An Exclusive Interview with Tang Peng, Senior Director of Design & R&D Center

Bound by Passion, Growing Together with the Company

What prompted you to join OpenBIM and stay on for 27 years?

When I joined the company back in 2000, I had no grand‑scale plans. I was new to the steel‑structure industry and genuinely fascinated by this field. I simply wanted a platform where I could get down to real work and build hands‑on project experience. Back then the company was small, with fewer than ten employees. Yet I could clearly sense the team’s inherent focus on technology. Everyone worked earnestly, free from impetuousness. To me, this was the right place to devote myself to professional work. Little did I know 27 years would pass in the blink of an eye.

Over these 27 years, I have made substantial progress not only in professional competence and compensation, but also in major life milestones: falling in love, getting married and raising a family, all of which unfolded here at OpenBIM. Last year, my daughter was successfully admitted to the University of Oxford. I truly feel that as our corporate big family thrives, so does my own small family. Looking back over these two‑plus decades, both my personal life and my family have developed, grown and advanced side‑by‑side with the company.

Three Milestones Etching OpenBIM’s Growth Trajectory

Among OpenBIM’s 27‑year journey, which three key milestones have left the deepest impression on you?

The first milestone was the exploratory phase shortly after I joined. My professional foundation was still weak at that time, and I accumulated all my knowledge incrementally through project practice and consulting senior colleagues around me. I recall I was working on shop drawings back then. Fascinated by steel‑structure design, I kept studying in my spare time. On one occasion, Mr. Chen and Engineer Li dropped by my dormitory. They saw my notebook filled with hand‑written study notes. I still remember their approving looks, which filled me with a strong sense of pride. Looking back, those days were tough, yet they laid my solid technical foundation. Every step of my growth was distinctly traceable.

The second milestone was our engagement in the R&D of the company’s innovative products. Take the corrugated‑web H‑section steel we co‑developed with Academician Li from Tongji University as an example. Since then, we gradually evolved from “code compliers” to “participants in code formulation”. This shift brought a qualitative leap to the team’s professional capability and greatly boosted our confidence in the company’s technical strength.

The third milestone marked the company’s expansion into overseas engineering projects. Witnessing OpenBIM’s projects take root abroad and bringing our technology and brand onto the international stage gave me an indescribable sense of pride. This represented not merely business scale‑up, but also an elevation of our standing in the industry. It makes me feel my dedication to OpenBIM is truly worthwhile.

27载，设计团队的精神底色

从初创到如今设计团队近50人的规模，您认为设计团队最宝贵的精神传承是什么？

核心就两点—对专业的认真，对项目的责任感。钢结构设计有很多 “看不见的细节”，一张图纸、一个节点，看似不起眼，却承载着工程的品质和安全。所以这么多年，团队一直有个很朴素的习惯：不管多赶工期，都要把事情做扎实。不敷衍每一个数据，不忽略每一个细节，这种对品质的坚守，就是我们最核心的传承。

27 Years: The Spiritual Foundation of the Design Team

From the early‑stage startup to today’s nearly 50‑member design team, what do you believe is the most precious heritage passed down within the design team?

It boils down to two core points: dedication to professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility toward projects. Steel‑structure design involves many “invisible details”. A drawing or a joint detail, though seemingly trivial, underpins the quality and safety of an entire project. Over the years, the team has kept a simple working habit: no matter how tight the schedule is, work must be done solidly. We never cut corners on any data nor overlook any detail. This commitment to quality represents our most essential heritage.

The biggest transformation has been shifting from “doing a good job by myself” to “leading the whole team to get things done well”. My current role requires not only technical expertise, but also oversight of project progress, team collaboration, cost control, quality assurance and more. My management mindset has grown increasingly mature, and my perspective has evolved from “individual‑focused” to “big‑picture‑oriented”. This growth came both as a result of the company’s continuous development and through my own trial‑and‑error exploration.

Building Core Industry Value with Full Industrial Chain Capabilities

How do you view OpenBIM’s current technical positioning and industry value? What technical breakthrough of the company makes you proudest over the years?

