The “Two Institutes” project at Zhejiang University Quzhou—comprising the Quzhou Research Institute and the Engineering College Quzhou Branch—is situated in Kecheng District, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. In 2019, the French AS Architecture Studio won the international competition and currently manages the design and project oversight. Officially launched on June 18, 2022, the studio sought a design and planning approach that harmonizes the natural waterfront landscape with the urban educational complex.
The campus layout is intentionally boundaryless, fostering dynamic interaction between the campus and its surroundings. The concept behind the educational architecture is akin to planting a tree: by providing the right temperature, moisture, and air—along with sufficient energy and space—the design aims to root the campus firmly while allowing it to grow upwards and flourish.
The site is divided into two main zones—South and North—separated by a central shared square. Covering 163 acres, the total construction area spans 159,000 square meters. The South Research Incubation Building Complex houses various research and office spaces. Its spatial organization resembles a tree structure, with independent buildings connected by corridors, ensuring easy accessibility.
The laboratories adopt a modular design based on diverse standards, allowing dynamic combinations to meet varying needs and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration. Through this innovative approach, the studio aims to extend the buildings’ lifespan.
The North District focuses on teaching, administration, and residential facilities. The comprehensive administrative building serves as the campus gateway. Its lower level connects to a podium that links the conference center, gymnasium, international exchange center, and dormitories, forming a courtyard-style layout around a central lawn.
The gymnasium features continuous folding doors on its east and west sides, enabling flexible separation between indoor and outdoor spaces. The international exchange center is set back to maximize landscape views.
Buildings in the southern district use lightweight, clearly defined white ceramic panels on their north and south facades. The integration of the roof design with architectural elements effectively accommodates and conceals rooftop equipment. The North District’s facade primarily consists of horizontal elements: the comprehensive administrative building’s north and south facades showcase a vertical and horizontal grid of milky white aluminum panels, while the east and west facades employ a double-layer curtain wall system to enhance natural lighting, ventilation, energy efficiency, and indoor comfort.
This campus environment emphasizes tranquility and continuous growth, where architecture and nature coexist harmoniously. The central shared square blends the landscape with the urban context, while the waterfront greening serves as a defining visual endpoint of the city and a key element of the campus identity.
Courtyards in the southern district offer privacy, creating a smooth transition from waterfront views to secluded campus spaces. The North District’s central landscape follows a design principle of broad unity with subtle variations, featuring public spaces such as sculpture plazas and ecological lawns to encourage community interaction.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: French AS Architecture Studio
Area: 159,000 m²
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: RAWVISION STUDIO
Lead Architect: René-Henri Arnaud
Design Team: Mo Xiaorong, Dong Xin, Marija Mikovic, Gu Honglei, Ruben Arrieta, Zhang Wen, Zhou Danni, Zhuang Xinwei
Partner: China Architecture Shanghai Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd
Construction Party: Zhejiang Baoye Construction Group Co., Ltd
Principal: Quzhou Smart Industry Investment and Development Co., Ltd
Location: Quzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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