Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou has 2,800 years of history on which to build an ambitious future. The city is part of southern mainland China's Guangdong Province, covering 69,000 square miles and home to 74 million people. About 100,000 new students enter the higher education system each year.

With nine million people, Guangzhou has 36 colleges and universities. Ayers/Saint/Gross was invited to participate in design consultation for a new university city and academic campus on a 10,000-acre island currently made up of villages and farms. When completed, the city will have seven university clusters sharing facilities.

Guangzhou University's campus will accommodate 20,000 students and 5,000 faculty members and staff. In China, it is customary to provide housing for all students and the majority of the faculty and staff.

Ayers/Saint/Gross's plan takes advantage of the spectacular frontage and views of the Pearl River, starting point for the Silk Road that links trade to the Middle East and the West. The plan also connects the campus to the central portion of the island through rural areas and greenways.

In the center of the island is the Eco-Park for sports and culture, including a stadium for 35,000 people, hotel/conference center, library, recreation center, and large lakes and gardens. The park forms the literal and symbolic center of the university city, from which knowledge and water flow.

The project was completed in association with Steffian Bradley Architects.

Completion: 2003
Size: 7 million gsf