Yipin New Building Garden – Residential renovations Shanghai, China
Home to nearly 700 apartments, Yipin New Building Garden is a vibrant residential community in central Shanghai. After more than two decades of service, the community's elevators were showing signs of age, prompting residents and property managers to take action. Our team modernized 23 elevators across the development, delivering safer, faster, and more reliable mobility solutions while ensuring minimal disruption to residents throughout the process.
Key facts
Project stakeholders
- Property management company: Shanghai Zhenhua Property Management Co., Ltd.
- Original developer: Shanghai Jianchang Real Estate Development & Management Co., Ltd.
- Architectural design: Shanghai Urban & Rural Architectural Design Institute
Challenges and client brief
- The complex’s elevators were showing signs of age after 20 years of service
- Residents would continue to live on-site during the project
- With just one elevator per building, downtime had to be kept to a minimum
Schindler solutions
- Elevators were significantly upgraded to deliver comfortable rides, with stylish designs
- Construction plans were carefully scheduled to minimize disturbances
- By front-loading plans, tight schedules were kept, and elevators were installed efficiently and on time
Project highlights
With a population of over 24 million, Shanghai is a city that a lot of people call home. Countless residential developments sit alongside the modern high-rise buildings the city is famous for – offering residents easy access to restaurants, commercial hubs, and transportation links in every direction.
One such complex is Yipin New Building Garden, in the city’s central Hongkou District. The gated community is made up of 24 16-story buildings, home to 698 apartments. Step inside the gates, and ginkgo trees line the peaceful paths between buildings while cats sun themselves on the entrance steps – it’s easy to forget that you’re so close to the center of one of the world’s biggest cities.
But creating a safe and warm home means more than a tranquil setting. It requires infrastructure that works seamlessly, day in and day out.
In March 2024, a working group composed of property management, the owners’ committee, and resident representatives decided it was time to modernize the elevators that had been installed when the complex opened back in 2003.
In total, our team modernized 23 units – one per building – replacing the main ropes, machines, and controllers to ensure they all meet modern safety standards. By upgrading the elevators at Yipin New Building Garden, our team enhanced safety, reliability, and comfort for hundreds of residents while helping the community prepare for the future.
This project demonstrates how modernization can make a meaningful difference to everyday life and protect the value of people’s homes. We’re proud to have delivered a solution that residents can depend on for many years to come,” says Sherry Sun, Vice President of Modernization at Schindler China.
A community looking ahead
“There were lots of small problems with the previous elevators and after 20 years, those issues just kept increasing,” explains Youguo Wang, an owner and community consultant. “The elevators are very important to our daily lives, especially for those who live higher up.”
“They had started to reach the end of their life cycle,” adds Wen Zhu, the appointed representative for Building 6. “Even though our elevator was still working quite well, we didn’t want to wait for it to break down before replacing it.”
The group’s decision to act was helped by an announcement that the Chinese government would provide subsidies for elevator modernizations in the form of national ultra-long-term government bonds.
“This new policy really got the owners thinking,” says Sherry. “It was then our role to prove to them that we were the right partners for the job.” A key part of this was explaining the value of being able to deliver a one-stop service to the customer – from manufacturing the parts, to installation and maintenance.
“It made me feel secure and comfortable that we’d made the right decision,” says Wen Zhu. “Two of the other companies we spoke to use third-party services after installations, but Schindler takes care of everything themselves.”
Modernizing with residents in mind
Haibing Xiao, Schindler project manager at Yipin New Building Garden, explains that the goal was to provide modern, functional, and efficient elevators that would have a positive impact on residents’ lives.
“Throughout the project, the tenants were still living on-site,” he says. “So we had to ensure there was a safe environment at all times and be aware of the noise we were making.”
Loud construction was avoided during early mornings and evenings, and core components were pre-assembled to reduce on-site work. Additionally, to keep the buildings clean, construction waste was sealed in bags and removed regularly.
With each block having only one elevator, keeping everyone informed about progress and timing – and then delivering on schedule – was critical throughout the project.
“There was some impact to the residents’ daily lives, but the process and schedule was well communicated so people knew what was going on and what to expect,” explains Lili Yin, property manager. “The Schindler team were very professional and listened to any concerns that were raised during the installation of each elevator.”
The new elevators now provide a smooth and comfortable ride, and their speed has almost doubled. Inside, the mirrors make the elevators feel bigger and brighter than before, and the handrails are convenient for the older residents.
“We really like these features,” says Yingfen Hu, Director of the Owners‘ Committee. “They not only improve the quality of life for the people living here, but they also help maintain property value and lower running costs, ensuring our homes are appropriately equipped for the future.”