The site is situated in Shuitu New City, Chongqing, along the banks of the Zhuxi River. It lies adjacent to Yunhan Avenue and is connected to several secondary roads. The surrounding area features multiple parks and riverside landscape belts, including preserved highlands, valleys, and terraced terrain. The site itself is characterized by undulating topography with a height difference of 47 meters. Covering approximately 120,000 square meters, the campus has a building area exceeding 120,000 square meters. Balancing the site’s natural features with the built volume posed the primary challenge of this project.
To accommodate both junior and senior high school departments, totaling 120 classes, the design team introduced a “dual school gates” concept. The junior high school accesses the campus via the main entrance in the northern mountainous area, following the slope downward. Conversely, the high school enters from the southern valley, ascending the mountain, where it intersects with shared facilities such as the library and cafeteria. This design creates a convenient, interconnected traffic flow that can be separated or combined as needed. Due to the height difference, the fire lane runs alongside the buildings, and accessible ramps ensure smooth reach to every structure.
Breaking away from conventional flat-site thinking, the design team applied mountain city architectural techniques to unfold a “magic carpet” flowing from north to south and from higher to lower ground. All teaching buildings are dynamically staggered along the terrain, following the natural contour lines. This approach allows the high-density campus to seemingly disappear into the natural environment. The design also preserves space for plant growth within the site, enabling the buildings to organically evolve over time.
The teaching buildings are arranged in a U-shape, opening towards the riverside green belt. The first floors are elevated to integrate with the original topography, creating a seamless connection between the external terrain and internal spaces. A nearby gurgling stream adds natural ambiance but also potential noise. To address this, the cafeteria is located underground at the entrance plaza beside the waterfall and valley. Air is drawn through an atrium to create an atmosphere of “watching the water without wasting food.” The central library follows the terraced landscape, disappearing amidst the sea of flowers. This freeform design, adapting to the mountainous terrain and ecological green valleys, maximizes volume efficiency, reduces earthwork, and aligns with the academic ethos of Southwest University Affiliated High School: “exploring the beauty of heaven and earth and analyzing the principles of all things.”
Project Drawings
△ General layout plan
△ Middle school standard floor plan
△ Wind and Rain Playground Audience Hall First Floor Plan
△ Wind and Rain Playground and Basketball Court Second Floor Plan
△ Cafeteria Plan
△ Combined Section of Auditorium and Cafeteria
△ Library Combined Profile
△ Library Axis Measurement Diagram
△ Overall Axis Measurement Diagram
Project Information
Project Name: Liangjiang Campus of Southwest University Affiliated Middle School
Location: Shuitun New City, Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing
Address: No. 326 Yunhan Avenue, Water and Soil High-tech Industrial Park, Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing
Type: Campus Architecture
Design Period: August 2016 – May 2018
Construction Start: September 2020
Project Area: 120,100 square meters
Design Firm: Gad
Project Director: Wu Yan
Lead Designer: Tan Si
Team Members:
Architecture: Wu Yan, Tan Si, Yu Yang, Li Lin, Wang Lingyan, Cao Yuanzhang, Guo Xin, Zeng Siyuan, Guan Leining, Guo Yu, Yang Jianwei, Xu Shiyong, Wang Zhengyin, Lu Zhen, Li Min, Zhang Lu, Li Yanbo, Gong Yanwei
Structure: Yang Zhuoxing, Wang Lianhua, Huang Jia, Zhou Bo, Shu Qijun, Xu Shijie, Han Guang, Liu Chengxin, Yang Fan, Sun Guangxin, Liu Faqin, Li Tao, Lv Xiaodong, Wang Huaqiang, Liu Haiyang, Zhang Xichuan
Water Supply & Drainage: Zhou Fengyuan, Zhao Dan, Lai Jiangtao, Yang Peng, Qin Rui, Cui Junfang, Diao Kede, Chen Jianyong
HVAC: Xia Jidong, Liu Youzhi, Yang Shengli, Liu Yuankun, Liu Zhengguang, Liu Cheng, Gong Jiao
Electrical: Zhou Xingyue, Yang Yuyun, Cai Changyu, Sui Yuanyuan, Mu Weihao, Feng Longsheng, Zhou Lin, Li Sheng, Wang Yutuan
Other Contributors:
Interior Design: Hangzhou Dianshang Architectural Decoration Design Co., Ltd. / Guangdong Architectural Art Design Co., Ltd.
Landscape Design: Gad Qingdao Greentown Architectural Design Co., Ltd. / Chongqing Zhujing Landscape Design Consulting Co., Ltd.
Curtain Wall Design: China Machinery Industry United Engineering Co., Ltd.
Logo Design: Chengdu Huayi Craftsmen
Owner: Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Water and Soil High-tech Industrial Park Construction Investment Co., Ltd.
Photography: Shiromio Studio, Qiwen Photography
Structural Techniques: Frame structure, portal steel structure, steel truss roof
Building Materials: Decorative mortar, imitation wood grain Etter board, U-shaped glass
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