On April 30, 2024, the first phase of the China Communications Construction (CCCC) Yili Science and Technology Innovation Cloud Corridor, designed by FTA Architectural Design Firm, was officially delivered and put into operation.
The number 500 meters, often referred to as “1 mile,” symbolizes the final sprint in a marathon and the depth of a deep ocean dive. It represents determination to advance toward the future and to explore the unknown. In Fenghua, Ningbo, a similar “500 meter” sprint is underway, embodied by the CCCC Yili Science and Technology Innovation Cloud Corridor.
The CCCC Yili Science and Technology Innovation Cloud Corridor is strategically located at the gateway where Fenghua integrates into the main urban area of Ningbo. It serves as the core launch zone for CCCC Future City, covering 180 acres with a total construction area of 315,000 square meters. The development will be completed in two phases, with the first phase covering 156,000 square meters. The site is bordered to the north and east by the Da Ou River, to the west by Huicheng Middle Road—the main freight route of CCCC Future City—and to the south by Jiapu Road, opposite the Fenghua District Urban Exhibition Center across the river.
With its prime location and abundant resources, the Cloud Corridor facilitates the spillover of industries from Ningbo. It offers a warm industrial innovation zone, an all-weather smart park, and a high-quality corporate image, effectively bridging the gap from knowledge to production.
1. Supporting Industrial Spillover: Headquarters Base for Remote Growth Enterprises in the Yangtze River Delta
Since Fenghua’s upgrade from city to district status in 2016, it has attracted a growing concentration of sci-tech innovation elements and industrial talents within the “Ningbo Yongjiang Science and Technology Innovation Corridor.” The opening of the Ningbo Fengtian intercity railway has accelerated Fenghua’s integration into Ningbo, providing a natural advantage for industrial spillovers.
Situated on the southern extension of the Ningbo Yongjiang Science and Technology Innovation Corridor, CCCC Future City leverages Shanghai’s technological strengths alongside local manufacturing capabilities to build a remote innovation base for the Yangtze River Delta. It has become a critical node within the regional innovation bay area and corridor.
Amid the accelerated integration of Ningbo into the Yangtze River Delta, the Cloud Corridor plays a vital role in enhancing the business environment, promoting industrial upgrading, and strengthening the industrial chain. The park focuses on intelligent manufacturing, new materials, and cultural creativity, blending production, innovation, exhibition, and commercial functions. It aims to become a growth hub for technology innovation enterprises and foster an ecosystem that accelerates enterprise development.
2. Driving Urban Transformation: M0 New Industrial Land No.1 Plot
M0 new industrial land integrates functions such as research and development, creativity, design, pilot testing, and pollution-free production testing, complemented by supporting services. As industries evolve, many entrepreneurial bases and emerging technology sectors require spaces more akin to offices and research centers than traditional factories. This shift has led to the emergence of M0 industrial land, which combines R&D, office, exhibition, residential, and public facilities.
The CCCC Yili Science and Technology Innovation Cloud Corridor site is among the first land parcels launched in Fenghua District’s Urban Transformation Demonstration Zone. It emphasizes intelligent manufacturing, new materials, and cultural creativity, establishing an industrial landmark within the 17-square-kilometer CCCC Future City. The park is supported by five service systems: financial, technical, enterprise, industrial chain, and other supporting services. It provides a development platform for enterprise headquarters and facilitates urban industrial transformation and upgrading.
3. Enhancing the Industrial Ecosystem: Connecting Knowledge to the Last Mile of Production
The transformation of knowledge into practical achievements depends on bridging R&D outcomes and the market. Serving as a platform to nurture industrial ecology, the Cloud Corridor focuses on technological innovation and attracts service-oriented enterprises in technology, finance, and business sectors. It connects start-ups through incubation and acceleration, supports creative R&D, small-scale pilot testing, and market entry, creating a comprehensive industrial ecosystem and a hub for scientific and technological innovation.
The corridor accommodates a wide variety of business formats, including exhibition centers, service centers, industrial buildings, R&D headquarters, pilot workshops, maker spaces, talent apartments, and commercial facilities. The “Cloud Corridor 500 meters” seamlessly links production, innovation, exhibition, and commerce modules, meeting the diverse needs of SMEs, large enterprises, and unicorn companies.
The first phase will feature a range of composite products such as industrial buildings, R&D headquarters, and standalone office clusters. Supporting accommodation and commercial facilities will be enhanced, while city culture and district identity will be highlighted through the exhibition center, setting a new benchmark.
4. Embracing Three Innovative Scenarios: From Work Style to Lifestyle
In today’s innovation-driven era, industrial communities not only provide physical spaces but also foster connections between enterprises to form dynamic ecosystems. The Cloud Corridor links companies across industries and stages through a variety of functional products and distinctive blocks, creating social environments for industrial, work, and life scenarios.
By crafting three key scenarios—”Cloud Creation,” “Cloud Play,” and “Cloud Travel”—the project aims to establish a dense innovation network that connects enterprises across multiple dimensions.
