Renovation of Xuefu Middle School by Multi-Architecture

The Renovation of Xuefu Middle School represents the first built phase of the 100 Campus Renewal Plan for Shenzhen Nanshan, a citywide initiative aimed at upgrading aging educational infrastructure while redefining spatial models for contemporary learning environments. Rather than treating renovation as a purely technical upgrade, Multi-Architecture approached the project as an opportunity to explore new typologies of outdoor space within high-density primary and secondary school campuses in southern China.

At the core of the intervention is the transformation of the campus playground: from a leftover margin between buildings into a spatial, social, and climatic center of school life.

Campus Context and the Role of the Colonnade

The campus stretches approximately 151 meters north, south and 141 meters east, west, anchored by an E-shaped teaching building on its western edge. Over years of use, the teaching area evolved into a comfortable, shaded environment, while the adjacent playground remained fully exposed to intense sunlight and seasonal rain.

This transition zone between classrooms and sports fields is critical, serving as the interface between static learning spaces and dynamic physical activities. The original boundary, a solid partition wall, offered no shelter and visually disconnected the two realms.

Multi-Architecture replaced this barrier with a continuous colonnade, redefining circulation, perception, and use. The colonnade:

• Provides shaded shelter along the running track
• Serves as elevated seating and viewing platforms
• Connects evacuation staircases, forming a secondary circulation layer
• Visually and spatially links classroom courtyards with the playground

Through this architectural gesture, the colonnade becomes a “third space”, mediating movement, rest, observation, and informal student interaction.

Enclosure Strategy: Redefining the Playground

Originally, the playground suffered from overcrowding and inefficient zoning. Multiple classes shared the same running track, forcing overlapping activities and constant conflicts of movement. The 300-meter track left insufficient buffer zones for warm-ups, equipment use, or physical education instruction.

By reducing the track length to 250 meters, the architects liberated space on both the north and south sides of the field. This adjustment fundamentally shifted the spatial logic: the playground is no longer the leftover area outside buildings, but a central space enclosed by functional architecture.

This enclosure strategy reframes the playground as the heart of campus life: an outdoor room defined by teaching spaces, service areas, and circulation edges.

Density Adjustment and Functional Redistribution

Originally designed in 2002 for 26 classes, the school now accommodates over 50 classes, creating severe pressure on spatial capacity. Specialized classrooms were lacking, while support functions: such as equipment storage, logistics, and staff facilities, were scattered inefficiently across the campus.

The new playground enclosure enabled a strategic redistribution of program:

• South side: Two-story service block housing PE equipment rooms, changing rooms, restrooms, staff lounges, logistics, and storage
• North side: Two-story volume containing specialized classrooms

This reorganization improves operational efficiency, reduces circulation conflicts, and strengthens the spatial relationship between teaching, sports, and support functions.

Shelter as Climate Infrastructure

In southern China’s subtropical climate, sun exposure and heavy rainfall significantly affect outdoor education. Rather than treating shelter as an afterthought, the renovation prioritizes it as a key spatial and climatic strategy.

A system of colonnades and covered transition spaces wraps the playground, creating a perimeter of shaded activity zones with varying heights and degrees of enclosure. Most notably, a large central canopy was introduced, covering two basketball courts and providing a protected gathering space for assemblies, physical education, and school events.

With these interventions, sheltered and semi-sheltered spaces now account for approximately 20% of the playground area, dramatically improving comfort and usability throughout the year.

A New Typology for High-Density School Campuses

Through enclosure, redistribution, and shelter, the playground at Xuefu Middle School is transformed into a multi-functional outdoor public space: capable of hosting sports, assemblies, informal learning, and daily social life.

Rather than a residual field, the playground becomes a climatically responsive, socially active core within a dense educational environment. The project offers a compelling model for future school renovations in rapidly urbanizing cities, demonstrating how limited land and aging infrastructure can be reimagined through precise architectural strategies.