B.R. firm tapped to design $880M Chinese development

Trahan Architects has been commissioned to design an $880 million mixed-use development in Zhengzhou, a rapidly developing transportation hub of 8.6 million that links east and west China. At 4.3 million square feet, the proposed building is by far the largest the Baton Rouge firm has ever designed, says principal architect Trey Trahan. “The largest project we’ve done to date is the renovation of the Superdome, which was about 1.9 million square feet. This more than doubles that,” he says. “It’s just massive.” The Henan Hongguang Industry Group chose Trahan Architects to design the building, which will include retail, office, residential and entertainment spaces, as well as several floors of parking. Located in the historic city center of Zhengzhou, the city’s primary shopping district, the development is adjacent to a large public park and the Erqi Tower, a 27-floor double pagoda that serves as the city’s primary tourist attraction. Trahan says he’ll be in China in March to present the design to city officials. See a slideshow of the renderings here. Trahan Architects has previously done work in China, master-planning several cities. “They also want us to look at a site where they’re planning a 20-million-square-foot development,” Trahan says. “What we’re hoping, from a business strategy, is to build a portfolio of some of these larger projects, so when things pick back up here in the U.S. we’ll be better qualified to take on some projects that we wouldn’t have been able to do without this experience.” —Steve Sanoski