The projects in the core area of the 2019 Beijing International Horticultural Expo are moving to the last phase of construction and will be unveiled by the end of this year, according to the construction contractor Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG).

Glass façade and terraces of China Pavilion to unveil

By the end of this month, the China Pavilion is expected to unveil its unique Ruyi design, an ornamental object symbolizing good fortune in the Chinese culture.

The pavilion's main steel body consists of 132 girders, 5,400 cross girders, 2,184 rods and 696 horizontal braces, and is clothed by a glazed façade of 5,300 glass pieces and decorated with landscaping terraces on both sides, making it look like a beautiful Ruyi on a display stand.

The construction of the pavilion was a big challenge, according to the BUCG. The main body is tall with a half-annular shape, and over 90 percent of its structure is curved. Moreover, each of the 5,300 glass pieces has a different specification and size. To overcome these difficulties, a 3D visualization model was used throughout the construction and the application of BIM technology was a primary feature of the project.

Zhou Weiguang, executive manager of the expo project from the BUCG, said that by the end of September, the construction of both the glass façade and the terraces will be completed, and the pavilion will open to the public for the first time.

Building at the highest point to finish next month

The Yongning building, a landmark structure at the highest point in the core area of the Beijing Expo, is expected to be complete by the end of October.

Standing on Mount Tiantian, the building faces Guihe River and Mount Yanshan. With one story underground and three above, the whole structure has a construction area of around 2,000 square meters and a height of 28.8 meters.

Complicated constructing procedures and cold weather both posed challenges to the project, according to the company in charge of the construction.

Started on Dec. 20, 2017, the foundation of the building proceeded in the winter with an average temperature of minus 18 Celsius degrees and wind force between 4 and 6 on the Beaufort scale.

So far, the framework of the Yongning building, along with 50 percent of its roof and 40 percent of the paint job, has been finished.

Five-star hotel to be built up as supporting facilities

The expo hotel, a supporting project for the expo as well as a future landmark in Yanqing district, is also under construction and expected to be complete by the end of December.

The project team applied drones and BIM technology to push forward this large project with tight schedule and high demand, said Ma Xun, manager of the hotel project from the BUCG. The advanced technologies facilitated the survey of primitive landform in the early stage of the project, the 3D scanning, mapping and modeling during the construction of the framework, the monitoring of hidden dangers in the current exterior construction, the recording of details of constructed buildings and even the measurement of building size and height, Ma added.

Apart from the hotel, other projects in the core area of the Beijing Expo will be unveiled by the end of this year, Ma said.

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