Zhuzhou Civic Center: A Paradigm of Sustainable Architecture

Wsp Architects' Award-Winning Design Revolutionizes Public Buildings

The Zhuzhou Civic Center, located in Zhuzhou, Hunan, China, is a comprehensive citizen service center that combines convenience, entrepreneurship, and leisure services. The design inspiration stems from the topographic elevation of the location, resulting in a unique double-first floor structure. Six floating islands surround the central activity square, providing an outdoor communication place that leverages the advantage of the central park.

The facade styles of the Civic Center vary slightly due to differences in internal functions and urban environment. Its flexible and simple lines break away from the traditional image of municipal buildings, making them more friendly, open, and flexible. The design team, led by Wu Gang and including Chen Ling, Nelson Tam, and others, has successfully created a structure that is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing.

The Civic Center is built entirely with passive energy-saving technology. It uses insulation of the ground, walls, doors, and windows, fresh air system, and renewable energy such as solar and geothermal to achieve a constant temperature, constant humidity, oxygen, cleanliness, and tranquility in the four seasons. The green roof and sunshade reduce the impact on future operating costs, making the resource consumption of the Civic Center 1/6 to 1/10 of similar buildings.

The project integrates the original "one center, multiple sub-centers" scattered office space in the urban area, realizes "no approval outside the center", and handles 771 items of administrative approval and public services. The design team faced the challenge of high resource consumption and low indoor comfort common to office buildings in the Yangtze River Basin in China. However, they overcame these challenges by focusing on "existing cost-oriented low energy consumption maximization", considering the building's whole life cycle.

The Zhuzhou Civic Center is a shining example of how design can be used to create sustainable, functional, and beautiful public spaces. Wsp Architects' innovative approach to design has not only resulted in a building that serves the community but also sets a new standard for public buildings worldwide.