Construction team arrives on site and launches construction phase.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 12, 2010 to launch the construction of the New Jindai Elementary School in Liangping County in rural Chongqing. Students, families, community members gathered side by side with project sponsors and partners to celebrate this important milestone.

At the request of the local government, an expert panel assembles in Liangping County to review the New Jindai School Conceptual Design. Professor Lou Yongqi leads a site tour and makes a formal presentation to the local government and the expert panel. The expert panelists and Liangping County Governor Dai approve of the design in principle and provide feedback and recommendations to Professor Lou and his design team.

The expert panel included:
Mr. YE Yaoxian – Former President, China National Architectural Design Institute
Mr. WANG Xiaogong – Chief Architect, Beijing Architectural Design Institute
Mr. LIU Yulong – Deputy Chief Architect, Tsinghua Univ. Architectural Design Institute
Mr. DUAN Lian – Professor, Chongqing University School of Architecture
Mr. GAO Jinliang – Chief Planner, Chongqing Design Institute, China Coal International Engineering Group.

Day 3 of the design workshop focuses on master planning and conceptual design.

Day 2 of the design workshop focuses on site planning, sustainability and structural options for The New Jindai School.

Led by John Carroll of Carroll Community Development and Heinz Rudolf of BOORA Architects, the China – U.S. design team visits sites in and around Portland that exemplify safe, sustainable, cost-effective and scalable structures to inspire the design for The New Jindai School.

Led by Professor Lou Yongqi from Tongji University, the design team from China joins the design team from the U.S. in Portland, Oregon for a 3-day design workshop focusing on master planning and conceptual design for The New Jindai School.

U.S. design team convenes to prepare for China – U.S. Jindai School Design Workshop in Portland, OR from February 22-24, 2010

China and U.S. design team members convene via Cisco Systems Telepresence to discuss site planning and conceptual design options for The New Jindai School.

China and U.S. design team members convene via Cisco Systems Telepresence to discuss master planning and conceptual design for The New Jindai School.