In 2018, Shenzhen launched the "8+1 New Campus Initiative" to explore new models for schools in high-density urban environments. The intervention of Hongling Middle School Shixia Campus—founded in 2004—became the only expansion project completed in the plan's first phase, laying groundwork for the subsequent "100 Campus Renewal" initiatives.
Located in the Shixia neighborhood, the campus has witnessed its surroundings transform from low-rise villages to high-density housing over two decades. To accommodate growing enrollment, the design replaced the eastern gymnasium and sports ground with new teaching and athletic spaces, expanding capacity from 24 to 36 classes and nearly tripling floor area from 15,000 to 43,000 square meters. The project was completed while the western teaching building remained operational—a complexity that informed future campus renovations.
The design enriches activity space for both students and residents while strengthening campus-city connections. Before renovation, a fence rigidly separated the playground from the street. The transformation elevated the playground 7.2 meters above ground, inserting public facilities below—a 700-seat auditorium, semi-indoor gym, badminton courts, and elevated track—all available for community use through time-sharing.
The structure steps back 3 meters at street level, creating a sloping facade that eases its presence. The sidewalk widened from 3 to 6 meters relieves pedestrian-bicycle congestion common in Shenzhen. Planters and benches form a linear "street park," while the overhang and existing trees create a sheltered arcade-like space.
The once-isolated northeast intersection is now activated by the translucent sports volume. A small civic plaza at the southeast corner, framed with the existing newsstand, allows community access via a planted "hill" to the elevated playground after hours. The adjoining lobby serves as both auditorium foyer and potential campus-community gallery.
Rather than relying on air conditioning, the design works with Shenzhen's hot climate. The street-side field is enclosed with metal mesh and aluminum sunshade panels, allowing breezes to pass through and forming a semi-outdoor sports hall. Above, a covered running track remains usable in all weather. Shaded courtyards connect seamlessly to this area, creating a flexible, all-season network.
Beneath the track, a sunken column-free basketball court sits slightly below street level, inviting natural airflow. Even 2.3 meters below ground, it feels open and bright—comfortable for assemblies during rain or extreme heat. The main natural-turf field, raised 7.2 meters, serves as an event venue while framing views of Shenzhen's skyline.
General classrooms remain in the original teaching building, while four new blocks extend organically from the old structure. The new buildings follow the original east-facing layout but introduce subtle twists and turns, as if growing naturally from existing fabric. Together with added corridors, they enclose a series of courtyards similar in scale yet distinct in atmosphere.
At the campus entrance, the administration building defines an arrival plaza with the old teaching block. At its center stands a twenty-year-old banyan tree—a preserved symbol of campus memory. New pathways radiate from this focal point, making the plaza a living repository of school history. White outdoor stairs link buildings across levels, while widened corridors connect to the elevated playground, ensuring efficient circulation.
Now in use for over two years, the campus has seen architectural traces quietly recede. Street-side trees extend inward; space potential keeps being unlocked by users. What remains constant is the growing relationship between people and place—the campus has become both a daily foundation for learning and a shared community hub. The spatial quality carefully shaped by architects grows more vivid with time.
