The US$1.85bn (€1.56bn, £1.39bn) Nickelodeon-branded cultural resort coming to Foshan, Southern China, will be project managed by AECOM after a deal was signed at this year’s IAAPA Attractions Expo.

Part of the Foshan Cultural and Ecological Coastal Project – an initiative to enhance the culture, tourism, sports, science and technology sectors to the city of Foshan – the development will cover 750 acres, 250 of which will be dedicated to Nickelodeon-themed attractions.

The masterplan also includes a ‘China Cultural Creativity Base’, which will incorporate Chinese culture, stories and values into multiple attractions.

Viacom, the Sanshui New Town Management Committee and Elite Global Group are behind the plans, announced last week at the Expo in Florida, Orlando, with AECOM to provide comprehensive, integrated programme management services.

"This is the first, large-scale agreement for AECOM to deliver its proprietary lifecycle of integrated program management services for a consequential theme park project in Asia and is a breakthrough moment for our programme management consultancy business in the People's Republic of China," said Chris Yoshii, vice president, Asia Pacific, AECOM.

It will be the first Nickelodeon attraction in China, with other branded properties in locations in the US, Australia, UK, Spain and Malaysia. Breaking ground in January this year, the project is expected to be completed between 2020 and 2021.

"We're extremely excited that the delivery of our first Nickelodeon theme park will be managed by a world-leading company with the global experience and successful track record that AECOM brings," said Michael Chang, director of Elite Global Group.

"Millions of Chinese consumers enthusiastically await the opening of the project, which we believe will introduce innovations and advance China's theme park industry."

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