Groundbreaking occurred on December 28, 2005 for Linked Hybrid, a multi-building complex that is scheduled to house 2,500 people in 700 apartments by the end of 2008.  Covering 1.6 million square feet, it's a model for large-scale sustainable residential architecture.  The site will feature on the world's largest geothermal cooling and heating systems that will stabilize the temperature within the eight buildings that will be linked at the 20th floor by a "ring" of service establishments including cafes and dry cleaners.  A set of dual pipes will pump water from 100 meteres below ground through the concrete floors.

         As a result, the water circulation system will serve as a giant radiator in the winter and as a cooling system in the summer.  It will have no boilers to supply heat, no electric air conditioners to supply cool the interiors.  The apartments will feature gray-water recycling - a process that's just starting to catch on in Beijing in smaller buildings.  It filters waste water from kitchen sinks and wash basins back into toilets.