The "Huayanli" building complex in Shanghai's Zhangyuan will complete an unprecedented "relocation" on June 7, 2025 — 432 walking-type shifting robots, at a speed of 10 meters per day, will precisely reposition three Shikumen buildings with a total weight of 7,500 tons and a footprint of 4,030 square meters. This 19-day project not only set a new domestic record for theweight of building translationbut also, through the combination of a "robot legion + intelligent algorithms," demonstrated the hard technological strength of Shanghai's urban renewal

    "Huayanli" was first built in the 1920s and 1930s and consists of three post-and-lintel brick-and-wood structure buildings, with a total weight equivalent to 5,000 family cars. To translate such a massive structure hundreds of meters, the contractorShanghai Construction No. 2 Construction Groupdeployed 432 walking-type shifting robots. These robots are about 1.2 meters tall, each equipped with 6 hydraulic outriggers, and exert force synchronously through a computer control system, lifting, translating, and then lowering the buildings in an "ants moving house" manner.

    The engineering team adopted "millimeter-level" control technology, using laser positioning and sensors to monitor the building's posture in real time, ensuring the translation error does not exceed 5 millimeters. Even more impressive, the robot cluster can automatically adjust its direction of travel according to the terrain, turning flexibly in the narrow Shikumen alleys. According to on-site engineers, during the translation, a chandelier inside the building remained stationary the entire time, demonstrating the exquisite craftsmanship of the technology.

    Behind this "Robot Rally" is the intelligent control system independently developed by Shanghai Construction No. 2 Construction Group. Each robot is equipped with an independent chip and is linked in real time with the command center via a 5G network. If a robot malfunctions, the system can redistribute the load within 0.1 seconds to ensure the overall balance of the building. This "distributed control" model makes the 7,500-ton giant seem to have been given "life."

    In addition to the shifting robots, the construction team also developed a variety of "special robots" to solve construction challenges in narrow spaces. A small excavation robot with a folding robotic arm, only 1.5 meters tall, can move freely inside old buildings to complete drilling, grouting, and other operations. During the translation of "Huayanli," another intelligent excavation robot showed its prowess — it can turn autonomously in alleys less than 1.2 meters wide, grab clay with its robotic arm, and transport it to the ground via a rail hoist, achieving three times the efficiency of manual labor.

    As the largest surviving Shikumen building complex in Shanghai, Zhangyuan carries profound historical and cultural heritage. How can modern urban functional needs be met while preserving the historical character? The construction team provided the answer: do a good job of "addition and subtraction."

    The so-called "subtraction" is to "slim down" some buildings, removing illegally constructed additions built later and restoring the buildings' original appearance. The "addition," meanwhile, is to inject new vitality into Zhangyuan through underground space development. After the translation of "Huayanli," the contractor will excavate an 18-meter-deep foundation pit at the original site to build a three-story underground space; in the future, this area will add commercial and cultural facilities as well as more than 100 parking spaces.

    The construction team also adopted the "top-down construction method," first building the underground roof slab and then excavating downward from the slab, forming a "top-down" construction sequence. This technology not only saved 30% of the construction period but also greatly reduced the impact on the surrounding environment.

    The translation of "Huayanli" in Zhangyuan is a microcosm of Shanghai's urban renewal. In recent years, Shanghai has continuously explored new models for historic building preservation and urban renewal, with technology becoming a key driving force. From BIM modeling and point cloud scanning to robotic construction and intelligent monitoring, the application of a series of new technologies has not only revitalized old buildings but also expanded space for urban development.

    The success of this translation project not only lays the foundation for the future development of Zhangyuan but also provides a reference model for urban renewal across the country. With the support of technology, historic buildings are no longer a "burden" on urban development but have become a "bridge" connecting the past and the future.