Suzhou Business School, Chinese Architecture, New XJTLU Building

Suzhou Business School

Architecture in East China – design by BDP, architects

14 Apr 2014

New Business School Building in Suzhou

Location: Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU), Suzhou, eastern China

BDP to design Suzhou Business School

Design: BDP, architects

14 April 2014 – BDP has won the commission to design the International Business School in the ancient city of Suzhou which lies 80 km to the west of Shanghai. The school makes up the last building of the Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University (XJTLU) south campus. BDP was appointed in 2012 to masterplan the large-scale campus to provide world-class teaching, laboratory and research facilities, and has already designed five faculty buildings on the site.

building image © BDP

This latest commission will provide 30,000 sqm flexible accommodation for the school’s three core areas of activity: research, learning and teaching, business engagement.

The new building will look inwards facing the lake at heart of the campus. It has been designed with a highly glazed east facing façade which activates interaction between the interior and the landscape around the lake. The detail of the glass louvres has been developed to maximise natural daylight whilst minimising solar gain.

Architect associate Michael Cambden said: “Articulation of the glazing, structure and louvres creates a screen that combines elements of eastern and western design to reflect truly the international status of the school.”

The building facilitates a diverse range of flexible learning environments, and is designed so that every part of the building is used fully throughout the day. The atrium accommodates a diverse range of social and learning spaces including a welcome and exhibition area, a café, games area, learning resource centre and an innovation hub.

building image © BDP

XJTLU is a new international university founded in 2006 by Xi’an Jiaotong University, China, and the University of Liverpool, UK as a joint venture, and is the first and only one of its kind approved by the Ministry of Education in China.

Suzhou Business School Building images / information from BDP

Business School in Suzhou architect : BDP

Location:Suzhou, China

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New Buildings in Suzhou

Design: BDP, architects

The first raft of BDP designed projects in China is now starting to complete with two civic projects in Suzhou, one of the country’s most visited cities.

Suzhou Planning and Exhibition Hall:

photo © Marco Jacobs

Earlier this summer saw the completion of the Suzhou Planning and Exhibition Hall. The building is an 8,000 sqm exhibition facility within the Science and Technology Smart City.

Suzhou Planning and Exhibition Hall:

photo © Marco Jacobs

The project showcases past, present and future developments of Suzhou District and sits on the edge of a new central parkland area, with great views of the surrounding landscape and hills. It houses a 1,000 sqm model of the new district, 3D viewing gallery, interactive displays, conference facilities and multi-purpose exhibition halls.

Suzhou Planning and Exhibition Hall:

photo © Marco Jacobs