HENN has unveiled the design for the Sino-French Aviation University. The concept draws on the traditional culture of Liangzhu, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Yangtze River Delta. Of the 1.5 million sm, 660,000 sm are dedicated to the academic campus and 930,000 sm host the science and technology park with corporate and commercial companies.
The campus’s central building and its flying roof are the most important design element of the project. The lightweight, concave roof sits atop the main building and opens itself towards the sky, meant to resemble a plane taking off. Public and shared functions, such as research labs, classrooms, conference halls, the canteen, and sports halls, are distributed among the central building.
The overall planning skeleton of the project comprises an industry-academia axis and an urban landscape axis. The industry-academia axis connects to the north and the south with courtyards, squares, and roads, while combining public teaching, labs, and service function buildings. The landscape axis connects the green corridor on the west side of the city with the east-west main entrance of the campus. It extends to the mountain on the east side to become the main landscape corridor of the campus.
See Also: GLY Construction to build underground, robotic parking garage for Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
The buildings’ facades incorporate rough natural materials and masonry texture, and modern technical components like glass, concrete, and steel complement the traditional Chinese facade parts.
Related Stories
University Buildings | May 17, 2019
Designing for the next generation of student life
When a prospective student evaluates an institution, they are imagining whether they can see themselves there as an individual.
Healthcare Facilities | May 16, 2019
ASU Health Futures Center combines a novel design and approach to learning
The trapezoidal shape of the building is an eco-friendly feature.
University Buildings | May 8, 2019
Victory Drive Student Housing project will bring 650 beds to Savannah College of Art and Design
The project will utilize the design-build resources of Clayco and BatesForum.
University Buildings | May 7, 2019
Center for Engineering, Innovation, and Sciences opens on Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Boston campus
Leers Weinzapfel Associates designed the building.
University Buildings | Apr 29, 2019
‘One Harvard’ initiative injects new life into campus center
The university’s Smith Campus Center now offers a centralized gathering place with several dining options.
University Buildings | Apr 24, 2019
Teaching on the cutting edge of design
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Campus Instructional Facility will celebrate and foster creativity and interdisciplinary cooperation.
University Buildings | Apr 22, 2019
An old warehouse building becomes the new Campus Center at Springfield Technical Community College
Ann Beha Architects designed the building.
University Buildings | Apr 19, 2019
Curtin University library redevelopment will modernize iconic campus structure
Brutalist structure to be softened with redesign by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects.
University Buildings | Apr 16, 2019
UMass Amherst’s new copper-clad Business Innovation Hub adds 70,000 sf to the university’s business school
Bjarke Ingels Group designed the facility.
University Buildings | Apr 9, 2019
17-story Data Sciences building to rise on Boston University campus
KPMB Architects is designing the project.