North Bund's Plot 91 Foundation Completed: 480-Meter Skyscraper to Rise

The North Bund Plot 91 project, a major undertaking in Hongkou District, reached a significant milestone on November 17.

After 40 hours of continuous work involving 400 concrete mixers, over 600 workers, and meticulous coordination, the 40,000-cubic-meter concrete foundation slab was poured in one go, forming the base for what will become the tallest building in Puxi at 480 meters.

The foundation, supported by 655 main pilings, will uphold the massive weight of a 99-story skyscraper.

Jointly developed by SIIC, Shanghai Chengtou, and Shanghai Construction Group, the project spans a site bordered by Tangshan Road to the north, Dongchangzhi Road to the south, Dantu Road to the east, and Gaoyang Road to the west.

With a total floor area of about 450,000 square meters, the complex is set to redefine the skyline and urban landscape of the North Bund.  

Since breaking ground in March 2023, the project has made steady progress under the guidance of municipal and district authorities.

The foundation slab, with an average thickness of 5.5 meters and reaching 8.7 meters in some areas, ensures a solid base for this landmark structure.  

The challenges faced during construction were formidable. The project required excavation to a depth of 31.5 meters—equivalent to the height of a 10-story building.

“In just 99 days, we excavated 260,000 cubic meters of earth and completed the lifting and tying of 8,900 tons of steel in 15 days, setting a new industry record for super high-rise construction,” said Hao Zhanhao, project manager at Shanghai Construction Group.  

Given the proximity of the site to Metro Line 12, advanced safety measures were implemented, including segmented construction, servo systems, and micro-disturbance grouting technologies.

These methods stabilized the foundation pit and ensured the safety of the adjacent subway line. One innovative solution was the combination of deep mixing wall techniques and ultra-deep isolation pilings, creating a 113-meter barrier to safely separate the construction area from the subway infrastructure.

The project also stands out for its use of high-tech and digital innovations. A "smart construction site" platform operates as the central hub, monitoring key on-site elements in real time and providing multidimensional data analysis to support efficient and precise construction.

During the foundation pouring, a concrete mixer logistics system ensured smooth operations, while autonomous robots equipped with dual-degree-of-freedom adaptive systems handled ground leveling and finishing, achieving fully automated, unmanned construction.  

Sustainability has been a cornerstone of the project. Rainwater and recycled water are reused on-site for vehicle washing and road cleaning, while concrete supports are repurposed to minimize construction waste, advancing low-carbon and eco-friendly practices.  

The success of the project has been driven by close collaboration among developers, government departments, designers, contractors, supervisors, and the local community.

The adoption of a "Party Building+" model has further energized the initiative, fostering efficient teamwork and high-quality results.

Slated for completion in 2030, the development will feature 99 above-ground and four underground floors, combining commercial, office, hotel, and observation functions into a multifunctional urban complex.

As the new landmark transforms Puxi's skyline, it will become a centerpiece of North Bund’s redevelopment, joining 17 other planned skyscrapers over 180 meters tall. Together, these buildings will form a striking urban panorama, driving growth and innovation in the region and beyond.