OpenBIM’s current technical positioning aligns closely with the philosophy often emphasized by Mr. Chen: taking structural design as the core, connecting the full industrial chain covering design, fabrication and construction to deliver the optimal integrated solution. This integrated capability serves as our core advantage that differentiates us from many peers, and it underpins the company’s steady growth.

The technical breakthroughs I am most proud of are corrugated‑web H‑section steel and the Shell‑Chassis Structure. The corrugated‑web H‑section steel was jointly developed with Academician Li from Tongji University, while the Shell‑Chassis Structure was developed through collaborative research with Professor Tong from Zhejiang University.

These two technologies have been applied across millions and even tens of millions of square meters in OpenBIM projects. They have effectively solved practical engineering challenges and earned wide‑spread market recognition for our technical capabilities.

Core Essence of Corporate Culture and R&D Spirit

As the company enters a new phase, what core corporate culture and R&D spirit must we never abandon?

The corporate culture we must uphold is professionalism, sincerity, accountability and aspiration. Professionalism is our foundation. No matter how the industry evolves, professional competence always remains paramount. Sincerity underpins long‑term client partnerships; in engineering, we must live up to the trust placed in us. Accountability represents the bottom line of our industry — we must shoulder responsibilities toward projects, clients and society. Aspiration fuels the company’s continuous progress: refusing to be content with the status quo and always pursuing breakthroughs.

As for the R&D spirit, I would describe it as “in‑depth expertise built over time”. Truly valuable innovation never stems from sudden flashes of inspiration. It comes from long‑term technical study and iterative problem‑solving. OpenBIM’s R&D has always advanced steadily through cumulative efforts. This spirit of “rejecting impetuosity and valuing accumulation” must be preserved for our future growth.

Pursuing Dreams with Craftsmanship: Let Youth Blossom at OpenBIM

What sincere messages and advice would you give young colleagues who have just joined OpenBIM?

I have three pieces of advice for young OpenBIM team members. First, lay solid foundations and stay grounded. Design capability cannot be achieved overnight; it requires gradual accumulation over time. Dive deep into drawings and visit construction sites frequently. The true meaning of engineering can only be fully understood through real‑world construction practice, and the site is the best teacher.

Second, stay curious and keep learning. The industry is evolving and technology keeps advancing. New concepts and technologies keep emerging within the steel‑structure sector. Those who take the initiative to learn and explore will always seize more opportunities.

Third, be diligent and down‑to‑earth. Do not crave quick success. After several years of solid hard work, you will witness tangible personal growth. OpenBIM provides a sound platform and an outstanding team. With dedication, youth can surely deliver great value here.

I still remember when Wang Xuan first joined us, he was not keen on social interaction, and I worried he might struggle to integrate into the team. I would often tell him: “Wang Xuan, I have signed you up for a company event” or “You are required to attend this training; no leave is permitted.” After several such sessions, he gradually got acquainted with many colleagues. Though I gave him gentle pushes at the beginning, he eventually fitted in and made rapid, remarkable progress. Today, Wang Xuan serves as Branch Director, mentoring a group of new recruits. As a senior colleague, I feel immense gratification.

A New Starting Point at 27: Embarking on the Next Decade Together

Standing at this new 27‑year milestone, what expectations do you hold for the design team and OpenBIM’s future development?

For the design team, I hope everyone will keep delving into technology and continuously deepen professional expertise. Meanwhile, we should embrace new technologies with an open‑mind, such as digital design and intelligent tools. Empowered by technology, we can elevate our professional capabilities to new heights.

For the company, I sincerely hope OpenBIM can pursue its global journey further and more steadily. We shall bring OpenBIM’s technology, brand and engineering strength to more countries and regions, striving to become an international benchmark in the steel‑structure industry. I also hope the company can nurture more outstanding talents and build a dynamic, capable and cohesive team to embrace the glories of the next decade alongside us.

Unchanged Original Aspiration: Setting Forth on a New Journey with OpenBIM

Please sum up your 27‑year journey with OpenBIM in one sentence, and offer a message to the company and the new‑generation OpenBIM employees.

Twenty‑seven years on, our original aspiration endures; we build with craftsmanship side‑by‑side with OpenBIM. May the new‑generation OpenBIM members ride the momentum to write brilliant new chapters, and let OpenBIM’s banner fly high across more fields!