Jiading New City Experimental School: A Cross-Border Model for Future Educational Architecture in Shanghai

The Jiading New City Experimental School in Shanghai represents a new generation of educational architecture—an innovative model that blends cross-boundary design, sustainable landscape strategies, and student-centered learning environments. Designed by Jianxue Architecture and Engineering Design Institute with landscape design by Da Landscape, the 77,233 m² campus embodies the spirit of experimentation that defines the city’s rapid urban development. Completed in 2024, the project challenges conventional school planning by integrating architecture, interior spaces, and landscape into one unified learning ecosystem.

A Cross-Border Approach to Learning and Urban Integration

As one of Shanghai’s “high-quality expansion schools,” the project embraces the idea of a “Cross-Border School”, redefining boundaries between disciplines, functions, and urban life. – At the urban scale, the campus extends beyond the limits of the surrounding road grid, becoming a porous, accessible public landscape. – At the project level, the school principal participated throughout the design process, blurring the boundary between education and architecture. – At the spatial level, architecture, interiors, and landscape were developed as a single continuous environment, fostering cohesion and flexibility.

Masterplan: One Body, Two Wings, Three Axes

The school’s main program—teaching spaces, art and sports facilities, future learning center, and community-oriented areas—is organized into a dynamic framework known as “One Body, Two Wings, and Three Axes.”

One Body: A Connected Learning Core

Multiple north-south corridors at different levels connect the buildings, creating a pedestrian-friendly campus that prioritizes accessibility, safety, and child-friendly circulation.

Two Wings: East and West Learning Communities

The campus spans two separate urban plots, linked through elevated sky corridors and public streets, forming an “independent yet connected” block complex. – West Wing – Learning Center: Designed for lower-grade students, featuring flexible classrooms and informal learning spaces. – East Wing – Future Center: A multifunctional zone for meetings, performances, exhibitions, and collaborative activities, created through a layered, vertical spatial strategy.

Both main entrances reinterpret the school gate as park-like public spaces, welcoming students and visitors into a greener, more open educational environment.

Three Axes: South, North, and Central Campus Spines

South Axis – River-Facing Learning Zone

This axis houses the main teaching buildings, oriented for optimal sunlight and river views. Each academic floor includes three clusters of “two classrooms + one discussion hall”, encouraging collaboration and student interaction. Widened corridors serve as informal activity zones, while adjacent “game gardens” and “relaxation gardens” support outdoor play and resting spaces. The landscaped fire-escape garden integrates safety and recreation.

North Axis – A Quiet Edge with Cultural and Sports Facilities

Bordering the preserved Camphor Forest, the North Axis minimizes road noise and enhances the campus skyline. – The Art Center consolidates a theatre, studios, and canteen within a compact volume. – The Sports Center, the largest building on campus, spans three accessible levels and offers diverse athletic facilities. A playful slide located in the northeast corner brings a sense of fun and human scale to the large structure.

Central Axis – A 550-Meter Landscape Corridor

The campus’s central spine is a fully open green corridor that visually aligns with the surrounding cityscape. Courtyards, overhead bridges, platforms, and underground levels merge into Shanghai’s most active public campus space. Key features include: – Track Park: An 8,000 m² non-powered play area with nature exploration, sports zones, and a wrap-around track. – Geo Garden & Dry Creek Boardwalk: Stormwater-responsive landscape designed for infiltration, collection, and reuse. – Tree Table Garden: A shaded outdoor learning commons for senior students. – Sports Park: A full-size football field, 300-meter running track, multipurpose courts, and community-ready floodlit turf.

Layers of Learning: Vertical and Underground Spatial Innovation

The school’s multi-level design enhances both connectivity and environmental quality. – The second-floor platform, situated 5 meters above ground, forms a continuous elevated terrain linked by valley and terrace gardens. – The Underground Hall, with a height of 10 meters, accommodates sports venues, performance areas, and student pick-up zones. – Above it, the Halo Playground features playful light wells, bringing natural daylight deep into the complex and reducing energy consumption.

A New Educational Paradigm: From City to Desk

The design challenges the conventional “handover-and-move-in” approach to school construction. Through continuous collaboration between educators and architects, the campus becomes more than a collection of buildings—it becomes a living educational landscape.

The cross-border philosophy allows the school to: – Maximize public space and inclusivity – Promote environmental stewardship and nature-based learning – Support diverse teaching methods, from collaborative learning to outdoor education – Create an inspiring, future-ready environment for every student

 A Vision for the Future of Learning Environments

Jiading New City Experimental School is a landmark project that redefines what a contemporary school can be—open, integrated, sustainable, and deeply connected to its urban context. By dissolving the boundaries between architecture, landscape, and education, the school represents a visionary model for future learning spaces in China and beyond.