The fate of the controversial National Grand Theatre project is likely to be decided this week by a strict technical review, sources close to the project said.
A revised version of the proposal by French architect Paul Andreu will be examined by the China International Engineering Consulting Co. tomorrow.
China International Engineering Consulting was assigned by the State Planning Commission to conduct a comprehensive technical assessment of the proposal before submitting a feasibility study report, and probably the final report, company officials said.
The assessment can make or break the project.
"In terms of procedures, we are now at the technical stage of the feasibility study,” said Hu Yuanming, vice-director of the company's public assignment section. "If the revised version passes the appraisal and decision-makers are not against it, I don't think there will be new major appraisals before the ground-breaking.”
There have been appraisals of the proposal before but none of this nature, he said.
Some major concerns about the proposal will be discussed, he added.
Andreu's concept, selected a year ago over 43 other proposals solicited internationally, has sparked harsh criticisms.
Some Chinese scientists and architects have submitted two petitions to the nation's leaders, slamming Andreu's project for its hefty cost and the theatre's futuristic style, featuring a gigantic, titanium dome.
Their assessment was far different from the selection committee's. The panel described Andreu's concept as a breakthrough in style that blends romance with reality.
With opposition to his project growing, Andreu agreed to meet with reporters. But the meeting was cancelled at the last minute in April and the preliminary clearing of the construction site west of the Great Hall of the People was halted.
Andreu was required to revise his proposal.
Last week, he was quoted by Hong Kong media as saying that he has managed to cut costs by 25 per cent with changes to the building and was confident the project would cost approximately 3 billion yuan (US$361 million). The Proprietor Committee has set a ceiling of 2.6 billion (US$313 million).
Hu, of the China International Engineering Consulting, said the review panel will take into account four major issues in assessing Andreu's proposal:
1.The necessity of the project, based upon cost and demand.
2.The "safety'' of the investment.
3.Technical issues.
4.Risk assessment.
"The experts need to have a clear and complete understanding of the technological issues to be faced during construction,” he said. "They need to know which of them can be solved, which are possible, which cannot and how to integrate all the needed technologies.”
By listing the technological problems proposed by opponents of the projects, Hu hinted that all the problems can be addressed in technological terms.
The Proprietor Committee, including representatives of the Beijing Municipal Government, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Construction, took similar views.
Architect Zhou Qinglin, a committee member, said the technical problems, such as cleaning the surface of the gigantic dome, can be resolved.
"There are no technical problems that cannot be resolved,'' he said.
He said the review work will be completed in the next few days.
Zhou, an advocate of Andreu's proposal, said most of the questions raised have already been analyzed by the committee.
While declining to predict the outcome of the review, he seemed optimistic.
(China Daily)
