Springfield architect judges Chinese design competition

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China is gearing up to host the 2008 Summer Olympics with the assistance of a Springfield architect. At the invitation of the People's Republic of China Construction Bureau, Jerry L. Hagerman, principal architect and partner with the firm of Pellham Phillips Hagerman Architects and Engineers, served as judge on three separate international design competitions in Foshan, China.|ret||ret||tab|

In September of this year, Hagerman participated as the only American on a nine-member jury committee selecting designs for a $24 billion urban redesign, a $68 million gymnasium/natatorium and a $106 million sports center. Other jurors represented Asian locales and Germany. Competing firms were from Australia, Germany, China and the United States. "It was a pretty high-level experience with a lot of big names there. Work is competitive here (in the United States) and we try to go where we're needed, and they really need our talent," Haggerman said.|ret||ret||tab|

Foshan, known for its ceramics and pottery production, is located adjacent to Guanghou, capital of the Canton Province in southern China. Hagerman said Foshan and Guanghou, along with Beijing, will be the focus areas for hosting sporting events during the 2008 games. To showcase their country's shift of culture from isolationist to a world power, they have budgeted $24 billion to redesign one-fifth of Foshan's urban district surrounding the Dongping River, which runs through the city.|ret||ret||tab|

There were several important issues in the design competition for the development of a new district in the city of Foshan. "They wanted a center city with a distinctive urban image," said Hagerman. "They wanted to ensure that the river became an important landscape belt, pedestrian priorities were provided for, that there was environmental art and all of this must be achievable within the next five years.|ret||ret||tab|

"China is growing so fast," said Hagerman. "There is a lot of pressure on building and design right now. They are trying to develop the area around the Pearl River Delta in southern China to the quality of Hong Kong as they prepare for the Olympics and growth as an international competitor. As a consequence to that, their architectural community can not keep up with the demand.|ret||ret||tab|

"They have decided that any project over $500,000 in design fees will be done through design competitions. Architec-tural firms from around the world will then be able to lend their support."|ret||ret||tab|

The exchange rate works to the advantage of U.S. firms.|ret||ret||tab|

"One American dollar is equal to 8 yen, so our dollars are very valuable over there," said Hagerman. "Therefore the consequences are far-reaching. If a design and engineering contract can be made through an American architectural firm, the contract is worth 8 times what it would have been if it were made there. We do the first 30 percent of the contract, the conceptual design and design development, and they finish it."|ret||ret||tab|

The scope of the work is enormous.|ret||ret||tab|

"There is just a tremendous scale to their work over there. They build in city blocks, not individual buildings," said Hagerman. "There were three features of my mission to China. To participate in the competition, to present a lecture on the impact of culture and policy on planning and architecture at South China University of Technology Architecture Design and Research Institute, and to visit with a consortium of architectural and engineering firms in the Pearl River Delta."|ret||ret||tab|

Building a relationship with China has been a slow process. About five years ago, Pellham Phillips Hagerman invited the Chinese consulate out of Chicago to visit Springfield, and that was their initial contact. They started building a relationship at that point. "The key is to go where you're needed. The essence of what we do is to solve problems. There are people in the world who value what we do and are willing to pay very well for that value."|ret||ret||tab|

In addition to the visit of the consulate, architect Hong Tai Li, who works with Hagerman's firm, is a graduate of South China University. Li also began to build relationships through his contacts at the university and with architectural firms in southern China. Li, who is the director of Asian market for Pellham Phillips Hagerman, is now in Chicago working on gaining his citizenship.|ret||ret||tab|

Hagerman thinks he was chosen as a juror for this international competition because the Chinese value his 25 years of experience in a competitive business world. He recently served as past president of the American Institute of Architects-Missouri, is an adjunct faculty member at Drury University and they were pleased with projects Hagerman partnered on in a 2002 competition. |ret||ret||tab|

September's trip was Hagerman's first visit to China. "I was so pleasantly surprised at my first impression. The Chinese are really loving people and really welcoming. When I would stroll through the streets by myself in the evenings, people would smile and I was really made to feel welcome. Everyone is slim and athletic looking, at least in the large urban areas. I couldn't get over how healthy everyone looked."|ret||ret||tab|

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