The large-scale mixed-use building complex—which integrates comprehensive performance theaters, multi-functional mini-theaters and conference centers—is a landmark and the city’s first comprehensive public cultural building.

The project team incorporated both ancient culture and modern components into the design, with use of materials and elements such as bamboo, ZhangQian chiseling and air stacks. The team also adopted several green and energy-saving technologies for the more than 753,000-sq-ft project— such as ecological water features, solar panels, light tubes, a geothermal heat pump and a rainwater use system.

Photo courtesy CCCC Construction Group Co.

Both of the project’s buildings are constructed with structural steel. The north building is four floors above ground with one floor underground, while the south building is five floors above ground. Special safety plans and demonstrations ensured dangerous tasks were feasible before construction started in order to strengthen on-site supervision and safety management during construction. The project team says it had a perfect incident/injury rate and no lost time accidents during nearly 1 million worker hours.

Photo courtesy CCCC Construction Group Co.

The project also includes the Möbius Ring, a skywalk around the building’s facade that allows people to enjoy the project’s natural environment, including the Hanjiang River and the Qinling and Ba Shan Mountains.

“Combined with the internal function, the basic shape of the building is generated, and [its] simple, elegant and rhythmic shape echoes well with the beautiful natural environment,” inspiring the building’s natural form, the project team says in the submission.

Photo courtesy CCCC Construction Group Co.

The team says the building’s natural surroundings are “translated into [its] architectural language, and [into] shaping the landscape architecture between the mountains and the water.”

The more than $150-million project finished at budget and on schedule in slightly more than three and a half years in May 2023, according to the submission.