A Well-Developed Industrial Ecosystem: Cloud Creation and Industrial Leisure
Through a forward-looking spatial design, the Cloud Corridor has formed five functional areas: leading enterprises, R&D institutions, entrepreneurial systems, cultural life, and training activities, creating a complete industrial ecosystem. The corridor runs through the park in multiple dimensions, integrating commercial service facilities, enterprise services, exhibition halls, entrepreneurial platforms, and shared offices to form a vibrant “corporate vitality circle” that energizes innovation.
An integral part of the corridor is the exhibition center, which offers visitor experiences and showcases the park. It also serves as a hub for service support and image projection for the entire park.
The exhibition center spans five levels with diverse experiential spaces—Yunka, Yunchuang, Yunju, Yunding, and a rooftop terrace. The exhibition function extends outdoors, with landscaping integrated into the building’s interior, blending architecture and environment. This creates a platform for learning and interaction among innovative talents and serves as a leisure and slow-living destination for local residents.
Attracting and Retaining Talent: Cloud Play — Work and Entertainment
The park includes two distinctive blocks and three themed commercial venues: Cloud Market, Cloud Theater, and Cloud Park. Together, they create a 24/7 leisure community offering varied social environments for different lifestyles, fostering a creative atmosphere, and providing a welcoming “warm” space that highlights the park’s international and innovative character.
Public spaces blend industrial areas, service facilities, and civic life, forming a continuous urban open block through interconnected multi-level spaces. This “neighborhood life” system encourages a high degree of clustering, nurturing enterprise and talent creativity. The flexible design and seamless integration of indoor and outdoor spaces transform the park from a traditional industrial zone into a “full lifecycle” industrial ecological rainforest that truly serves the city, industry, and innovative talent.
Cloud Travel: Ecological Environment
The park’s environmental design prioritizes ecology and sustainability, featuring five major ecological landscape zones: the central axis landscape avenue, sky garden corridor, cluster landscape atrium, circular park sports trail, and waterfront ecological corridor. These spaces meet employees’ daily needs for scenic views, sports, leisure, and more.
The central axis landscape avenue, also known as “THE SPINE,” acts as the ecological core, running north to south. It serves as a greenway dividing the park’s ecological zones and provides a pedestrian route. Thoughtful landscaping, slopes, and recreational seating create a pleasant, walkable greenway.
The elevated sky garden corridor connects various functional areas with a vibrant aerial green space. Rich vegetation and landscaping provide resting areas that enhance ecological experience and park aesthetics.
The landscape atrium between standalone office clusters serves as a lively social oasis, offering diverse outdoor spaces for informal communication, co-creation, and relaxation. This area fosters inspiration and creativity, making the work environment more enjoyable and dynamic.
The circular sports trail encircles the park and accommodates a variety of activities. Along the trail, landscape nodes and rest areas provide ideal spots for running, walking, and exercising, promoting healthy living as part of daily life.
The waterfront ecological corridor makes full use of water resources to create a natural trail lined with aquatic plants and ecological landscapes. This corridor offers a chance to connect closely with nature while enhancing the park’s ecological value and visual appeal.
These ecological designs not only satisfy employees’ needs for viewing, sports, and leisure but also foster a breathable, stimulating environment for enterprises. Embracing green building principles and smart park concepts, the Cloud Corridor maximizes human potential and spatial value, establishing itself as a truly ecological smart park.
Vision
Forward-Thinking Design for a Future-Oriented Industrial Ecosystem
By applying advanced design concepts and innovative spatial arrangements, the CCCC Yili Science and Technology Innovation Cloud Corridor has created a vibrant new industrial ecosystem. The park attracts numerous high-quality enterprises, including national high-tech companies and specialized, refined, unique, and innovative businesses.
The park’s industrial services are continuously improving, now encompassing a full range of institutions and facilities such as enterprise technology service platforms, banks, administrative service centers, talent apartments, and dining options.
As a thriving innovation community, “500 meters in Yili, Fortune 500 in the world,” the Cloud Corridor continues to drive economic growth through deep integration of industry and city. It aims to generate higher industrial value and social benefits as it evolves.
Project Drawings
△ Project Schematic Diagram
△ Functional Zoning Diagram
△ General Layout Plan
△ Industrial Building Floor Plan
△ Industrial Building Facade
△ Section of Industrial Building
△ Multi-story Standalone Floor Plan
△ Multi-story Standalone Building Elevation View
△ Display Center Second Floor Plan
△ Display Center Facade
△ Cross-sectional View of the Display Center
Project Information
Project Name: Ningbo Zhongjiao Yili Science and Technology Innovation Cloud Corridor
Project Type: Office Building (Completed)
Designer: FTA Architectural Design
Design Period: November 2018 to May 2020
Completion Year: August 2023
Design Team: FTA Architectural Design
Project Address: No. 98 Jiapu West Road, Jiangkou Street, Fenghua District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province
Building Area: 315,000 square meters
Photography Credit: Octopus Jianzhu
Client: China Communications Construction Investment (Ningbo) Industrial Development Co., Ltd.
Building Materials: Glass, aluminum panels, and wood grain aluminum panels
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