Located in the historic port of Tongzhou, along the Grand Canal and at the eastern gateway to Beijing, the much-anticipated Beijing Performing Arts Centre is now open. The design is a collaboration between Perkins&Will and Schmidt Hammer Lassen with landscape design by SLA. The complex comprises three world-class venues – an opera house, a theater, and a concert hall – as well as a multipurpose hall and outdoor stage. The project further anchors a new designated cultural district that includes a museum, library and extensive parkland.
The sweeping rooflines are a nod to the storehouses that once lined the canal’s banks as well as the sails of traditional canal boats. “We have always referred to this project as the containers for culture” says chief architect, Chris Hardie. “Inspired by the storehouses that once held materials and food for transport into Beijing, we now create storehouses for local and global culture, a focal point for Beijing’s dedication to the arts.” The architects explain the evocative forms can also be seen as a reference to a theatre curtain parting at the beginning of a performance.
The Centre sits elevated on a broad plinth that can be accessed from all sided by splayed steps and ramps, which unify the complex. The elevated platform extends to the buildings’ lobbies and into the surrounding forested park, strengthening the relationship between interior, the landscape, and the Grand Canal. A metro station below the park, along with ramps and stairs at ground level facilitate public access. The subterranean level also includes parking, retail, and a food and beverage complex interspersed with sunken gardens.
Measures promoting sustainability are present throughout the project. The high-performance envelope, which is shaded by a perforated aluminum screen, conserves 20% more energy than required by the local code. The buildings plug into a district energy system that is primarily powered by ground-source heat pumps, achieving a 60% renewable energy use rate. The HVAC system’s filtration system combined with carbon dioxide sensors in public areas ensure high indoor air quality.
Low-flow fixtures conserve water throughout the buildings. Rainwater gardens and permeable pavement create porous, sponge-like landscapes that absorb and retain stormwater on site, reducing the chance of flooding. Landscape irrigation, road and garage cleaning, and toilet flushing all use 100% reclaimed municipal greywater, further reducing the consumption of water resources.
The Tongzhou District of Beijing has long been an important point of trade along the canal; with goods arriving from the south then being sorted and stored in warehouses until required in Beijing. In a regional reversal, the performing arts complex will now draw Beijing residents and visitors from the city to the canal.
