Cheng Lianyuan, the governor of Beijing's Chaoyang District, has told local media that Beijing's central business district will be developed into the world's first green business district.
Cheng said that low carbon and environmental protection is the main content of the eastward expansion of Beijing's CBD, which is home to more than 15,000 enterprises and organizations, including 130 Global 500 companies, 203 foreign-funded financial institutions and 36 regional headquarters of multinational companies, accounting for 70% of all those in Beijing. Cheng also stated that the extended CBD area will not only be more pleasant and vigorous, but also be a benchmark for the recycling economy.
It is learned that the Chaoyang District government began to collect plans for the eastward extension of CBD since July 2009 and has invited seven prestigious design companies to contribute their ideas. Finally Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP from the United States won the bid with a plan that features designs for low carbon use and transportation.
The extended CBD of Beijing covers a total of area of three square kilometers, and it bounded by Chaoyang North Road, Tonghui River, Dawang Road, and the East Fourth Ring Road. The construction of the extension area is expected to be completed in six to eight years.