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The Sheshan Shimao Quarry Hotel in the city's southwest is being built in an abandoned open-cast mine the size of five soccer fields. Total cost will exceed 1 billion yuan (USD 151 million) once its interior has been fitted out. With 16 of its 18 floors underground, it has been called a wonder of modern engineering. Chief engineer Chen Xiaxiang said while normal projects use tried and tested technology to transport materials upward, this undertaking has required novel solutions to achieve the opposite. "It's been a fight against gravity," he said. The "fight" has mustered more than 5,000 architects, engineers, designers and workers, from initial design in 2006 to interior decoration today. Along the way, Chen's team has registered 39 patents and made hundreds of technological breakthroughs. One innovation, for example, solved the problem of pumping concrete downward by 77 meters without blockages, or separation of sand and cement, by changing the ratio of constituent materials and adding a damping device. The hotel is the design of Atkins, the engineering and architectural consultancy behind the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, although Chinese teams have made it a reality. When complete it will have 336 rooms and suites, an underwater restaurant, and all the amenities of a five-star hotel. Shanghai Shimao Group has invested and developed the structure, while hospitality group InterContinental will manage the completed property. A cartoon-themed park will feature on the floor of the quarry. The unique layout will allow patrons to engage in extreme sports, including rock climbing and cable sliding. Read Original Article |
