Rendering of Langham Resort Hotel
On September 9th, the core structure of the Langham Place Resort Hotel in the Xiangjiang Happy City project was successfully topped out, marking a key milestone set by the owner, Xiangjiang New Area Investment Group Co., Ltd.
“On September 9, 2014, the owner officially issued the construction order for Langham Place Resort Hotel. When I first arrived, the entire site was barren—muddy when it rained and dusty when it was sunny,” said Gao Weiqiang, the project commander for Xiangjiang Happy City. According to the owner’s contract, the team had only one year to complete everything from earthwork to the concrete structure, putting immense pressure on the project team. Today, all parties involved gathered to witness this moment, united by their dedication to the Xiangjiang Happy City project. The China Construction Fifth Engineering Bureau has shown strong competitiveness throughout the process.”
Applying BIM Technology to Overcome Challenges of Twisted Steel Structures
Langham Resort Hotel BIM Modeling Drawing
“Langham Place Resort Hotel features a novel design with a twisted steel structure and a unique, irregular streamlined style,” explained Ke Mingqi, the technical manager of the Langham Place Resort Hotel project department. This innovative design introduced significant challenges, including three-dimensional measurement and control of irregular steel columns, aerial closure of irregular steel beams, transportation and hoisting of heavy steel components, and quality control of welding ultra-thick steel plates.
To address these challenges, the project team implemented advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology. Through 3D modeling, they carefully reviewed the drawings during the detailed design phase, made necessary adjustments, and employed measures such as steel supports, tire frames, and temporary diagonal braces to ensure smooth steel structure construction and seamless closure of the transfer layer.
“The hotel’s overall design is a complex geometric form. Early inaccuracies in design or drawings could cause significant issues during construction. BIM technology overcomes the limitations of traditional 2D drawings and helps avoid errors throughout the construction process,” Ke Mingqi noted. BIM enables virtual construction on computers, allowing the team to identify potential problems early and create favorable conditions for subsequent construction phases.
Additionally, BIM technology allows for the decomposition of large components into smaller parts. “This approach simplifies complexity, improving the operability of on-site construction and material transportation,” explained Ke Biao. BIM’s millimeter-level precision has resulted in minimal rework from project start to main structure topping out.
“China Construction Fifth Engineering Bureau places great importance on BIM technology,” said Huang Wenchu. “For complex projects like Langham Place Resort Hotel, BIM is essential for accurate construction. Our project department holds weekly BIM training sessions, and many team members have become proficient users.”
Transforming Waste Mines into a Unique Green Paradise
Langham Place Resort Hotel Core Tube Topping
Urban development should harmonize with the local natural environment, resources, society, and culture. While accelerating construction, it is crucial to creatively protect and utilize existing conditions. This involves revising unreasonable layouts, regional divisions, spatial structures, and resource allocation, while preserving the city’s historical context and natural geography.
The Langham Place Resort Hotel, Ice and Snow World, and Waterfront Commercial Street within the Xiangjiang Happy City project have embraced green design principles. The approach, summarized as “Four Seasons and One Environmental Protection,” aims to reduce environmental impact, create a healthy and comfortable living space, and integrate seamlessly with the surrounding natural environment.
Regarding land conservation, Langham Place Resort prioritized renovating shantytowns and restoring abandoned sites. The project site is a reclaimed quarry area from the Xinsheng Cement Plant. The planning and design are economical and reasonable, effectively utilizing both above-ground and underground spaces. The building includes 23 floors above ground and 2 underground, with a 30% underground area ratio.
Energy conservation efforts include the use of new materials and leveraging favorable natural conditions. The ecological restoration of the former mining pit features a high-performance enclosure structure that reduces energy consumption in this five-star hotel and prevents indoor condensation. After thoroughly analyzing local sunlight patterns, solar energy was chosen to provide domestic hot water for the hotel.
Water conservation is achieved through rainwater harvesting and water-saving facilities. The project implements comprehensive rainwater discharge control using permeable methods that combine infiltration and discharge, making efficient use of rainwater resources.
Material conservation is also emphasized. Recyclable materials account for over 10% of the total building materials by weight. Ordinary steel bars with a strength of at least 400MPa make up more than 85% of the steel used. Pre-mixed concrete and mortar are used throughout to maximize material efficiency.
“Our goal is to transform the hotel into a green paradise that combines natural environment and entertainment, blending green natural landscapes with artificial ones through a series of environmental renovations,” said Zhao Jinguo, project manager of Langham Place Hotel.
Leading Xiangjiang Happy City’s Construction Progress by Staying Ahead of Schedule
Xiangjiang Happy City Project
“Before the project started, I told the young workers that the schedule would be tight. We don’t have to push ourselves to the breaking point, but we must do our best and prepare mentally,” said Wang Zhaowen, project manager of the general contracting department for Xiangjiang Happy City. Since construction began in September last year, many workers have spent long hours under the sun, their exposed skin turning sunburnt.
To meet the contract deadlines, the General Contracting Management Department innovated its management model by establishing separate institutions with distinct assessments. The management structure is divided between a general contracting project department and a civil engineering project department. The general contractor issues annual and monthly progress plans, while the civil engineering department refines goals and oversees implementation. This clear division of responsibilities motivates the team and ensures smooth project operation.
“At the start of pile foundation construction, we switched from manual punching piles to rotary excavation piles,” explained Huang Wenchu, production manager of the Langham Resort project. Rotary excavation piles are a more advanced technology, offering lower cost, higher efficiency, and better quality compared to traditional methods. This technique especially excels when encountering caves underground.
“Everyone worked hard during piling,” recalled Huang Wenchu. He singled out construction worker Gu Jingfei, a 2014 graduate from the ‘post-90s’ generation. One night at 1 a.m., when a pile collapsed on site, Gu Jingfei immediately rushed to the scene. He stayed overnight, coordinating and managing until the pile was reestablished, sleeping only four hours over two consecutive days.
For the core tube shear wall formwork, the project team used modular large formwork instead of small loose formwork. Small formwork is prone to wear and slows construction, whereas large formwork simplifies operations, speeds up construction, ensures high quality, results in smooth concrete surfaces, and reduces material waste and plastering costs. These innovations laid a solid foundation for achieving project milestones.
Thanks to careful planning and scientific construction methods, Langham Resort has consistently stayed ahead of schedule: the pile foundation was completed 17 days early, the base construction was completed 2 days early, and the main structure topped out 1 day early. This progress leads the entire Xiangjiang Happy City project and sets a benchmark for others to follow.
(Reporter | Tong Miao Correspondent | Tong Xiaoying, Xiao Gao)
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