One of Paul Andreu’s most important works was the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, in China. Construction on the steel-framed semi-ellipsoidal center began in 2001, and was completed in 2007. This work would become one of the staples of his life’s work.

Building requirements in Beijing dictate that no building can be higher than 46 meters, the height of the Great Hall of the People. Since so much space was required for a work like the NCPA, it uses a huge amount of underground space, stretching to 32.5 meters below surface level. The NCPA is surrounded by an artificial lake, which is kept at a mild temperature by circulating in groundwater from the Yongding river which flows through Beijing. The Yongding river flows underground beneath the NCPA and provides enough buoyancy to support an enormous amount of weight. This buoyancy supports the entire structure of the NCPA.

Paul Andreu had great admiration for China and worked on a number of projects for the country. This work was the crowning achievement of his works for China and one of the most remarkable of his career. The location of the hall, near the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City, signifies the magnitude of the responsiblity entrusted to Paul Andreu.

Andreu justified the placement of such a modern building in a place with such important Chinese architecture by the importance of Beijing in the modern world. Moreover, he designed the building in a way that was intended to complement the surrounding architecture, not to distract or detract from it.