Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, Tianjin University is located in University Town, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, with a total construction area of approximately 189,000 ㎡. It integrates teaching and experiment, research center, library, student center, dormitory, and international conference center. Adopting the design concept of "Urban Deep Breathing", the project integrates the building complex into the extension of Tanglang Mountain by restoring the mountain and constructing an ecological green corridor. The architectural form winds and grows along the mountain terrain, forming a continuous and open teaching-research complex. Multi-level vibrant platforms are arranged around students' needs, organically connecting learning and living spaces. Based on the hot and humid climate of Shenzhen, passive energy-saving and renewable energy technologies are integrated to build a future-oriented near-zero carbon campus.

01 A Stacked Green Valley Integrated with Mountain and Water Scenery
The design retains and restores approximately 12,000 ㎡ of damaged mountain, and constructs a continuous ecological green corridor from northeast to southwest, bringing mountain scenery into the core of the campus. Sponge city strategies are fully applied on site, including sunken green spaces, rain gardens, permeable pavements and water storage roofs, achieving a total annual runoff control rate ≥70%. Rainwater is reused for green space irrigation and landscape water replenishment, with a non-traditional water source utilization rate of 16%. The multi-layer three-dimensional greening system includes 5,500 ㎡ of roof greening, 29,500 ㎡ of vertical greening and the preserved litchi forest, with a green space ratio of 56.3% and an annual plant carbon sink of about 29 tons.

02 A Teaching-Research Complex Growing Like Mountains
The architectural layout conforms to the original terrain. Large-space ground floors are arranged in low-lying areas, and platform floors connect naturally with the mountain terrain, minimizing earth excavation and achieving 100% earthwork balance. High-rise buildings are arranged with elevated spaces. The teaching-research buildings on the north side face the city with a continuous interface, while the dormitories on the south side embrace the hills. The roofs are coordinated with the mountain shape through high and low folds. The teaching and experiment platforms adopt a standard module of 8.4m × 10.8m, which can be freely combined into 30-person classrooms, 48-person classrooms, open learning areas, etc., to meet the future needs of interdisciplinary integration of emerging engineering disciplines.

03 Student-Centered Vibrant Platforms
A "Vibrant Street" is set on the ground floor of the dormitory, with elevated and open sports, catering and communication spaces, forming a semi-outdoor activity area of approximately 4,000 ㎡. Adjacent to the waterfront, the Student Center connects indoor and outdoor spaces through eaves and waterfront platforms, creating a year-round available waterfront lounge. The campus realizes complete pedestrian-vehicle separation. 100% of single buildings are equipped with bicycle parking, motor vehicle charging piles account for 50%, solar street lamps cover 100%, and an intelligent control system encourages low-carbon travel and outdoor activities for teachers and students.

04 Low-Carbon Demonstration Based on Shenzhen's Climate
The architectural layout conforms to the dominant wind direction, with 97% of the building surface having a wind pressure difference greater than 0.5Pa, maximizing natural ventilation for cooling. Photovoltaic sunshades and balcony overhangs are installed on the south facades, reducing solar radiation heat gain by approximately 40%. The Student Center adopts a steel-wood structure and a 2,160 ㎡ BIPV photovoltaic roof, with an annual power generation of 228,000 kWh, 1.5 times its own electricity consumption. The teaching and experiment building adopts an assembled steel structure, and the dormitory adopts an assembled concrete system, reducing carbon emissions by 6,200 tons during the construction phase. Recyclable low-carbon building materials are selected, reducing carbon emissions by 23,000 tons during the demolition phase. The total life-cycle carbon reduction is about 204,000 tons (based on 50 years).

05 Sustainability Benefits Summary
· Semi-outdoor non-energy-consuming space: approx. 17,000 ㎡ (converted from circulation space)
· Renewable energy utilization rate: 43%
· Green space ratio: 56.3%
· Annual photovoltaic power generation: 228,000 kWh for Student Center (150% self-sufficiency)
· Carbon reduction rate in operation phase: 67%
· Estimated life-cycle carbon reduction: 204,000 tons