Location: Shanghai, China
Developer: Shui On Land
Designer: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

The Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) is a city-core development designed to catalyze the transformation of Shanghai’s Yang Pu district from a dilapidated industrial zone to a thriving, knowledge-based economy. Realized over the past decade with US$1.6 billion of investment, KIC is inspired by the synergy of academia, industry, and the culture driving California’s Silicon Valley. KIC employed three principal strategies to succeed in this venture:

•    Live/Work/Play/Learn Community—KIC’s LEED ND–registered master plan leverages the district’s unique assets—ten universities and a historic stadium—and weaves together the isolated campuses with a walkable, connected community crafted to attract top talent and businesses, and foster their success.
•    Collaborative Ecosystem—KIC’s incubator program, entrepreneurs’ club, collaborative hub, industry events, and social scene bring together a potent mix of academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and business resources to ignite KIC’s creative synergy. 
•    Innovative Operations—Leasing strategies attract top companies, while an extensive program of entrepreneur events and community activities fosters knowledge sharing and enhances KIC’s high quality of life.