King of the Wilderness

"This single item takes up 20% of the total budget and will render the project timeline unable to meet Mr. Lin’s initial requirements from the start."

He switched to another PPT filled with data and budget analysis, clearly comparing the two options.

"As we pointed out in the evaluation report, the annual temperature difference in Wyoming exceeds 60 degrees Celsius. The joints of such a large glass and metal structure will face severe thermal expansion and contraction challenges."

"This means it will incur extremely high maintenance and calibration costs over its 50-year operational cycle."

"Therefore, our alternative solution is sliding rather than lifting."

He then presented another 3D model, "We’ve designed the glass curtain wall into five independent units that can slide on hidden tracks."

"When fully opened, it can also achieve over 80% openness. But its structure is more stable, and the technology is more mature. We can have the best high-speed train window suppliers from China produce it."

"The total cost can be controlled within 3 million US Dollars, the construction period can be shortened to three months, and the subsequent maintenance cost is only one-tenth of the former."

"We believe this is the optimal solution between effect and reality."

This was the first direct data-based confrontation, Hammond looked at Li Gong’s plan, deep in thought.

What he pursued was 100% ideal, while Li Gong offered 90% effect at 30% cost.

Before Lin Yu’an could continue, Li Wenbo proactively tackled the next core issue: "Secondly, regarding the total budget and timeline. Mr. Lin, you proposed 40 million US Dollars and a six-month deadline."

"Frankly, it’s very extreme. According to the conventional construction process in the United States, we preliminarily estimate the cost of such a project to be around 45 million US Dollars, with a timeline of 18 to 20 months."

"I believe you certainly have ways to compress this time and budget," Lin Yu’an directly stated.

"Yes." Li Gong nodded, "Therefore, in the plan, we proposed an Infrastructure Fanatic-style solution."

"That is to utilize China’s powerful industrial prefabrication capability and supply chain advantage, breaking down the Arctic Home’s indoor venues into hundreds of modular steel structures and prefabricated concrete units."

"These modules will be produced in synchrony with the design in factories in China."

"This means, by the time Mr. Hammond’s team is still making final modifications to the design drawings, our factories will have already started producing the venue’s components."

"By the end of April, when the snow in Wyoming melts, the foundation work will immediately commence. At the same time, the first batch of modules completed in China will arrive on the construction site."

"Then, we’ll stage a Lego-style assembly, with the American team handling on-site management and quality supervision, while the Chinese engineering team provides installation technical guidance."

In his eyes, there was an absolute confidence in engineering.

"Through this method, we can compress the on-site main construction time from the usual eight months to three months. The total duration can be reduced from 18 months to eight months."

He added the most crucial point, "And the total budget, through global procurement and Chinese prefabrication, can be optimized from 45 million to around 38 million US Dollars, saving over 15%."

This proposal is full of temptation, but it also contains significant risks of cross-national collaboration.

However, this plan completely aligns with Lin Yu’an’s initial prefabricated assembly concept, which can swiftly bring December and Amber to Wyoming.

After hearing this, Hammond immediately raised his biggest concern while reviewing the proposal: "Li Gong, your proposed plan is impeccable in engineering, filled with Chinese-style efficiency and boldness."

"But this requires an unprecedented day-by-day precise collaboration between our design, Chinese production, international logistics, and on-site construction in the United States."

"Any mistake in one part can cause catastrophic delays for the entire project. We at PGAV have never attempted such an extreme multi-national parallel engineering."

The meeting room fell silent, with all eyes focused on the one man who could make the final decision.

Lin Yu’an quietly listened to the exchanges. He knew it was now up to him as the client to make a decision.

He turned his gaze to the expert table, "Dr. MacKeez, do you have any questions or suggestions?"

MacKeez nodded, "I have a concern regarding the design of the visitor’s viewing area."

"In Mr. Hammond’s proposal, visitors will enter the center of the venue through an underwater glass tunnel and look up to view Polar Bears swimming, which is very impressive."

"But my concern is that the viewing from below and all around might impose long-term psychological stress on the naturally timid Northeast Tiger, Amber."

Hammond immediately explained, "Doctor, your concern is very reasonable, so the glass we designed is one-way reflective glass, and we will strictly control the lighting inside the tunnel."

"From the animals’ perspective, they will only see their blurred reflections, not the visitors."

"This is currently the most mature technology in top aquariums, fully compliant with the American Animal Welfare Act (AWA) standards."

Lin Yu’an turned to Li Gong, "Li Gong, what are your views?"

Li Wenbo brought up a document showing related Chinese regulations and cases.

"Mr. Hammond, in theory, one-way glass is feasible. But based on our operating experience at the Chimelong Group Ocean Kingdom, this kind of glass is greatly affected by external light intensity."