What 华东建筑设计研究总院 ECADI does

华东建筑设计研究总院 (ECADI) is a state-owned, full-service architectural design and engineering consultancy founded in 1952 in Shanghai, operating as the core design subsidiary of Huajian Group (华建集团). The firm serves municipal and district governments, state-owned urban developers, private real estate developers, and public infrastructure clients through five core service lines: architectural design, structural engineering, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) design, urban planning and design, and whole-process engineering consultation. Supplementary offerings include the government-pilot Architect Responsibility System, EPC general contracting, project agent construction management, BIM and parametric design, smart city and smart building solutions, urban renewal research, low-carbon/sustainability consulting, and dedicated healthcare and wellness architecture (added in 2023). Notable clients include Shanghai Pudong Development Group, Shanghai Lujiazui Group, Shanghai Jinqiao Group, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, and the New Development Bank headquarters.

ECADI's revenue model is built on project-based professional services fees, with five clearly defined revenue streams: one-time architectural design fees, professional services for whole-process engineering consultation, managed services for EPC general contracting, professional services for project agent construction management, and specialized technical consulting fees. Over 70% of contract value is sourced from original (self-designed) bid-winning projects, indicating strong competitive positioning in design competitions. The firm operates from a Shanghai headquarters with a Greater Bay Area regional HQ in Shenzhen, a Yangtze River Delta regional HQ in Suzhou, and command offices in Lingang, Jinqiao, and Jinan.

The firm's technical moat rests on over 200 patents in structural engineering, 25 Tianyue Awards, a 2023 National Science and Technology Progress Award (Second Class), and a concentration of 4 National Engineering Survey and Design Masters and 4 Shanghai Engineering Survey and Design Masters. It has completed 5,000+ projects over 70+ years and employs 1,459 people. ECADI has integrated BIM, parametric design, and digital twin technologies across its design lifecycle, and is positioning around three strategic vectors: China's dual-carbon (peak carbon, carbon neutrality) policy, urban renewal and historic district regeneration, and digital transformation. Government relationships remain the primary distribution channel, with ECADI serving as governing unit for multiple China Architecture Society sub-committees and participating in standard-setting (e.g., co-compiled Smart Manufacturing Space Design Guidelines). The firm is actively expanding geographically (Jinan 2024, Mongolia masterplan 2024) and vertically (healthcare architecture 2023).

Name

华东建筑设计研究总院 ECADI

Legal name

华东建筑设计研究院有限公司

Website

https://ecadi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

ECADI is a Shanghai-based, state-owned full-service architectural design and engineering consultancy founded in 1952, serving Chinese municipal governments, state-owned developers, and real estate clients through architectural design, structural engineering, urban planning, whole-process engineering consultation, and EPC general contracting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai, Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 建筑设计及咨询服务: Core architectural design services including concept design, schematic design, design development, construction document preparation, and design supervision. Services span across building types including commercial complexes, high-rise towers, transportation hubs, cultural buildings, healthcare facilities, and residential developments. Revenue is generated through project-based design fees.
2. 全过程工程咨询服务: Whole-process engineering consultation services covering project planning consultation, design management, permitting and approval coordination, bidding and procurement, cost consulting, contract management, engineering supervision, and completion delivery. These services are provided on a fee basis throughout the construction phase.
3. EPC工程总承包: Design-Procurement-Construction total contracting services where ECADI serves as the primary contractor, managing design, procurement, and construction phases under lump-sum contracts. This model generates revenue through project management fees and procurement margins.
4. 项目代建管理服务: Project agent construction management services where ECADI manages project execution on behalf of clients, including construction organization, investment management, and delivery, with fees charged for professional management services.
5. 专项技术咨询服务: Specialized technical consulting services including structural engineering consultation, MEP design, BIM consulting, architectural curtain wall consulting, lighting design, acoustic engineering, and green building/low-carbon certification consulting. These are charged as separate professional service fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ECADI is a full-service architectural design and engineering consultancy delivering integrated building solutions across the entire project lifecycle — from concept planning through design development, construction supervision, and operations. The firm provides architectural design, structural engineering, MEP systems, urban planning, whole-process engineering consultation, EPC general contracting, architect responsibility system services, BIM/parametric design, low-carbon development, and specialized healthcare and urban renewal design for government, state-owned enterprise, and private developer clients.

