![Zhejiang World Trade Center](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Zhejiang-World-Trade-Center-by-Leigh-and-Orange-01-876x549.jpg)
Leigh & Orange (L&O) is pleased to announce its appointment to deliver the new Zhejiang World Trade Center (WTC) in Hangzhou. The original building was first established in 1987, designed as a key venue to facilitate foreign trade, during the early years of the Chinese economic reforms.
![Zhejiang World Trade Center](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Zhejiang-World-Trade-Center-by-Leigh-and-Orange-02-876x497.jpg)
Bearing the concept of a transit oriented development, or TOD, the new design will help re-zone the existing hotel-office-convention clusters, and to inject a new commercial catalyst for the business community.
![Zhejiang World Trade Center](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Zhejiang-World-Trade-Center-by-Leigh-and-Orange-03-876x497.jpg)
Located in heart of the Huanglong financial district, and close to the famous scenic West Lake, the project is primarily an underground redevelopment with a total construction area of 79,250 sqm, including 24,700 sqm of new commercial spaces. The basement retail will be seamlessly connected to the metro forming a public gathering space, a focal point for the surrounding community.
![Zhejiang World Trade Center](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Zhejiang-World-Trade-Center-by-Leigh-and-Orange-04-876x548.jpg)
Central to the design is the concept of a “retail park”, where retail space will be intertwined with two major circulation experience: an indoor sport-themed arcade and an outdoor park trail. The retail complex will also house two major anchors, a sports-themed concept store and a major flagship bookstore. Construction will begin in April 2018 and is expected to complete in 2021.
![Zhejiang World Trade Center](https://aasarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/Zhejiang-World-Trade-Center-by-Leigh-and-Orange-05-876x619.jpg)
Kelvin Li, L&O’s Project Director said: “L&O is honoured to be working on what is a very prominent scheme which will help shape the future of Hangzhou’s Huanglong district. With the upcoming 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, we hope to work hand-in-hand with Hangzhou Metro to transform this into a world class mixed-used facility.” Source and images Courtesy of Leigh & Orange.