Huawei Shanghai Qingpu R&D and Production Base

I. Basic Project Overview

The overall planning of Huawei's Shanghai Qingpu R&D Park draws on advanced planning concepts from Boston, USA, connecting the clusters with a winding landscape road network to create a central waterfront plaza and radial "plaza town" office clusters. G23 is the core landmark building in this area.

The building's exterior facade abandons the traditional small-block curtain wall segmentation and adopts extra-large integrated brick-red GRC decorative components, which are paired with curved glass curtain walls to form a layered contrast, creating an overall grand and unified visual effect; all GRC components and supporting load-bearing steel frames are designed, prefabricated, and transported to the site by our company in a one-stop manner.

II. Core Innovative Design Highlights of the Project

1. The design of extra-large, low-seam components enhances the overall integrity of the facade.

The complete set of detailed drawings for the project was completed by designer Li Xing and reviewed and confirmed by the client, Huawei Technologies. The project adopted a modular approach, dividing the facade into large sections (whole facade/whole floor/whole building) to minimize seams between facade panels.

Horizontal waistline component dimensions: 7500mm~11000mm

Vertical column component dimensions: 5500mm~8000mm

The oversized single-piece components soften the dividing lines, achieving a complete and stunning visual effect on the building facade, and are accompanied by complete curtain wall node construction drawings and component processing details.

2. Custom-designed heavy-duty steel frame system, structurally safe and durable.

To accommodate massive GRC components weighing several tons, an integrated back-support steel frame system was independently developed.

1. The self-weight of a single steel frame is 600~1200KG. It adopts a longitudinal and transverse main beam + cross diagonal bracing reinforcement structure to prevent deformation of large components during transportation, installation and use.

2. Three-layer fluorocarbon anti-corrosion standard coating for steel frame (high industry standard):

Primer: Zinc ethyl silicate, dry film thickness ≥80μm

Intermediate coat: Two-component epoxy micaceous iron oxide anti-rust paint, dry film thickness ≥100μm

Topcoat: Fluorocarbon topcoat, dry film thickness ≥80μm

The overall anti-corrosion coating has a total thickness of ≥160μm, making it suitable for Shanghai's rainy and humid outdoor environment, providing long-lasting rust prevention and weather resistance.

3. Finished GRC product with all-over color imitation brick red lychee surface

The components are dyed throughout, with a base color of imitation brick red and a custom lychee texture on the surface. Each finished component, including the supporting steel frame, weighs 1.5 to 3.5 tons. The single piece covers a large area and is integrally molded without the need for secondary painting. The color is uniform and it is resistant to ultraviolet light and will not fade.

III. Standardized Factory Production Processes Throughout the Entire Process

1. Fabrication of special molds for reinforced fiberglass

Custom-made steel-framed reinforced fiberglass molds are used. After molding, the molds undergo flatness correction and non-destructive surface testing. The molds are rigid, not easily twisted or deformed, and support the one-piece molding of ultra-large components. They are also convenient for transportation and reuse.

2. GRC spraying integrated molding process

Using an industry-mature GRC spray molding production line, stainless steel embedded sleeves and load-bearing steel frames are pre-embedded, and components, steel frames, and embedded parts are cast as a whole in one go. The components and steel frames are tightly connected, which greatly improves the safety of the on-site installation structure.

IV. On-site multi-level acceptance and standardized installation construction

This project implements a four-tiered, full-process acceptance system. Each process is inspected, documented, and confirmed by a sign before proceeding to the next process, ensuring full traceability.

1. Factory transportation acceptance: Before the components are loaded and shipped, the owner, supervisor, general contractor and our company will conduct a joint on-site inspection. The components can only be released if the appearance, dimensions and steel frame corrosion protection meet the standards.

2. Unpacking and inspection upon arrival: When components arrive at the construction site, they are unpacked and unloaded. Huawei, the owner, leads a second, four-party re-inspection. Components that fail to meet the standards are returned directly to the factory.

3. Acceptance of support positioning nodes: After the on-site layout and installation of the bracket supports are completed, the three parties will jointly conduct acceptance, register and keep the acceptance records;

4. Layered component installation and acceptance: Following the bottom-up construction sequence, the vertical mega-columns are hoisted first, followed by the horizontal waistlines in layers. Each component is inspected independently upon completion of installation.

High-altitude hoisting construction plan

Taking into account the large size and weight of the components, a combination of truck crane and articulated boom lift is used for high-altitude operations to meet the precise positioning and installation requirements of heavy GRC components for high-rise facades.

V. Project Completion and Implementation Scene

The installation of all GRC components on the exterior facade of Huawei's G23 building in Qingpu has been completed. The brick-red giant vertical and horizontal GRC components and the curved glass curtain wall create a strong visual contrast, making it the iconic office building facade in the park. It has been successfully delivered to the client for use.

FAQ

Q1: What are the maximum dimensions and weight of a single GRC component in Huawei's Shanghai Qingpu G23 project?

A1: The horizontal component length of the project is 7500-11000mm, and the vertical column is 5500-8000mm; the total weight of a single finished GRC component with the supporting steel frame is 1.5~3.5 tons, which is a rare ultra-large integrated GRC curtain wall component in domestic industrial parks.

Q2: How many layers of anti-corrosion process are there for the supporting steel frame of the giant GRC component, and what are the standards?

A2: A three-layer fluorocarbon anti-corrosion system, with a primer of ethyl zinc silicate ≥80μm, an epoxy micaceous iron oxide intermediate coat ≥100μm, and a fluorocarbon topcoat ≥80μm. The total dry film thickness of the coating is not less than 160μm, meeting the long-term rust prevention and weather resistance requirements of coastal rainy areas.

Q3: What molding process is used in the production of large GRC components, and how are embedded parts handled?

A3: Adopting GRC spraying integrated molding process, stainless steel pre-embedded sleeves and back steel frame are pre-embedded and cast in advance, and the components and steel frame are integrally formed, without the need for secondary welding and fixing in the later stage, resulting in higher structural stability and safety.

Q4: Why does this project require a four-fold, four-party acceptance process?

A4: The project owner is Huawei's R&D park, which has stringent quality standards for building facades; the transportation, hoisting, and installation of oversized and overweight GRC components are high-risk. Each process is jointly inspected and documented by four parties, which can control the size, appearance, and structural safety from the source and avoid potential quality problems in the facade later.

Q5: Will the brick-red GRC components fade or have color difference issues?

A5: The components are produced using a full-body coloring process, not just surface painting. They are paired with a custom-made lychee-textured surface layer, which is UV resistant, aging resistant, and not prone to color difference or fading during long-term outdoor use.

Q6: What equipment is used on-site to complete the high-altitude installation of ultra-large tonnage GRC components?

A6: Construction is carried out using a combination of truck crane and articulated boom lift, with layered installation from bottom to top. First, the giant vertical column components are installed, followed by the horizontal waistline components, which is suitable for the precise hoisting and positioning of heavy-duty and large-size curtain wall components.

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