Product overview

华东建筑设计研究总院 (ECADI) offers a comprehensive portfolio of integrated architectural and engineering consulting services organized around the full project lifecycle. The core offerings include architectural design and consulting, structural engineering, MEP (mechanical/electrical/plumbing) design, urban planning and design, and whole-process engineering consultation. These are supplemented by specialized services including BIM and parametric design, smart city/building solutions, low-carbon development planning, building commissioning, urban renewal research, healthcare architecture, and the architect responsibility system. The firm operates as a unified platform combining design creativity with professional technical consulting capabilities across all major building typologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design and Consulting (建筑设计设计与咨询)
• Structural Design and Consulting (结构设计与咨询)
• MEP Design and Consulting (机电设计与咨询)
• Planning and Urban Design (规划与城市设计)
• Whole-Process Engineering Consultation (全过程工程咨询)
• EPC Engineering General Contracting (EPC工程总承包)
• Project Agent Construction Management (项目代理建设管理)
• Architect Responsibility System (建筑师负责制)
• Urban Renewal Research and Consultation (城市更新研究与咨询)
• BIM and Parametric Design Consulting (BIM与参数化设计咨询)
• Smart City and Smart Building Consulting (智慧城市与智慧建筑咨询)
• Low Carbon Development Planning for Parks and Districts (园区/片区低碳开发)
• Building Commissioning (建筑调适)
• Healthcare and Wellness Architecture Design (医疗与康养建筑设计)
• Specialized Technical Consulting (专项技术咨询)

