Tsientang University

Hangzhou / China

Tsientang Institute for Advanced Studies’ new home will be situated on a 475,000 m² plot in the southwest corner of Hangzhou. RPBW has been commissioned to lead The New Campus design that is set in the lush, hilly outskirts on the northern bank of the Tsientang River.

The campus will be centered on cutting-edge research focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) with a mission to drive global innovation and promote cultural exchange. Tsientang University will be supported by two pillars: science and technology. For science, it aims to create knowledge from “zero-to-one” encompassing a holistic approach to research. Conversely, technology seeks to transform academic ideals into real-world applications. The university wants to become a new type of university in China that pushes the limits of human innovation to shape the future. It will be rooted in Chinese values and have a global reach.

A bright, modern glass building surrounded by lush greenery, with two people sitting on an outdoor concrete bench.

The program is thoughtfully organized to support both advanced research and a vibrant academic community. The campus is divided into two plots: an academic plot and a residential plot.

The academic plot forms the intellectual core of the campus and houses ten buildings dedicated to laboratories and offices, with exhibition spaces distributed throughout the ground floor. At the heart of this core is the
academic commons which shapes and creates the turbine of the campus. It is the social and spatial centerpiece that connects the student and faculty bodies with each other.

Cultural and public spaces are positioned along the urban edge around the public piazza. These include three additional buildings - the Auditorium, Sports Center, and Library - which anchor the project to the surrounding neighborhood and opens to the community.

Master plan showing three phases of urban development, including roads, building plots, a football field, and topographical lines.

Overhead urban plan showing a green landscape with proposed square buildings in clusters, surrounded by roads and existing structures.

an aerial view of a floor plan of a building surrounded by trees .

Architectural model of four white, multi-layered buildings arranged around a central plaza, populated by small red figures.

Architectural concept model showing white square modules with central dark grids, connected by white lines on a blue grid background.

White architectural model of a multi-layered building complex with small red figures, against a black background.

The residential plot provides a quiet and comfortable environment for its inhabitants. The 23 buildings are integrated within the landscape and offer proximity to the university while maintaining a sense of privacy and comfort.

The architecture adopts a sensitive approach that celebrates and respects the site’s natural features. Buildings are limited to 20 meters in height, to ensure they fall below the forest canopy height. The design emphasizes transparency and permeability,allowing natural light, views, and movement to flow freely between spaces. Additionally, the buildings minimize their built footprint by elevating and recessing the ground floors to allow the volumes to seemingly fly among the forest.

The campus is envisioned as a forward-looking, sustainable complex nestled within a forest. Each building will be covered with a photovoltaic roof to create clean energy. A centralized energy center allows the university to be more efficient while improving reliability and resiliency.