Library of the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University, Xiaozhuang Campus by Atelier FCJZ

Within the dense urban fabric of Nanjing, the Xiaozhuang Campus of the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University (NSFZ) presents a compelling response to limited land availability through a high-density, vertically layered campus. At the heart of this compact educational environment, the library designed by Atelier FCJZ emerges not merely as a repository of books, but as a spatial catalyst for learning, interaction, and exploration. Conceived as part of a larger campus masterplan that balances heritage preservation with contemporary educational needs, the library redefines the role of reading spaces within a vertical academic landscape.

A Compact Campus Organized Around Heritage and Landscape

The 66,700-square-meter campus is structured around a preserved historic building—the former Second Communication Station of the Republic of China Air Force—and a cluster of mature trees that form the symbolic and spatial core of the site. Teaching and administrative functions unfold to the south, while residential and sports facilities are placed to the north. This strategic zoning enables a clear separation of daily activities while maintaining strong visual and physical connections across the campus.

A key gesture within the masterplan is the elevated sports field, which doubles as a 400-meter running track above a multi-layered base of athletic and service functions. By lifting the field, the design frees valuable ground-level space for circulation, parking, and indoor sports facilities while offering students elevated views and moments of respite within an otherwise dense urban environment.

Extending the Public Realm Vertically

South of the campus core, academic buildings adopt a zigzag configuration, generating a sequence of semi-enclosed courtyards that promote outdoor learning and social exchange. The ground plane is partially elevated, dissolving barriers between buildings and allowing free movement through shaded courtyards and sunken activity spaces. Bridges, terraces, and open platforms extend the public realm upward, transforming corridors, staircases, and transitional zones into places for informal study and interaction.

Features such as corner atriums, open staircases with resting areas, and terrace classrooms embedded within bridges create a rich spatial gradient between circulation and occupation. These elements encourage spontaneous learning moments and blur the boundary between formal classrooms and communal spaces.

Reimagining the School Library as an Open Landscape

Positioned east of the central heritage plaza, the 3,800-square-meter library embodies the campus’s “open school” philosophy. Rather than relying on conventional stacked floor plates, the library is organized around a tall central atrium containing five large-span reading volumes—some tubular and semi-enclosed, others terraced and open. This configuration produces a variety of reading environments, ranging from intimate, focused spaces to expansive platforms overlooking the atrium.

A generous skylight crowns the atrium, allowing daylight to cascade downward through layered reflections, creating a luminous and ever-changing interior atmosphere. A continuous “wandering path” links all reading zones, beginning at the ground-floor lobby and gradually ascending through reading bleachers, student platforms, and service areas before reaching the digital reading room at the top. Gently sloped ramps ensure barrier-free circulation, reinforcing inclusivity and spatial continuity.

Structure, Views, and Material Expression

The library’s long-span terraces and tubular volumes are structurally supported by core walls at either end of the atrium, allowing for slanted, full-height windows that frame views of surrounding trees and pull greenery deep into the interior. Continuous strip windows maintain visual connectivity between enclosed reading rooms and the atrium, fostering a sense of shared space across different levels.

Materially, fair-faced concrete poured with ply-bamboo formwork defines both structure and finish, giving the library a sculptural clarity. This robust materiality is carefully balanced with solid wood flooring, bookshelves, and handrails, introducing warmth and tactility to the reading spaces. The result is an interior that feels simultaneously monumental and inviting.

Integrated Building Services and Digital Coordination

Building services are seamlessly integrated into the architectural and structural systems. Mechanical and electrical systems are routed through voids within the long-span structure, while an elevated floor conceals ducts and sprinkler lines without compromising the exposed concrete surfaces. Air outlets are discreetly embedded within bookshelves, desks, and railings, ensuring visual coherence throughout the space.

The project’s complexity was resolved through section-based design thinking, supported by extensive BIM coordination and full-scale digital modeling during construction. This process ensured precise alignment between architecture, structure, and services, enabling the successful realization of the library’s ambitious spatial concept.

Conclusion

The Library of the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University, Xiaozhuang Campus stands as a powerful reinterpretation of educational space within a high-density context. By transforming reading into a vertical, spatial journey, Atelier FCJZ creates an environment that encourages curiosity, movement, and shared learning. Integrating daylight, structure, and landscape into a cohesive architectural narrative, the library becomes more than a functional facility—it serves as the intellectual and social heart of a compact urban campus.

Photography: Fangfang Tian