Project Summary
Westlake University represents a new model of research-focused higher education in China. The campus is organized into three concentric loops: the Academic Loop, the Water Loop, and the Living Loop. The Academic Loop serves as the intellectual and social core, housing the Schools of Life Sciences, Sciences, and Engineering in separate buildings. Each building features staggered rectangular glass volumes with precast concrete frames, detailed with colorful accents and custom mullion patterns to reflect the unique identity of each department while promoting interdisciplinary interaction.
The design for the Westlake campus addresses a range of scales and needs, from its urban-scale master plan to individual buildings. The site is defined as a series of concentric rings that organize the campus both physically and conceptually: the Academic Core, the Water Loop, and the Living Loop.
The School of Life Science, the School of Science and the School of Engineering are housed in separate buildings. Composed of staggered rectangular glass volumes with precast concrete frames, each building is uniquely detailed with colorful accents and custom mullion patterns. These articulated courtyard buildings are strung like beads on the Academic Loop in order to promote connection and interdisciplinary exchange.
The Academic Loop is the dense intellectual and social core of the university. The dynamic, triple-height space offers panoramic vistas through and into the buildings it connects. Its circular form contains communal spaces, meeting spaces, seminar rooms, and laboratories. At the center of the loop is the University’s central park—a beautiful garden for retreat, contemplation and socialization.
The campus is encircled by a tranquil waterway. Twelve bridges, like spokes on a wheel, connect the campus to the verdant Living Loop where freestanding residential buildings for students and faculty are located. Surrounded by shops, canteens, and sports facilities, the outer ring transforms the campus into a bustling city.
My Role:
I joined the Westlake University project during the design development phase, focusing on resolving design challenges related to the façades of the main Academic Loop. Working from HENN's Beijing office, I developed façade concepts that provided distinct identities for each academic department while maintaining a cohesive architectural language across the interconnected buildings. My role required extensive coordination between our Berlin and Beijing offices, local architects, and the client to ensure seamless integration of design solutions and adherence to the project's overarching vision.
Quick Facts:
Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
Client: Westlake Institute for Advanced Study
Type: Research University Campus
Size: 920,000 m²
Status: Phases 1 & 2 Completed (2021), Phase 3 Ongoing (Expected 2025)
Phases Involved: LP3–LP4
Certifications: [Information not specified]
Team Role: Façade design, interdisciplinary coordination, cross-office collaboration
Collaboration Partners
UAD – The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co. Ltd. (Local Planning Partner, LDI), RDesign International (Lighting consultant), WES LandschaftsArchitektur (Landscape architecture), Shanghai Construction Group (Construction)