A high-standard green sports center adjacent to Huawei's Lianqiu Lake Research Center is nearing full completion in Qingpu District. The Xicen Sports Center will serve as a key public supporting facility for the Xicen Science and Innovation Town in the Yangtze River Delta Ecology and Greenery Integration Demonstration Zone.

With a total investment of 436 million yuan, the project covers 37,600 square meters and consists of two buildings with four floors above ground and one basement floor. Developed by Yangtze River Delta Investment Co Ltd, the venue integrates low-carbon design, diversified sports functions and community public spaces to match the town's scientific innovation and water town ecological landscape.

Early in the morning, Ding Taoguo's car pulled into the construction site of the Xicen Sports Center. Rolling down the window, he was greeted by familiar roars—the clank of cranes, the whir of drills and the chatter of walkie-talkies—mingling with the fresh, moist air of a Jiangnan water town dawn. As project director of the Xicen Sports Center, Ding holds a special affection for this land.

"When I first surveyed the site in early spring, 2025, it was just wasteland with deep ditches and waterways nearby. In the distance, I could see Huawei's Lianqiu Lake R&D Center," Ding said, standing on the site's viewing platform and pointing to the two buildings before him. "A year later, a 37,600-square-meter sports center stands here."

Construction teams capped the main structure in October, 2025, in less than 260 days since the project broke ground. Workers adjusted schedules to avoid extreme summer heat, ensuring steady progress while strictly maintaining construction safety and engineering quality.

The center entered simultaneous curtain wall installation and interior renovation in 2026. All construction procedures operate with cross-team coordination and zero gaps in workflow. Every glass panel and interior detail follows precise standards to deliver a high-quality modern venue.

Built with top-tier eco-friendly specifications the sports center has obtained the title of Shanghai Green and Low-Carbon Technology Demonstration Project. It targets three-star green building standards plus near-zero energy and carbon neutral building certification.

Low-emissivity insulated glass is adopted for exterior walls to reduce air conditioning energy consumption. Intelligent LED lighting systems activate automatically according to human presence to save power. A rainwater recycling system supports landscape irrigation and toilet flushing, forming a full-range energy-saving and environmentally friendly operation system.

"We're targeting three-star green building certification, plus high standards for nearly zero energy consumption and carbon neutrality," Ding said. "The entire Xicen Science and Technology Innovation Center's pilot zone is the demonstration zone's first 'near-zero carbon park,' and our sports center is its flagship project."

The multi-functional venue accommodates comprehensive sports demands for local tech talents and residents. Facilities include a constant-temperature swimming pool, indoor basketball courts, badminton courts, table tennis courts, fitness zones, and aerial yoga areas favored by young people.

A unique underground passage connects the venue to surrounding water systems, enabling seamless land and water sports experiences. Visitors can swim indoors, then launch kayaks and experience outdoor water activities through the exclusive channel.

Beyond sports functions, the center reserves sufficient space for cultural events, exhibitions, parent-child activities and social communication. It aims to become a vibrant community hub rather than a single functional sports venue.