The master plan for the new campus for the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shenzhen proposed by Rocco Design Architects, Gravity Partnership Ltd and Wang Weijen Architecture was selected for execution, amongst a number of top international practices.

The design of the Shenzhen Campus for the Chinese University of Hong Kong intends to create a sustainable learning environment for 7000 students. By zoning the campus as 'Academic Clusters', 'Campus Green' and 'Natural Terrain', communities are formed in order to promote interaction between research, learning, working and living while the existing ridgelines and the lushly vegetated nature are preserved as much as possible. The 'Natural Terrain' preserves the hilly nature of the site. Pavilion-type buildings such as college, library and student amenities are then positioned to preserve the natural valleys and the vista to the hill beyond.

'Campus Green' is the soft heart of the campus. It draws the valleys into the campus, and allows students activities to be extended to it from the surrounding academic facilities.

The 'Academic Clusters' are composed of teaching facilities, laboratories and lecture theatres. They are grouped together not according to one particular faculty, but rather, to encourage multiple uses and flexibility.

The campus suggests interconnectivity, convenience of circulations, multiple points of contact, array of activities with diverse choices, encouraging multi-disciplinary cross-overs and innovative creativities.

The Project respects the existing natural landscape and embraces it as a basic planning premise. The Library, College Blocks and Recreation Facilities engage gracefully and respectfully with the existing topographical terrains. Through a strategy of massing disposition, the existing hilly ridgelines and the lushly vegetated nature are preserved as much as possible upholding the integrity of the hills’ as well as of human being’s forging a sustainable relationship with nature.

The academic blocks define the edge of the University campus and filter the hustles and bustles of urban city life, creating a protected green zone of tranquility. Central to this zone is the large-scale green centre purposely planned with a preserved openness. This will be an area for the greens and activities. Student activities can take place in this space leisurely and uninhibitedly.

The architectural form defines the faculties not by their departmental compartments but by their flexibility, expandability and interchangeability. Hence the “Criss-cross” formation of the faculty buildings was developed to suggest interconnectivity, convenience of circulations, multiple points of contact, array of activities with diverse choices, and most importantly, a formal porosity that provides benefits in sustainable building design as well as an image of openness for the University as seen from the outside.