General Motors makes no secret of the importance the Chinese market has for its present and future, and launching cars designed for China is key to the automaker’s success there.

As a result, the company announced that it will upgrade the GM China Advanced Design Center in Shanghai, more than doubling current studio space and milling capacity. The center will adopt cutting-edge technology and incorporate a more flexible and multifunctional use of space “to enable GM to remain at the forefront of automotive design in the world’s largest automotive market.”

Adjacent to GM China’s headquarters, the GM China Advanced Design Center will grow to more than 5,000 square meters (53,819 sq ft), with the carmaker hoping the expansion will allow it to attract more local design talent. Work is scheduled to begin this month, with completion set for the second quarter of 2021.

Read Also: GM China Says More Than 40% Of Its New Vehicles Will Be Electrified By 2025

“Since opening in 2012, the GM China Advanced Design Center has become an important and trusted source of creativity and insight into the Chinese auto market,” said Ken Parkinson, GM China and GM International vice president of Design. “This has led to significant programs and assignments being given to our talented creative team, which has stretched our current resources – leading to this expansion plan.”

The upgraded Advanced Design Center will include a new color and material studio, paint shop, VR lab and second clay modeling studio. In addition, the current VR Room, viewing patio, clay modeling studio and other facilities will receive comprehensive enhancements and upgrades.

Currently, the GM China Advanced Design team includes creative designers, clay sculptors, digital sculptors and VR specialists with an average age under 32. They are creating future visions of new energy and mobility concepts for China and global markets. The expanded design center in Shanghai is likely to have a more important role in designing future GM products not only for China, but also for other markets.

“Inspired by Shanghai’s vibrant and progressive energy, our mission is to create innovative and exhilarating designs across GM global brands to capture the imaginations of future customers,” said Harry Sze, director of Design at the GM China Advanced Design Center.

[Update: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the Buick Electra concept was the work of the GM China Advanced Design Center.  It was actually developed by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), which is a joint venture between GM and SAIC]