Win Win Lucky Grass Composes Decoration Legend
— Construction Record of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Decoration for the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai) Project
From high above, as planes take off and land at Hongqiao Airport, a massive silver “four-leaf clover” stands out on the earth below. This is the world’s largest exhibition complex, the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai), completed at the end of last December.
Shanghai Zhongjian Eighth Bureau Decoration Co., Ltd. (referred to as Eighth Bureau Decoration) was entrusted with the decoration of the largest sections of this project, covering nearly 600,000 square meters. The work included a wide range of decoration types, completed in less than six months under strict technical and quality standards. How did the Eighth Bureau’s decorators overcome challenges and push beyond their limits on such a vast and complex project? Qi Suming, Chairman of Eighth Bureau Decoration, explained: “This achievement represents not only the relentless efforts and wisdom of our team but also embodies our spirit to face challenges head-on and never give up.”
Perseverance Amid Challenges: Taking Responsibility and Staying Committed
Looking back a year ago, when Baju Decoration, under the China Construction Eighth Engineering Division, won the bid for the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai), the team was both inspired and aware of the tough journey ahead. This was not just a race against time but a mission to break national records in decoration construction—a monumental and grand challenge. This marked the beginning of the “National Exhibition and Convention Battle.”
The total construction area of the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai) is 1.47 million square meters—equivalent to 2.5 times the Pudong New International Expo Center. It also includes 400,000 square meters of office, commercial, and hotel space, making it a powerhouse in the exhibition industry. This project was the first for the Eighth Bureau in Shanghai and carried significant importance.
Eighth Bureau Decoration’s scope covered nearly 600,000 square meters and involved diverse decoration fields such as glass curtain walls, stone curtain walls, aluminum alloy grille curtain walls, ceilings, walls, roofs, fine interior decoration, door and window hardware, and flooring. “This project serves as an encyclopedia of decoration engineering,” said Mu Sha, the project execution manager, describing the complexity of the work.
Faced with both opportunity and challenge, the renowned “Decorative Iron Army” of the Eighth Bureau bravely accepted this unprecedented responsibility, determined to make the project a new milestone in the company’s engineering history. Qi Suming emphasized at the project mobilization meeting: “The schedule is unforgiving, and quality cannot be compromised. We must burn our bridges and never relax. Cooperation with the general contractor is essential to successfully complete this task. Victory is the only option.”
The Eighth Bureau Decoration quickly initiated the project with scientific planning and precise organization. A team of elite professionals was assembled to form a dedicated project department. Zhang Weicheng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, served as project commander; Gong Yongquan, a nationally acclaimed project manager, took charge of daily management; and Chairman Qi Suming maintained ongoing leadership throughout. At peak periods, more than 80 management personnel were involved, establishing a robust organizational and management system to guarantee project success.
Innovation and Expertise: Quality Through Process Control
Excellence in enterprise depends on quality and management. For this national exhibition project, “Quality Assurance and Value Creation” became the core philosophy embraced by every employee of Eighth Bureau Decoration. From early material procurement to coordination with cross-disciplinary teams, the company demonstrated an unwavering commitment to quality and reliability.
The project team leveraged BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology for efficient construction planning, process organization, and engineering acceptance. Utilizing BIM models and change instructions, the team collaborated effectively with the general contractor, steel structure teams, and other specialists during curtain wall construction. This enabled early detection of potential conflicts, reducing rework and material waste.
Additionally, BIM was used for detailed design integration, linking design, processing, manufacturing, and construction stages. By analyzing geometric and process dimensions of components through 3D models—covering curtain walls, roofs, MEP installations, and interior decoration—the team resolved potential construction issues during the design phase. Relevant professionals intervened early to refine adapters and brackets, reflected these changes in detailed design drawings, and completed fabrication accordingly. On-site, BIM combined with detailed drawings ensured accurate installation and comprehensive management of resources, schedule, and equipment.
Despite established regulations and management procedures, the project department continuously pursued excellence to ensure top quality. They adhered to the principle: “Check previous processes, ensure the current process, and serve the next.” Quality inspectors were assigned to each work area to guarantee material quality, control key processes and nodes, and oversee detailed operations. Step-by-step technical briefings and improved working conditions supported this effort.
Furthermore, the project implemented an effective quality management system capable of detecting and resolving issues promptly. Sampling and supervision were conducted regularly, creating a closed-loop quality control environment that maintained strict oversight throughout the project.
Enduring Spirit Amid Challenges: The Iron Army Stands Strong
As the saying goes, “Success depends on both planning and effort.” Completing a 600,000-square-meter decoration project in just five months would have been unimaginable without a strong, passionate team. The management at Eighth Bureau Decoration achieved this feat, proving once again the remarkable strength of their “Decoration Iron Army.”
Project execution manager Mu Sha remarked, “While other projects plan by the day, we had to calculate by the hour.” The project team embraced the motto “Every second counts,” often joking that overtime nights were compensated by time off. Despite the exhaustion, no one complained about the hardship. “Honestly, we are tired, but we carry a shared goal in our hearts—to race against time and complete the project,” said Li Yao, a young manager on the team.
“Persevering in the green mountains without relaxing, standing firmly amidst broken rocks. A thousand strokes and ten thousand blows still remain strong, allowing the wind to blow in all directions.” This poem by Zheng Banqiao reflects the enduring spirit of the Eighth Bureau Decoration team. Through perseverance, innovation, and a steadfast iron army spirit, they overcame obstacles and demonstrated the excellence of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division in practice.
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