Wuxi, China
2019 - 2024
Wuxi International Conference Center
Located in the ancient city of Wuxi, China, the 120,000 m² conference center forms the heart of the city’s convention district — connecting wetland landscape, public life, and a relationship to the water.
Shaped by the water around it, the city of Wuxi is home to Taihu Lake, one of China’s most celebrated natural landscapes that defines not only the regions ecology but its cultural identity. Sitting at its edge, in the developing Taihu New Town district, the Wuxi International Conference Center extends the city towards the water.
The complex forms the centerpiece of a broader convention district, encompassing two hotels, an office tower, a shopping mall, and a retail village. Together, these buildings shape a new urban district of 215,000 m². At its heart, the conference center offers large exhibition halls, a 1,600-seat auditorium, and an extensive range of meeting rooms and facilities.
Prioritizing light
Redefining a typology that has traditionally been inward-looking and disconnected, the design of the Wuxi International Conference Center places its focus on light and connection. Pre-function and break-out spaces line the building's periphery, offering views across the wetland park. These spaces open onto accessible terraces that extend into the surrounding landscape, allowing attendees to step outside between sessions, breathe fresh air, and reconnect with the environment.
“Wuxi reimagines the generally introverted experience of large scale conference centers, instead creating a space full of daylight with windows extending views to its green surroundings.”
A lantern in the landscape
The facades are designed with varying degrees of transparency. Daylight filters through at different angles and intensities throughout the day, casting an ever-changing pattern of light and shadow across the interior. At night, the building glows from within like a lantern in the landscape, marking its presence as a new landmark in the city.
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Associate Director
Louis Becker
Global Design Principal
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