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 | Nov 26, 2018
Vacant Dartmouth College building to become faculty and graduate student center
Leers Weinzapfel Associates designed the project.
Mixed-Use | Oct 25, 2018
Philadelphia’s uCity Square kicks off major expansion drive
This innovation center has several office, lab, and residential buildings in the works.
University Buildings | Oct 23, 2018
A building designed by architects, for architects
Kansas State University’s new College of Architecture Planning and Design places students at the center of the experience.
University Buildings | Oct 17, 2018
The Rhode Island School of Design receives its first new residence building in 30 years
The building was designed by a former RISD student.
University Buildings | Oct 11, 2018
Chapman University opens new science and engineering center
AC Martin designed the building.
University Buildings | Oct 8, 2018
One size doesn't fit all: Student housing is not a pair of socks
While the programming and design for these buildings all kept a holistic living/learning experience at the core, they also had amazingly different outcomes.
University Buildings | Sep 6, 2018
Construction begins on North Carolina State University’s new engineering building
Skanska is building the facility.
University Buildings | Sep 4, 2018
Rutgers University Welcome Center creates branded experience for visitors and prospective students
JZA+D designed the space.
University Buildings | Aug 27, 2018
Nebraska’s Midland University receives a new ‘kitchen table’ courtesy KWK Architects
The new gathering space is completed and ready for students returning for fall semester.
University Buildings | Aug 22, 2018
Skanska completes James Madison University’s new dining hall
The three-story building will open for fall semester 2018.