Author: Admin Publish Time: 09-27-2026 Origin: Site
On September 22, 2026, the 2026 Academic Conference of the Chinese Society of Civil Engineering and the Award Ceremony for the 21st Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize were held in Chengdu. The Phase I Project of the Jiaxing Tramway, in which ZEMSO participated, was honored with the 21st Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize.
The Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize, established in 1999 by the Chinese Society of Civil Engineering and the Beijing Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Science and Technology Development Foundation, is regarded as one of the highest honors for technological innovation in civil engineering projects in China. It is widely recognized as a major award for engineering innovation in the construction industry.
As the first tramway system in Zhejiang Province, the 13.8-kilometer line faced a wide range of challenges throughout its planning, construction, and operation.
The project's recognition with the Tien-yow Jeme Prize was not the result of a single technological breakthrough. Rather, it reflected the integrated achievements of planning, design, construction, manufacturing, and long-term operation.
The real challenge of building a tramway has never been simply laying tracks.
The Phase I Jiaxing Tramway connects Jiaxing South Railway Station and Jiaxing Railway Station, with approximately 9.8 kilometers of the route passing through the city's old urban area. The line crosses the urban core and involves 49 intersections, 16 bridges, nearly 1 kilometer of railway infrastructure, more than 200 utility relocation projects, and over 8,000 foundation piles.
This was not a project built on undeveloped land. Instead, it was introduced into a mature and continuously operating urban environment.
The central challenge was therefore clear: How can a new rail transit system be integrated effectively into an established city while maintaining its existing functions?
This challenge first emerged at the planning and design stage. From station locations and route planning to construction methods, the project needed to balance urban space, traffic organization, engineering conditions, and long-term operational requirements.
Once construction began, complex conditions—including soft soil, existing buildings, roads, and public spaces—further increased the engineering challenges.
The key question became: How could the design concept be effectively translated into a solution that works on site?
For a complex smart city furniture project like this, the key was not a single technology. It was about bringing design, product development, manufacturing, construction, and installation into one integrated engineering system.
The design of Smart City Furniture Solutions facilities must first respond to the spatial characteristics and environment of the city.
For the Jiaxing Tramway project, the station platform design was developed by considering the route plan, individual station conditions, and Jiaxing's distinctive urban character as a whole.
While meeting transportation functions and passenger needs, the design combined modern public transportation infrastructure with the regional characteristics of Jiangnan's water-town culture.
Elements including the spatial form and steel structures of the stations were carefully designed so that the facilities could integrate into the surrounding urban environment and become part of the city's public space.
The project had to address complex engineering conditions, including soft soil, existing roads, and surrounding buildings.
Each station had different site conditions. Therefore, the platforms needed to meet functional and structural requirements while also taking transportation, installation, and on-site construction conditions into account.
Through modular design, ZEMSO divided the platform structures and related components into manageable modules and optimized the product solutions according to specific site conditions.
This approach allowed the platforms to adapt to different construction environments and provided a practical foundation for transportation, installation, and on-site assembly.
The 13.8-kilometer line passes through multiple areas of the city. During construction, the project also had to coordinate with existing roads, utility pipelines, bridges, and other urban infrastructure.
The construction and installation of the station platforms therefore had to remain closely aligned with the overall project schedule and actual site conditions.
After manufacturing, the platform components were transported to different stations and assembled and installed according to local foundation conditions, road environments, and construction schedules. Coordination with other engineering disciplines was also essential.
Different station conditions meant that the same construction method could not simply be replicated everywhere.
Instead, each site required targeted adjustments.
This allowed standardized products to adapt to the complexity of real urban engineering environments.
Once the stations were completed and put into operation, they still had to withstand long-term use.
As public transportation facilities, the platforms need to continuously support passenger waiting, information access, circulation, and everyday use, while also coping with long-term outdoor exposure and frequent public use.
For this reason, stability, durability, and long-term maintenance needed to be considered throughout structural design, product manufacturing, and on-site installation.
For an urban public transportation project, completion is only the beginning.
The true test of an engineering project is whether it can withstand time, daily operation, and the realities of the urban environment.
Only then can the entire process—from design and manufacturing to on-site implementation—be considered truly complete.
In June 2021, the Phase I Jiaxing Tramway was completed and officially put into operation.
From construction commencement to achieving operational readiness, the project followed a highly compact schedule. The demonstration section took only 13 months from construction commencement to being ready for operation.
After completion, the line connected Jiaxing South Railway Station with Jiaxing Railway Station, linking the high-speed rail new city with the urban core.
It became an important part of Jiaxing's public transportation network and an important transportation link supporting the city's urban renewal and cultural tourism development.
The value of the line therefore went beyond simply "completing construction." It entered a new stage of long-term operation and service.
Turning plans into urban infrastructure, translating technology into on-site solutions, and transforming engineering into long-term operational value—this may be where the real value of an urban infrastructure project lies.
The Tien-yow Jeme Civil Engineering Prize recognizes the comprehensive construction achievements and innovative results of the Phase I Jiaxing Tramway project.
Behind this honor is a complete engineering process covering planning, design, product manufacturing, construction, installation, and operation.
For ZEMSO Group, participating in an urban project is not simply about completing a design or delivering a product.
It means translating solutions into real-world applications, integrating products into engineering projects, making every stage reliable, and ensuring that the final result can withstand the realities of the urban environment and long-term public use.
From design to construction, from product development to on-site implementation, what is ultimately delivered is not simply a product, but an engineering solution that truly becomes part of the city and serves its people.