Quantifiable outcome

• 70%+ of annual contract value comes from original (self-designed) bid-winning projects
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shanghai Jiao Tong University (上海交通大学)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2023Joint hosts of the 2023 World Design Capital Conference (WDCC) 'Future Design Summit'. SJTU and Huajian Group co-organized the summit with ECADI as co-organizer. The partnership explores cross-disciplinary design innovation combining future energy, future health, future materials, future intelligence, and future space domains.
• Shanghai Industrial Park Development Association (上海市开发区协会)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2023ECADI and the Shanghai Industrial Park Development Association jointly compiled the 'Smart Manufacturing Space Design Guidelines' (《智造空间设计指引》), a 4-chapter 36-article guideline providing design standards for 8 industrial sectors for Shanghai's 'industrial上楼' policy.
• Shanghai Jinqiao Group (金桥集团)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2023Jinqiao Command officially established with cooperation deepening between ECADI and Jinqiao Group. ECADI participated in designing Jinqiao Lingang Automotive Electronics Industrial Park, Jinqiao Comprehensive Industrial Zone, Jinqiao Yuzhong Core Four Blocks, and Jinqiao Yuan Center — approximately 5.44 million sqm total GFA since 2019.
• 碳中和工作委员会 (Carbon Neutrality Working Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2023ECADI's parent company Huajian Group led the establishment of the first Carbon Neutrality Working Committee in China's urban renewal sector at the 2023 Shanghai Carbon Neutrality Expo. 23 leading enterprises including universities, green finance institutions, and design/construction companies co-founded the committee. ECADI General Manager Zhang Junjie serves as committee vice chairman.
• China Architecture Society / Venice Architecture Biennale Chinese Pavilion (中国建筑学会/威尼斯国际建筑双年展中国国家馆)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2023ECADI's project 'Nanjing East Road 179 Block Historic District Renovation' was exhibited at the 18th Venice International Architecture Biennale Chinese Pavilion. Multiple ECADI projects including the World Reception Hall, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport T1 were also exhibited. ECADI leadership attended the opening ceremony.
• China Civil Aviation Administration / Civil Airport Association (中国民用航空局/民用机场协会)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2023ECADI participated in the 4th China Airport Development Conference as an invited keynote speaker. Guo Jianxiang, ECADI Chief Architect, delivered a speech on 'New Era International Hub Airport Design', reinforcing ECADI's leadership position in airport architecture design.
• Jiang Huancheng (江欢成), CAE AcademiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2022China Engineering Academy academician Jiang Huancheng became the first resident academician at the ECADI Academician Workstation, officially approved by Shanghai Academician Expert Workstation Guidance Office. The workstation focuses on super high-rise buildings, urban complexes, cultural facilities, and structural consulting. ECADI and Academician Jiang conduct joint technical research, scientific cooperation, and talent cultivation.
• 低碳创新研究中心 (Low Carbon Innovation Research Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2022ECADI is one of three founding entities (along with Huajian Group and Shanghai Green Building Association) of the Low Carbon Innovation Research Center. The center had 70+ members by 2022. New members added include Jinjiang International, China Pacific Insurance, and Shanghai Advanced Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The center publishes Low-Carbon Business Travel Blue Book and ESG work systems.
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University Sino-British International College of Low Carbon (上海交通大学中英国际低碳学院)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2022Strategic cooperation signed covering scientific research, industrial incubation, high-end training, academic exchange, student employment, and resource sharing. ECADI is one of 7 units to sign strategic cooperation with the college. The partnership focuses on new energy, energy storage, and low-carbon technology theory and policy research. ECADI and SJTU jointly declare ministerial and provincial-level research projects and publish white papers.
• 上海市品牌建设促进会建筑专委会 (Shanghai Brand Building Promotion Association — Building Professional Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 September 2022ECADI is a member unit of the Building Professional Committee initiated by Huajian Group. The committee aims to build an international brand ecosystem for Chinese design, with ECADI's General Manager Zhang Junjie serving as committee vice chairman. The committee conducts brand development research and promotes Shanghai's Four Brands strategy.
• China Communications Construction Group Changjiang Delta Regional Headquarters (中国交建长三角区域总部)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 August 2022Formal strategic cooperation agreement signed covering watershed ecological environment improvement, urban infrastructure renewal, industrial park planning and investment operations. Both parties agreed to leverage their respective strengths in the front-end of the industrial chain and urban operations to jointly develop integrated investment-construction-operation solutions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• China Architecture Design & Research Group (CAG): Largest national state-owned architectural design institute under the Machinery Group, offering comprehensive architectural design, engineering consulting, and EPC services across China. Directly comparable to ECADI in scope, SOE ownership structure, and customer base of government and developer clients.
• Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD): Major Beijing-based state-owned comprehensive architectural design institute serving national government, municipal, and developer clients. Closely parallels ECADI in service scope (architecture, structure, MEP, urban design), SOE ownership, and concentration on flagship public-sector commissions.
• Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd. (TJAD): Major Shanghai-headquartered state-owned architectural design group affiliated with Tongji University, with broad architectural, structural, and engineering design capabilities. Directly competes with ECADI across Shanghai and eastern China, particularly in transportation, education, and healthcare facility design.
• China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute (CSWADI): State-owned comprehensive design institute under CSCEC, headquartered in Chengdu with broad architectural and engineering design capabilities. Comparable to ECADI in SOE structure, full-service design portfolio, and heavy engagement in urban development and transportation infrastructure.
• China Academy of Building Research (CABR): National state-owned research and design institute focused on building science, structural engineering, and standards development. Comparable to ECADI in its combination of research depth, technical consulting, and government-driven project portfolio, though more R&D-leaning.

Broad incumbents

• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Internationally renowned architecture and engineering firm specializing in super high-rise, large-scale mixed-use, and urban design. Comparable to ECADI in the super-tall structural / architectural design niche where both firms hold marquee project portfolios.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with large architecture and engineering practices serving Chinese government and developer clients. Overlaps with ECADI in super high-rise, transportation hub, and urban design segments, but operates at a much larger global scale and competes mainly on international-caliber commissions.
• Arup Group: Global engineering consultancy with strong structural and MEP design practices serving marquee Chinese and international projects. Directly comparable to ECADI's structural and MEP consulting offerings and competes for similar high-rise and complex building commissions in China.

Regional players

• Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research (SZADI): Shenzhen-headquartered state-owned comprehensive design institute with strong presence in super high-rise, transportation hubs, and urban renewal. Comparable to ECADI in service scope but competes primarily in the Greater Bay Area where ECADI has its Shenzhen command.
• Guangzhou Design Institute (GDI): Large Guangzhou-based state-owned comprehensive architectural design institute serving southern China, including the Greater Bay Area. Comparable in service breadth and SOE ownership but operates primarily in a different regional market than ECADI's Shanghai-centric base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecadi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 华东建筑设计研究总院 ECADI