Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University, the first independent Sino-foreign university in China, is a partnership between Xi'an Jiaotong University and the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. The university's vision was to develop a world-class research university, committed to training leaders with the skills necessary to excel in the emerging global marketplace.

Our design concept for the university's campus master plan structures the campus into three zones reflecting different cultural and environmental characteristics of Suzhou, an international commercial hub renowned for its ancient and beautiful gardens. A contemplative nature garden at the campus core is the focus of campus community life. Incorporating features of traditional Chinese water gardens, the nature garden links the existing academic building #1 to the library, the student activities center, the administrative building, an international residence building and the multiple classroom and lab structures of the academic village.

The first phase of the master plan is the construction of the new academic building #2, which establishes a campus design vocabulary of ground level courtyards and elevated green plazas with numerous points of connection from the outdoor gathering spaces to indoor classrooms, lecture halls and laboratory spaces. At academic building #2 a landscaped podium structure of lecture halls supports four wings of teaching labs, research labs and classrooms. One level above ground, a continuous interior circulation loop links the pavilions to lecture halls, faculty office spaces, courtyards and interior gathering spaces. This academic "street" provides opportunities for spontaneous interaction and collaboration among students, faculty and staff. At the third level, the landscaped roof gardens of the lecture halls create casual environments for socializing and learning.