Tianjin Juilliard School,
designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R)
The Binhai District of China's Tianjin, just 45 minutes by high-speed train from Beijing, is home to the Juilliard School campus, a project that combines advanced technology, educational and performance spaces and a harmonious relationship with the surrounding landscape. New York-based Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), known for landmark projects such as the expansion of Juilliard's New York City headquarters as part of the Lincoln Center masterplan, is responsible for the project. Opening in late 2020, the campus is an example of architecture that not only serves arts education, but also opens up to the local community and environment.
The Juilliard School in Tianjin - a bird's-eye view of the building block
photo by Zhang Chao © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
history of the school 's name and mission
The school is named after Augustus Juilliard (1836-1919), an American merchant and philanthropist who donated a substantial sum of money to raise the level of American music. His legacy gave rise to one of the world's most renowned art schools - The Juilliard School in New York, of which the Tianjin campus is a branch. The school offers a master's degree program in music, including specializations such as orchestral studies, chamber music and collaborative piano, as well as a Saturday preparatory program for talented children and teenagers ages 8-18.
The Juilliard School in Tianjin - the bridges are equipped with triple glazing
photo by Zhang Chao © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
architecture in the service of education and the arts
The Juilliard School covers an area of 32,500 square meters and consists of four pavilions of geometric form, varying in size. They house the key spaces of the campus: concert halls, a black box theater and administrative spaces. The pavilions are connected by five glass bridges that create two levels of teaching spaces - from classrooms and studios to practice rooms of varying sizes. The bridges, visible from the spacious lobby on the first floor, serve not only a practical function, but also a symbolic one - they connect the various functions of the campus, allowing students to spend their free time in spaces overlooking the city and the Hai River.
The Juilliard School in Tianjin - first floor plan
© Diller Scofidio + Renfro
open lobby - the heart of the campus and a link to nature
The centerpiece of the project is an open lobby on the first floor, devoid of columns, which seamlessly connects to the surrounding park through its glass facades and numerous entry points. This space, accessible to the public, becomes a natural extension of the landscape, inviting passersby to interact with the building. Large glazings provide abundant daylight, and lowering the stages of the main auditoriums one level below the ground allowed the lobby to remain spacious and share technical facilities.
The Juilliard School in Tianjin - the centerpiece of the design is the open lobby on the first floor
photo by Zhang Chao © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
inspired by new york heritage
As Charles Renfro, a partner at DS+R, points out, the project draws inspiration from the Juilliard headquarters in New York, completed in 2009. In both cases, the architects focused on creating open and transparent spaces that foster audience engagement, while providing students with informal meeting spaces and teaching and performance rooms with exceptional acoustics. In Tianjin, additional emphasis was placed on integration with the park environment, minimizing intrusion into the site and preserving its natural character.
The Juilliard School in Tianjin - the body of the building consists of four pavilions with a geometric form, which are connected by five bridges
photo by Zhang Chao © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
performance spaces and their acoustics
A key element of the campus is the 810-square-meter main concert hall, located at below-ground level. The space is equipped with mechanical wood stage platforms to allow for different configurations of the space, and finished with eucalyptus wood for a warm, resonant sound. A glass facade with electric blinds opens up views of the Hai River, creating a dynamic backdrop for performances, while mechanical ceiling lighting optimizes visual conditions on stage.
The Juilliard School in Tianjin - a key element of the campus is the main concert hall
photo by Zhang Chao © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
technology and intercontinental connectivity
The Juilliard School is also distinguished by its use of modern technology. With advanced telecommunications and video conferencing systems, the campus enables close collaboration between students and faculty in Tianjin and their colleagues in New York. One example is the Juilliard Imagination space, a digitally connected exhibition venue that allows for live broadcast concerts between the two institutions.
The Juilliard School in Tianjin - a cross section of the building
© Diller Scofidio + Renfro
integration with the landscape and public space
The design takes into account the layout of the larger pedestrian systems, connecting the high-speed rail station to the north, the park to the east, the city square to the west and the Hai River waterfront to the south. DS+R studio, in collaboration with Hargreaves Jones, designed the gardens in the northern square, which harmonize with the surroundings. The southern plaza, on the other hand, offers space for events and performances. It features seating in the form of piano keys, greenery elements and shallow reflecting pools that reference the Hai River and create visual effects - reflections of the building and sky. A publicly accessible rooftop terrace next to the orchestra hall provides a resting place with views of the river, paved paths, benches and greenery.
Tianjin's Juilliard School - the south plaza offers space for events and performances
photo by Zhang Chao © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
materials and acoustics of common spaces
High-performance glass sets, sandblasted stainless steel, fiberglass-reinforced concrete and wood panels were used for the exterior. The same materials were used in the lobby as on the facades, highlighting the consistency of the design. The bridges are equipped with triple glazing, which allows moderate sound penetration from the exercise rooms into the lobby. The acoustics of the lobby were optimized with wood slatted ceilings, wood panels and acoustic plaster.
The Juilliard School in Tianjin - the same materials were used in the lobby as on the facades, highlighting the consistency of the design
photo by Zhang Chao © Diller Scofidio + Renfro
architecture as an instrument
The Juilliard School in Tianjin is an example of a project in which architecture acts as an educational tool and a space for art. As Charles Renfro points out, the building is a "finely tuned instrument" - both in terms of acoustics and its relationship to the environment. With its open structure, harmonious connection with nature and advanced technological solutions, the campus not only supports the artistic development of students, but also invites the public to participate in the life of the school.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) studio.
