Russky Island, off the coast of Vladivostok, was the primary site for the 2012 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

A Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was established to spur tourism and recreation on the island. In collaboration with an international team, Novaya proposed a development model based on principles of conservation design and environmental protection.

The team conducted an integrated study that included socioeconomic, ecological, geotechnical, and cultural-heritage analyses — including in-depth examination of infrastructure and utilities. The process required a revision of local planning documents, as well as stakeholder consultation in the form of interviews with subject experts, government representatives, local residents, and the business community.

The concept received further scrutiny through a public consultation stage, which informed a strategy based on key performance indicators; a financial and economic model; policy and regulatory measures; and an action plan with a media and events programme.

In preparation, the federal government made large investments in urban infrastructure, including a new bridge across the Eastern Bosphorus Strait, an international business centre, and a campus for the Far Eastern Federal University.