Winning design for a new college of Architecture in China Announced

Just a few days ago, the winning design for the New College of Architecture and Design at Wenzhou-Kean University in Wenzhou, in China, was announced. The new college is scheduled to be completed in 2018. A team, comprised of Moore Ruble Yudell (MRY), Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute and SWA Landscape have proposed the winning design of the new college which consists of a series of rectangular structures, in the middle of which lies a large forum, central to both the building and the University. At the entrance of the university campus, a grand portico is proposed to welcome students and visitors.

Wenzhou University is based on collaboration between Kean University, a public University based in New Jersey, and Wenzhou University in the Zhejiang Province of China. As a consequence of this, Wenzhou University has been influenced by both cultures and academic plans. Michael Graves, the architect of Kean University, has designed more than 350 buildings. Kean University envisioned a department of architecture and design, with seminars for advanced students, lounge areas for academic staff and professionals, conference rooms, and in the future, residential fellowships for leading architects and other professionals.

The ground floor has four parallel structures- housing classrooms, shops, and labs. The alleys between these spaces facilitate the interaction as well as bring in natural light and ventilation. The two-story bars are repeated in approximate size on the superior level, but stacked at angles to the ground floor to capture views of the campus and the lake that is located centrally. According to John Ruble, partner of Moore Ruble Yudell, the lower bars are inspired of materials, which were being used by civil engineers in China, like stone and concrete.

Inside the building one can notice the large terraced seating and stairs which bridge the lower areas to the higher levels. The building can accommodate 900 people.
Moreover, the proposed design plan incorporates passive design principles, reducing overall energy consumption to align with China's plan to slash energy usage by 2020 by 40 to 45 percent of the 2005 levels. The building is also oriented to reduce solar heat gain, and uses photovoltaics, natural ventilation, heat pumps and ice thermal energy storage. Storm water will be captured by roof gardens, and will be reused into the campus system of canals and the central lake.