Pudong Financial Plaza (PFP) is a mixed-use development that creates a civic and social nexus, retail center, and tourist destination in Shanghai’s burgeoning Pudong district. Located in the center of Lujiazui—one of the fastest growing financial districts in China—the pedestrian-focused, transit-centered development establishes an essential link between the region’s many tourist destinations, residential buildings, and commuter hubs.

PFP is sited between Pudong’s financial and civic centers and bounded by Century Avenue, the district’s most important thoroughfare. The development consists of three office towers, an 11-story shopping center, a multimodal transit hub, and a below-grade retail concourse. Buildings and vehicular access roads are strategically placed along the site’s perimeter to create a multilevel urban room at the heart of the plaza. The result is a casual, pedestrian-only gathering space where people can connect as they go about their daily routines.

The development illustrates how transit-oriented projects can help sustain large retail centers. The development forms connections to neighboring subway lines and bus routes, and introduces new, intermodal transit terminals in response to the district’s need for a centralized arrival, departure, and transfer point. It also improves the daily life of transit riders by bringing people through a new concourse, spanning a full block and animated with a diverse array of retail offerings. The transit access points connect directly to the retail center entrances.

In addition to improving access to transit, PFP reduces the district’s carbon footprint by decreasing car use and traffic. It also aids in diminishing urban sprawl, improving air quality, and increasing foot traffic to nearby businesses. With a carefully crafted network of pedestrian-scaled spaces, the development creates an accessible and dynamic environment for both connection and respite.