Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China

Designed by HYP-ARCH DESIGN, Shenyang Northeast Yingcai Middle School, located in Yuhong District, Shenyang City, occupies a plot area of about 26,000 square meters, and the buildings of the school have a gross floor area of about 35,000 square meters, consisting of a teaching complex, a cafeteria, and a gymnasium and an outdoor playground.

Given the limited urban interface and external conditions of the project, the key of the design is to create an inward-facing and vibrant multi-dimensional space system that connects different public activity spaces and a complete, continuous and dynamic flow of traffic.

In order to achieve a more three-dimensional and diverse school system, we reduced the volume of some buildings’ first and second floors, and arranged the main classrooms on the 2-5 floors, thus creating more roaming activity space for the first and second floors. 

The main purpose of the design is to create a healthy exercise space parallel to the high-intensity teaching function. 

HYP-ARCH DESIGN calls this multi-dimensional public space the “second track”.

Different from the first track on the playground, it can not only connect all the classrooms in series but also provide a diverse and efficient sports & communication space.

The architects designed a richer and more diversified spatial system, where numerous public spaces intersperse in. 

The flat structure has been modified into a three-dimensional one, giving more possibilities for physical and visual contact. 

Such a structure creates more opportunities for students for mutual observation and learning too. 

Unlike the traditional design of free-standing buildings, different teaching spaces of the school are linked together, which ensures the continuity of form whilst maintaining the independence of each building unit. 

Dynamic architectural space blends harmoniously with the flowing and organic teaching environment. In this coherent and open spatial structure, students can save much travel time and shelter themselves from bad weather. 

HYP-ARCH DESIGN has created three different types of yards with the space enclosed by classrooms. The “second track” is cleverly combined with terraces, corridors, steps, and stilt floors, thus forming a U-shaped yard, a sunken yard, and a courtyard.

The facade is divided into separate building blocks that adopt standard and modular techniques according to the characteristics and conditions of the project.

This can ensure the efficiency of construction while preserving the uniqueness of each block. 

By arranging these blocks in different ways, HYP-ARCH DESIGN brought more possibilities to the architectural appearance.

Project: Shenyang Northeast Yingcai Middle School
Architects: HYP-ARCH DESIGN 
Project Managers: Yang Jiefeng and Yi He
Design Team: Fu Chenguang, Ma Buyang, Gao Min, Nie Cailiang, Yang Nan, Liu Zijian, and Yan Yinxiao
Client: Poly Developments & Holdings Group Co., Ltd.
Photographers: Wu Qingshan