Shanghai Jiao Tong University Student Service Center / TJAD/Zeng Qun Architecture Design Studio
Under the contemporary educational philosophy that places “student-centeredness” as a core principle in universities, the student center has emerged as a significant new building type on campuses in recent years. This particular project sits at the edge of the campus. Originally not part of the university’s initial master plan, it had to be accommodated on a site chosen as opportunities allowed—long and narrow, running north to south. To the west, it already brushes against the campus boundary, backing onto a busy urban expressway; to the east, it neighbors a scenic lake with lush, water-close greenery. Unlike the ample, orderly land reserved for academic and research functions, this site carries an inherent quality of being at the “edge.” How to respond to the character of this marginal zone and unlock its hidden potential became the key to the design.