NYU Shanghai New Bund Campus was awarded the Merit Award for Architecture by the American Institute of Architecture (AIA) at the 2024 International Design Awards in Hong Kong last month. In addition, the campus design was the only design to receive two additional recognitions, the Sustainable Future Award and the Inclusive Design Excellence Award for its commitment to sustainability and inclusiveness.
“It is really a privilege for us to be studying and working at such a special campus,” said Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Lehman. “We are tremendously grateful to the creative architects at Kohn Pederson Fox (KPF) for designing a physical space that is so well suited to helping us pursue our academic mission."
Founded in 1857, AIA is one of the most influential organizations for architects and design professionals globally. With over 98,000 members, it aims to uphold a high standard of design, education, and professional practice to promote the importance and excellence of architecture, as well as to raise public awareness about the built environment and the importance of sustainability. Celebrating the best in contemporary architecture regardless of budget, size, style, or type, the annual AIA awards – now in its 11th year – highlight the designs showing how buildings and spaces can improve our lives.
Designed by American architectural firm KPF, the University’s new campus is located in the heart of the up-and-coming New Bund area of Pudong District. The campus design reflects the University’s mission as a Sino-US research university and its academic rigor. Design elements, including a courtyard, a quintessential element of both cultures, to the materials chosen – such as gray ash brick often seen in Shanghai lilongs, wooden elements calling to mind America’s classic academic architecture, and well-lit colorful spaces to encourage creativity, and accessible corridors highlighting interdepartmental connections.
Last year, the University’s campus was the first among its peers in Shanghai to be awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold rating from the US Green Building Council, reflecting the University’s commitment to sustainability. In 2019, the campus was also awarded Honors for Excellence in Planning a New Campus from the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) – the first project in China to do so.