing a project succeed is very rewarding."
Wang Chonglie, deputy director of the Urban Renewal Planning Institute/deputy director of the Urban Renewal Planning Institute under the Beijing Academy of Urban Planning and Design, introduced a series of policies issued by the Beijing government, the "Beijing Urban Renewal Special Plan", the "Beijing Urban Renewal Regulations", and the "Beijing Urban Renewal Action" Plan", and explained that urban renewal is the building of the city's future development model. He said that the government's responsibilities are leading, serving, leveraging funds, providing policy impetus, easing the process of urban renewal reporting, and establishing a unified understanding and goals across departments. The government should also promote urban renewal by establishing mechanisms, tracking projects, identifying problems, writing special reports, and issuing policies. Directly under the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, departments have been established to coordinate various tasks, including the Beijing Municipal Government's Urban Renewal Collaborative Leading Group, the Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Commission's Implementation Group, the Planning and Land Policy Commission's Planning and Land Policy Group, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance's finance and taxation teams, and the Urban Renewal Working Committee. He also introduced the government's policies to make up for shortcomings, adjustments to land policies and bidding, auction, and listing policies, the government's focus on the coordination of market relations throughout the entire chain and cycle, and more.
Finally, Yin Liang, partner and general manager of SDP Investment and vice chairman of Dinggu Dinghao Industrial Co., Ltd., gave the concluding speech, saying, "The challenges of urban renewal and the difficulties in the practical operations are adapting to changes in the urban makeup and solving complex problems. The solution to the problem lies in precise positioning. Project positioning should be in line with the needs of the market and customers, the government's planning, and the duty to maximize the interests of investors. A good management team is what guarantees a successful project."
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