Beijing Performing Arts Centre
China has opened a new performing arts complex in Tongzhou, a historic port on the Grand Canal and the eastern gateway to Beijing. Designed by Perkins&Will’s and Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s combined Shanghai studio, the Beijing Performing Arts Centre anchors Tongzhou’s recently designated cultural district, a collection of major civic projects that also includes a museum, a library, and extensive parklands. Consisting of three world-class venues—an opera house, a theater, and a concert hall—as well as a multipurpose hall and an outdoor stage, the Beijing Performing Arts Centre will host hundreds of performances each year—everything from traditional Chinese and Western operas to orchestral performances, stage dramas, and dances.
Client
China National Centre for the
Size
1,349,255 square feet
Completion
2023-05-02
Sustainability
China 3 Star
Green Design
Sustainable features promote human and ecosystem health throughout, earning the project a China Three Star rating for environmental performance. Air filtration systems and carbon dioxide sensors ensure high indoor air quality, and low-flow fixtures conserve water throughout the buildings.
Accessible Arts
A dedicated metro station below the park, along with ramps and stairs at ground level, facilitates public access. The subterranean level also includes parking, retail, and a food and beverage complex interspersed with sunken gardens. The plinth is always open as part of the park, providing visitors with inspiring views of Tongzhou and the Grand Canal.
The facade, aided by a perforated aluminum screen, conserves 20% more energy than required by local code. This energy-efficient envelope is supplemented by a high-performing HVAC system that combines district heating with ground-source heat pumps and heat recovery technology, saving 65% of the energy from return air.
Although each building’s design serves a specific function, their forms are complementary. They work together to achieve this pleasing suggestion of lanterns at the water’s edge
Regional Reversal
Constructed in sections since the 5th century B.C., the 2,000-kilometer-long Grand Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It connects Beijing to South China and has been vital to the nation’s culture and economy for millennia. The Tongzhou District of Beijing has long been an important point of trade along the canal; as goods arrived in Tongzhou from the south, they were sorted and stored in warehouses until needed in Beijing. In a regional reversal, the performing arts complex will now draw Beijing residents and visitors from the city to the canal.
It’s gratifying to see the flow of people and the sharing of ideas and experiences in and around the Beijing Performing Arts Centre, all reflected in the historic waterway. This project is truly a testament to the city’s vision and commitment to arts and culture.
― James Lu
Regional Director,