As part of Duke University’s 200-acre global campus in Kunshan, China, the 30-acre first phase of Duke Kunshan University Campus includes five buildings that sit atop a manmade lake and are interconnected by low bridges and seasonal plazas.
The plazas are submerged underneath the water and are only revealed and usable during periods of low rainfall, which coincides with peak student attendance. A four-acre water ecosystem is the central landscape element of the new campus and includes a stormwater management system with point-source water filtration, roof gardens, rain gardens, living water gardens, greywater capture, and aquatic habitat creation.
"The entire water filtration system serves as an ecological education lab with a flowing water garden located at the end,” said Kevin Vogel, PE, Partner and Civil Engineer with LandDesign, in a release. "The design also addresses scalable energy alternatives to correspond with the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment for carbon neutrality.”
Primary gathering spaces feature movable benches, planters, and sculptures in order to accommodate large events, art installations, and social/learning space. Gensler is the project’s architect while LandDesign is handling landscape architecture and civil engineering duties.
Related Stories
| Jun 1, 2012
New BD+C University Course on Insulated Metal Panels available
By completing this course, you earn 1.0 HSW/SD AIA Learning Units.
| Jun 1, 2012
K-State Olathe Innovation Campus receives LEED Silver
Aspects of the design included a curtain wall and punched openings allowing natural light deep into the building, regional materials were used, which minimized the need for heavy hauling, and much of the final material included pre and post-consumer recycled content.
| May 31, 2012
2011 Reconstruction Award Profile: Seegers Student Union at Muhlenberg College
Seegers Student Union at Muhlenberg College has been reconstructed to serve as the core of social life on campus.
| May 31, 2012
New School’s University Center in NYC topped out
16-story will provide new focal point for campus.
| May 31, 2012
Perkins+Will-designed engineering building at University of Buffalo opens
Clad in glass and copper-colored panels, the three-story building thrusts outward from the core of the campus to establish a new identity for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the campus at large.
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
| May 24, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form
Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.
| May 9, 2012
Shepley Bulfinch given IIDA Design award for Woodruff Library?
The design challenges included creating an entry sequence to orient patrons and highlight services; establishing a sense of identity visible from the exterior; and providing a flexible extended-hours access for part of the learning commons.
| May 8, 2012
Morgan/Harbour completes three projects at Columbia Centre
Projects completed on behalf of property owner, White Oak Realty Partners, LLC, Pearlmark Realty Partners, LLC and Angelo Gordon & Co.
| May 7, 2012
2012 BUILDING TEAM AWARDS: TD Ameritrade Park
The new stadium for the College World Series in Omaha combines big-league amenities within a traditional minor league atmosphere.