The No. 8 Plot Project in Zhuxing, Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone, constructed by the Third Branch Company, is located in Zhuxing Town of the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone. To the east lies Zhulin Road, to the north Longtian Road, to the south Longtian Phase II, and to the west Xingyu Road. The project has a total construction area of 145,000 square meters and comprises 12 seventeen-story high-rise buildings, one two-story agricultural market, one two-story property management building, and other ancillary facilities. Developed and constructed by Jiangsu Weifu Group Construction & Development Co., Ltd., the project is designated as affordable housing for relocation and resettlement in Zhuxing Town within the development zone, and is regarded as a key and people-oriented project of the zone. The scope of work includes deep excavation, tower-crane clusters, large-scale formwork systems for high-rise structures, and the installation of integrated exterior wall panels—tasks that represent significant technical challenges for the development zone.

Since the official commencement of construction in May 2021, under the leadership of Ji Shenghua, Deputy General Manager of the Third Branch Company and Project Manager, the entire staff and management team of the project office have overcome numerous technical challenges, meticulously planned the construction schedule, rigorously enforced quality control, and ensured safe and civilized construction practices. With unwavering dedication and a commitment to excellence, they have leveraged the wisdom and hard work of Nantong Construction professionals to deliver this high-quality, affordable housing project on time to the residents of the Development Zone.

Quality First: Rigorous Control to Forge Premium Products

Construction quality is a company’s “golden brand” and, more importantly, a matter of vital public concern. From the very outset of project establishment, the project department set up a quality-control leadership group headed by the project manager, systematically assigning quality responsibilities at every level—ranging from the project manager to the construction supervisors, from the team leaders to the frontline workers—ensuring accountability and control at each tier and thereby establishing a rigorous and highly efficient construction-quality management system.

During construction, the project team has vigorously implemented a “model-led” approach, applying model-based management practices—such as “model sections” and “model units”—to major sub-projects, critical processes, and key areas. For two new construction techniques—the floor thermal and sound-insulating underlayment and the integrated exterior wall decorative panels—the team first conducts expert evaluation of the construction plans, followed by on-site sample installations; the experts then re-evaluate and optimize the plans based on the results of the model work before proceeding with full-scale implementation. In particular, for common quality defects in building projects—such as water seepage, hollow sounds, and cracking—the team has summarized relevant quality-control key points and developed detailed operation manuals. For exterior-wall insulation and integrated exterior-wall panel installation, a facade-control manual has been prepared. The team organizes training sessions for frontline workers to ensure that quality standards are embedded in every detail, promoting continuous improvement and meticulous control. To guarantee that each quality standard is fully implemented, the project team relies heavily on routine inspections and checks, rigorously enforcing a three-tier inspection system for construction quality and concealed works: self-inspection, mutual inspection, and handover inspection must all be completed before submitting the work for supervisory acceptance; only after passing inspection may the next process step commence. In addition, the project manager and the technical director regularly lead quality-inspection teams, identify quality issues, issue corrective-action plans, and mandate timely rectification within specified deadlines, ensuring that every quality problem is resolved during the construction phase. This approach ensures comprehensive, tightly coordinated, and continuously refined quality control throughout the entire project.

People-Oriented Approach, Rigorous Implementation to Ensure Safety

Safety is the bottom line and red line of engineering construction; it is also the lifeline for a company’s stable, healthy, and sustainable development, leaving no room for the slightest slackness, complacency, or carelessness. Therefore, from the very first day of commencement, the project management team has prioritized workplace safety as the paramount principle of construction, deeply engraving the guiding philosophy of “safety first, prevention-oriented, and comprehensive management” in the hearts of every member of the team.

At the project construction site, safety slogans on banners, safety signage, warning display boards, and safety exhibition panels are visible everywhere, subtly reminding every person entering the site to remain constantly vigilant about workplace safety. At the same time, the project office employs a variety of methods—including pre-entry training, daily team briefings, case studies of safety incidents, dissemination of safety policies and procedures, and knowledge competitions—to impart safety knowledge, clearly explain the stakes involved, and ensure that safety education resonates deeply with every employee, thereby fostering a cultural atmosphere in which “everyone learns about safety, everyone respects safety, and everyone complies with safety regulations.” In terms of implementing safety management systems, the project office rigorously enforces measures such as real-name verification, detailed safety technical briefings, on-site patrols and inspections, maintenance and inspection of machinery and equipment, identification and elimination of potential hazards, and regular safety meetings. Dedicated safety officers conduct round-the-clock, full-process oversight of on-site safety risks, covering everything from the operation and use of machinery and protective measures for work at height to the proper wearing of safety helmets. Any non-compliance with safety operating procedures is first addressed through a verbal reminder and corrective action; repeated violations result in penalties in accordance with established rules. Through the strict enforcement of these systems, a safety philosophy has taken root: “We abide by the rules—no exceptions made for individuals.”

To enhance the proactive nature of safety management, the project department has also developed specific safety contingency plans—such as winter freeze-prevention measures and summer heat-protection protocols—based on seasonal changes, key construction milestones, major holidays, and other practical considerations. In addition, the department conducts safety drills covering areas such as epidemic prevention and control, fall-from-height incidents, and fire rescue, ensuring that in the event of sudden emergencies, responses can be carried out safely, swiftly, and decisively to minimize losses to the greatest extent possible.

During project implementation, the construction site was meticulously arranged and managed in strict accordance with standardized requirements. In particular, dust-control measures were recognized with a commendation on the Nantong Urban Area Dust-Management Red-and-Black List for the second quarter of 2021 and with a public acknowledgment in the October 2021 report on resettlement housing projects in the main urban area. Furthermore, the project office was awarded the title of “Civilized and Standardized Construction Site” at both the provincial level in Jiangsu Province and the city level in Nantong for 2021.

Upholding Integrity and Delivering on Contracts While Overcoming the Pandemic to Ensure Project Timelines

Construction on the project’s pile foundation commenced in May 2021. During the foundation and superstructure phases, despite challenging conditions posed by typhoons and the ever-changing COVID-19 situation, all major structural work was successfully completed and topped out by the end of December 2021. In April 2022, when Nantong experienced a severe COVID-19 outbreak, the project happened to be transitioning from the completion of the structural acceptance inspection to the interior and exterior fit-out phase, with more than 400 new workers joining the site. The project management team worked around the clock, implementing comprehensive control measures for all personnel entering the site and rigorously enforcing the “three codes and one test” protocol. As a result, not a single instance occurred in which construction had to be suspended due to positive cases or close contacts. In accordance with the requirements of the Development Zone Housing and Urban–Rural Development Bureau, the project team organized all workers to undergo nucleic acid testing in line with routine epidemic prevention and control measures. Furthermore, during the subsequent phases of ancillary works and landscaping, the project team adopted a zone-based approach, prioritizing the handover of eligible sections for early commencement of construction to ensure that the overall schedule was met as planned.

At present, the project has fully entered the final stage of completion and commissioning. It is all the more important to uphold the spirit of craftsmanship and pursue meticulous attention to detail. All members of the project team will continue to embody the corporate ethos of “hard work and pioneering spirit” and adhere to the corporate philosophy of “integrity, standardization, innovation, and efficiency.” Through concrete actions, we will fulfill our corporate responsibilities and commitments, strive with unwavering determination, and apply artisanal dedication to deliver a high-quality, exemplary housing project that meets the expectations of the local community.

(Third Branch Company, Ma Liang)