A computerized image of the CAS Shenzhen University of Technology. Courtesy of the city's public works bureau

The result of the international tender for Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (tentative name) Schematic Design and Architectural Design Development was recently released, with the combined team of the China Academy of Building Research, reMIX studio and WADI Studio winning the bid.

SIAT is a full-time, independent university jointly established by CAS and the Shenzhen municipal government. It aims to enhance the innovative capacity of the equipment manufacturing and service industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong region, promote the development of emerging industries to possess their own proprietary intellectual property, and become a world-class industrial research institute.

The project, located in Guangming Science City, covers an area of 544,065.12 square meters and a total construction area of 561,988 square meters.

The project adopted the open bidding (pre-qualification) method, and 12 shortlisted teams were selected from 53 team applications to enter the scheme design bidding stage. The design scheme jury committee consisted of six renowned domestic and international architectural experts and one representative of the tenderer. They selected five proposals with their different characteristics, and after deliberation, decided on the bid winner.

Due to the fact that the project is located on a border between urban and ecological areas, the winning design scheme seeks to explore new ways of symbiosis between city and nature. The new buildings will interweave with nature to form a positive and healthy interface. The campus will try to minimize the land occupation of buildings and transportation and better integrate with nature. The public clusters such as the international exchange center and the library will be located next to the community for better sharing.