Early on the cold morning of February 20^th the six member MID team set out east on the second phase of their internship with Tangshan Bay International Eco-city. The internship is part of a promising new cooperation between SPPM and the Eco-city that will enhance the student learning while offering valuable research assistance to the city.

 

Tangshan Bay International Eco-city is located inside Caofeidian New Area, an area created to accommodate the heavy industry relocated from Beijing in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Additionally a new port was built and heavy industries from Tangshan city also moved into the area. Caofeidian is split into 4 parts; the Industrial zone in the south, the Eco-city to the east, Tanghai town in the north and another smaller industrial area to the west of Tanghai.

 

The eco-city is being constructed in part to serve as an environmentally friendly city for the workers and engineers from the nearby industrial area, as well as representing an overall move in China towards more sustainable cities. The MID team will be focusing on the current planning needs of the Eco-City and research international examples from which the city can benefit. In particular, the team is assisting the eco-city develop their Green Transportation Plan, Marina Development Plan and map out different R&D industries that can serve as a growth engine the for the city.

 

The first residential area, rated two starts by the National Green Building Standard, has been completed and many other properties are under development. Although construction is underway at many sites, the large size of the zone means that most of the area is still undeveloped thus offering continued opportunities for innovative design and planning over the coming years. Hopefully the MID team will be able to contribute to making the city a truly sustainable coastal city with a thriving green economy.