A milestone was recently reached in the architect responsibility system reform in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, as the first group of four overseas architects received official certification as "responsible architects" from the district's construction and transportation commission.

This marks a key step for Pudong in aligning local practices with international standards.

The certified architects are Tianyi Gu and Martin Castle from the United Kingdom, Jens Kump from Germany, and Jiang Chun from Hong Kong. They have been involved in major local projects like the Shanghai Pudong Football Stadium, achieving remarkable results within the industry.

These architects can now take the charge of the entire process of projects under the architect responsibility system, which refers to an internationally recognized working model where the architect, serving as the lead designer or the chief responsible designer for a construction project, forms a team within their affiliated design unit, and provides engineering design, entire-process technical consulting, and management services to the construction unit.

Pudong has been pioneering this system since 2016, with 19 pilot projects, including the Museum of Art Pudong and Taikoo Li Qiantan, a wellness-themed retail venture of 250 shops. These projects demonstrated improved quality, faster construction, and better cost control.

The Museum of Art Pudong in Shanghai. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

The reform gained further momentum as a dedicated plan was released by the national authorities in January 2024. In April 2025, Pudong New Area and Lin-gang Special Area jointly released a lineup of measures to further promote the implementation of relevant provisions.

This accreditation enriches Pudong's pool of high-end talent, showcasing the district's commitment to facilitating the practice of international professionals.

Looking ahead, Pudong will refine supporting policies, enhance registration services for overseas architects, and develop a localized architect responsibility system by taking advantage of international expertise.