SDI Teaching Building: Revitalizing Educational Spaces with Typography

Innovative visual design transforms Shenzhen Technology University’s learning environment

The SDI Teaching Building addresses the challenge of an initially stark and impersonal space by employing large-scale walls, bold fonts, and creative layouts. Drawing inspiration from classic German typography, the design echoes the academy’s educational philosophy, notably utilizing the DIN font—famed for its use on German road signs—for wayfinding, and Futura for supplementary text. This strategic font selection not only enhances functionality but also pays homage to the institution’s international teaching model.

To counteract the building’s original sense of emptiness and rigidity, Meng Shenhui implemented a combination of fine wall painting up to five meters high and color overlapping techniques. These interventions create a vivid, artistic environment, while the use of acrylic for select text elements introduces material contrast and tactile interest. The result is a space that feels both lively and approachable, without sacrificing the minimalist aesthetic desired by the client.

The six-floor structure features a distinctive hollowed-out design and a dramatic rotating staircase ascending to the fourth floor. Each floor’s identity is strengthened through unique visual cues, including stacked text, layered colors, and digital projections. These details not only guide students and visitors but also foster a strong sense of place and creativity, aligning with the academy’s mission to inspire innovation.

Research into the needs of Shenzhen Technology University revealed a gap between the institution’s rapid growth and the spatial experience offered to students. The previous industrial ambiance, characterized by high ceilings and gray tones, felt distant and uninspiring. Meng Shenhui’s intervention bridges this gap, transforming the environment into one that supports creative learning and international collaboration.

Completed in August 2023, the SDI Teaching Building exemplifies how thoughtful visual design can dramatically impact educational spaces. The project’s recognition with a Silver A' Design Award in 2025 underscores its technical excellence and artistic innovation, setting a benchmark for future academic architecture.

By integrating typographic artistry with spatial functionality, the SDI Teaching Building demonstrates the power of design to shape not only physical environments but also the experiences and aspirations of those who inhabit them.