01 Design Vision: A Science-Arts Complex for Authentic Coexistence with AI
As artificial intelligence reshapes educational delivery, what remains the essential value of a university? What, in this context, is the fundamental meaning of a campus? Alan M. Garber, President of Harvard University, observes: "In the age of AI, what becomes increasingly precious is the irreplaceable value of authentic human co-presence—to listen, to question, and to be transformed by one another."
As the trend of large-scale campus construction in China gives way to more reflective approaches, the Science and Engineering Building Complex at Beijing Normal University Zhuhai Campus seeks to create—between mountains and sea—an environment that fosters genuine engagement with science, art, nature, and community.
The project occupies 13.6 hectares and encompasses approximately 284,000 m² of gross floor area. It includes a 1,902-seat grand theatre, a 389-seat concert hall and art gallery, a library, a sports and health center, six laboratory buildings, and a comprehensive teaching building. Situated at the western terminus of the "most beautiful valley campus," it establishes a new core that integrates diverse functions while maintaining spatial fluidity and organic interconnection.

02 Cross-Disciplinary Integration: An Enhanced "Nutrient Layer"
Building on the common strategy of an underground parking podium that unifies a building cluster, this project layers in a grand theatre, concert hall, art gallery, and sports center—transforming the base into a functionally enriched "nutrient layer." Teaching and laboratory spaces rise from this foundation, allowing students to move effortlessly between science, art, and physical activity, embedding holistic development into daily campus life.
Interlocking circulation paths, shared entrance lobbies, and shaded semi-outdoor communal spaces dissolve barriers between individual buildings, generating a cohesive, vibrant whole that balances functional density with compact, efficient movement.

03 Spatial and Landscape Integration: Mutual Borrowing and Permeation
S Nestled within a scenic valley, the design respects the existing topography and makes the most of the site's mountain and water resources. The masterplan follows natural contours, minimizing earthworks while endowing the building cluster with a staggered, layered silhouette that settles naturally into the valley's morphology.
Five mountain-view corridors are carved between the buildings, framing the surrounding peaks and enhancing visual depth through layered spatial compositions. Landscape interventions leverage existing waterways and ponds, transforming them into three water features distributed along the primary pedestrian route. These natural elements soften the built environment and enrich campus life, transforming daily commutes into relaxed, sensory experiences.

04 Geometric Order and Beauty: Axial Culmination, Geometric Centering
The architectural language draws on pure geometric volumes, anchored by an "Academic Cloud Ring" that terminates the campus's main axial road, then rotates the axis southward toward the sweeping mountain range beyond. This dual-axis strategy—one oriented to the campus, the other to the landscape—allows the complex to engage simultaneously with the campus grid and the natural topography.
At the western end of the linear campus, this configuration establishes a landmark that reinforces spatial identity and a sense of place. The inner radius of the Academic Cloud Ring measures 75 meters—a distance at which individuals can recognise each other's gait and perceive collective activity, and which can be comfortably traversed on foot in about 1.5 minutes. The result is a human-scaled space that balances ceremonial presence with everyday vitality.

05 Human–Space Interaction: Embodied Offline Experience
The design responds to the digital generation's desire for meaningful offline connection and sustained focus, deliberately crafting high-sensory spaces that engage the body. A broad stair beneath the colonnade, accompanied by the murmur of flowing water, offers a moment of calm during transitions; an outdoor staircase encircling a planted heart allows one to appreciate seasonal changes while strolling; and an art-filled sunken courtyard, patterned with light and shadow and textured with tactile materials, invites touch.
These spaces encourage spontaneous exploration, drawing attention from virtual realms back to physical presence. They form a positive psychological field that relieves stress, fosters self-awareness, and nurtures the spirit.

06 Human-Human Interaction: A Porous Field
Public spaces for casual encounter permeate the high-density research and teaching areas like pores in a sponge—informal learning niches along corridors, inter-building viewing platforms, staircases by classroom windows, and routes that cut through lobbies.
Distances between these public spaces are deliberately set at 25–35 metres—a range that allows facial features to be clearly distinguished, making eye contact and spontaneous greetings natural. This increases the likelihood of unplanned encounters, fostering mutual visibility and exchange among students and faculty.

07 Climate-Responsive Design: Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction
The building massing and facade strategy respond deeply to the subtropical climate, prioritising passive measures such as shading and natural ventilation to create comfortable semi-outdoor public spaces. The building cluster is arranged to align with prevailing winds; combined with ground-level pilotis, this forms four wind corridors that rapidly disperse lab exhaust fumes while also improving natural ventilation for indoor spaces.
Laboratory buildings incorporate buffer zones at roofs and facades. These ventilated, shaded layers reduce indoor energy consumption while generating accessible outdoor areas for rest and movement on upper floors—offering relief from the intensity of laboratory work and research.

08 Post-Occupancy Life
One year after completion, a wealth of user-generated photography and video content created by faculty and students has appeared across social media platforms. The complex has already become a source of institutional pride and a new campus landmark. As the buildings weather and mature over time, they are expected to continue growing as a vibrant core—nurturing a future-oriented educational ecosystem.

Project Information
Project Name: Science and Engineering Building Complex at Beijing Normal University Zhuhai Campus
Location: Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China
Building Types: Grand Theatre, Concert Hall & Gallery, Sports & Health Center, Library, Teaching Building, Laboratory Buildings
Site Area: 136,000 m²
Gross Floor Area: 284,000 m²
Design Period: 2020–2021
Completion Date: 2025
Schematic Design: Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University Co., Ltd.
Design Development & Construction Drawing Design: Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University Co., Ltd. (Section 1: #1 Sports and Health Center, #3 Concert Hall and Art Gallery, #4 Science and Engineering Comprehensive Teaching Building, #6/#7/#9 Teaching and Laboratory Buildings); Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co., Ltd. (Section 2: #2 Auditorium, #5 Library, #8/#10/#11 Teaching and Laboratory Buildings); Auspic (Beijing) Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd. (Landscape Construction Drawings)
Client: Beijing Normal University Zhuhai Campus
Construction Contractor: China Construction Fifth Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd.

Project Team
Principal-in-Charge: ZHUANG Weimin
Project Leads: ZHANG Wei, LI Ruoxing
Schematic Design: ZHUANG Weimin, ZHANG Wei, LI Ruoxing, ZHANG Xiaoqian, HUANG Haiyang, ZHAO Jingxian, YU Hang, CAI Mingcheng, QU Yangyang, LI Xiangyi
Architectural Design: ZHANG Wei, LI Ruoxing, ZHANG Xiaoqian, HUANG Haiyang, YU Hang, CAI Mingcheng, QU Yangyang, LI Xiangyi, WANG Yue, LIU Ke
Structural Design: LIU Yansheng, LI Qingxiang, LI Binfei, LI Yingjie, WANG Cailing, TIAN Meng, TIAN Yanhua, ZHU Leqi, CAO Wentao
Plumbing Engineering: LIU Fuli, ZHANG Wei, FU Chao, HAO Jinzhu
HVAC Engineering: HAN Jiabao, DU Guangwen, QIAO Yuqi, JIA Zhaokai, YU Lihua
Electrical Engineering: WANG Lei, PAN Min, ZHANG Song, XU Huiying, JIA Qichao, HAN Xiaoyan, CUI Xiaogang

Visual Information
Photographer: ZC Architectural Photography Studio