Projects

Building the world’s biggest LEGOLAND® resort with Merlin Entertainments

LEGOLAND® Shanghai Resort represents a major milestone China’s fast‑growing leisure and entertainment landscape. As the country’s first LEGOLAND® theme park and the fastest project in Merlin’s global portfolio to reach one million visitors, it showcases a bold approach to family tourism.

Key information

Client Merlin Entertainments

Location Mainland China

Project type Real estate

Services Cost and commercial management

Project timeline 2022 - 2025

Colourful entrance to LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort with large LEGO character figures outside.

Contact

Terence Koh

Head of Cost Management Service Excellence, China

project overview

Delivering a landmark destination

Occupying a 318,000 sqm site, the LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort features a brand-new theme park with a 250‑room hotel, and eight immersive themed lands. With more than 75 interactive rides, shows and attractions, and thousands of LEGO models built using over 85 million bricks, the resort brings colour, creativity and vibrance of the LEGO universe to life.

Developed through a joint venture between Shanghai Jinshan Urban Investment Group, Merlin Entertainments, KIRKBI Invest A/S and CMC Inc., the resort blends iconic LEGO experiences with groundbreaking entertainment features. The project represents a significant step forward in China’s family tourism sector, creating a destination designed for both domestic and international visitors.

project story

Expanding capability in show and ride‑themed projects

We were appointed to deliver full cost and commercial management services alongside Shanghai JIANKE COST Consulting, with a particular focus on Show and Ride quantity surveying, a highly specialised discipline critical to theme park delivery.

Our scope extended beyond traditional real estate construction into ride systems, LEGO model installation, props, show equipment, audiovisual and control systems procurement. Working closely with Merlin Magic Making, we aligned project costs with the creative intent, materials and specialist methodologies required for themed entertainment at global standards.

Our close collaboration with Merlin Entertainment ensured a balance between creative direction with commercial feasibility. In doing so, we delivered measurable value by enabling world‑class themed experiences to be realised within a disciplined, cost‑controlled framework.

Supporting sustainability and driving local economic growth

The resort is already contributed to the growth of Jinshan District by creating jobs, attracting tourism and stimulating investment in local infrastructure and surrounding services. In addition, it’s design excellence has also been recognised internationally, winning the 32nd Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement – Theme Park from the Themed Entertainment Association.

Sustainability was also a core part of our delivery approach. We supported the integration of environmentally-friendly design measures, including rainwater absorption and reuse systems to mitigate flooding and strengthen ecological resilience. These initiatives aligned with Shanghai's wider environmental goals and ensure sustainability principles were fully embedded across the programme.

The project in action

Go behind the scenes with the team on this transformative project

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Building the world’s biggest LEGOLAND® resort with Merlin Entertainments

Delivering a landmark destination

Expanding capability in show and ride‑themed projects

Supporting sustainability and driving local economic growth

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