Perched on the historic banks of Beijing’s Grand Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city’s eastern gateway, the Beijing Performing Arts Centre features three lantern-like structures at the water’s edge. Designed by Perkins&Will and Danish architectural practice Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s collaborative Shanghai-based studio, the centre reflects Tongzhou district’s legacy of trade and culture. The sleek, contemporary forms of the cultural buildings are conceived as lanterns for the performing arts. They are inspired by the silhouettes of the canal’s former warehouses and the sails of the traditional canal boats that once plied its waters. These forms also symbolise the opening of a theatre curtain, setting the stage for performances within. These inspirations are translated into the buildings’ sweeping rooflines, forming a cohesive arrangement of the structures.

The performing arts centre anchors Tongzhou’s cultural district whilst creating a symbolic connection between the past and present. This historic port has long been tied to the Grand Canal, a waterway essential to China’s economy and culture for centuries. Constructed in sections as far back as the fifth century BC, the 2,000km canal was vital for trade and transport throughout the region. Goods arriving from the south were stored in warehouses before being shipped to Beijing. “We have always referred to this project as ‘containers for culture’,” says Chris Hardie, chief architect of Perkins&Will in an official statement. “Inspired by the storehouses that once held materials and food for transport into the city, we now create storehouses for local and global culture, a focal point for Beijing’s dedication to the arts,” he continues.

The complex houses a sonorous opera house, an immersive concert hall, a versatile theatre, an expansive multipurpose hall and an outdoor stage within its sweeping façade design. The distinct public buildings sit on a broad urban plinth, which acts as a unifying element, seamlessly connecting the cultural architectural forms to the surrounding Sylvan Park and the Grand Canal. Ramps and splayed steps from all directions allow easy access, reinforcing the centre’s openness and inclusivity. The elevated platform also promotes the visual connection between the buildings and the water, creating an experience where nature, architecture and culture converge.

Contributing to this natural extension of the environment, accessibility remains at the forefront of the project, with a dedicated underground metro station. Enhanced by sunken gardens including parking, retail and dining areas at the subterranean level, the centre transforms into a vibrant public space, offering a wide range of cultural experiences beyond the performances.

The cultural institution accommodates three primary venues, each designed to serve a specific function, spatial planning and aesthetic. Despite their purposes, they share a complementary design language that evokes the idea of lanterns and sails, as described by the design team. The opera house, the largest of the three venues, is designed with optimal acoustics and showcases a refined, timber-framed structure. Its internal layout offers dynamic lines that guide sound and sightlines, ensuring a sublime experience for audiences.

The concert hall is crafted to host orchestral performances, with a design focused on achieving the perfect balance of intimacy and resonance. On the other hand, the theatre is a flexible space suited for traditional stage dramas and contemporary productions. Its warm, embossed timber surfaces enhance the adaptability of the space and immerse the viewers. The interiors of these structures are organised around large, open lobbies that extend outwards onto the plinth. Their silver-curtained forms create a harmonious spatial composition that resonates with the site’s history and modern-day purpose.

The Chinese architecture practice’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout the project. Green features have been integrated into the architecture and landscaping, earning the centre a China's three-star rating for environmental performance, a testament to its focus on ecological design. One of the standout features is the high-performance building envelope, shaded by perforated triangular aluminium panels, which conserves 20 per cent more energy than local code requirements, while ground-source heat pumps provide 60 per cent of the centre’s renewable energy. High indoor air quality is maintained through HVAC filtration systems combined with carbon dioxide sensors located in public areas, promoting the health and well-being of visitors.

Water conservation is another key feature of the project. Rainwater gardens and permeable pavements help create a sponge-like landscape design that absorbs and retains stormwater, reducing the risk of flooding. Reclaimed greywater is used for landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and cleaning, minimising the centre’s overall water consumption. These sustainable design strategies ensure the complex serves its cultural function and fosters environmental responsibility.

“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,” shares James Lu, managing director of Perkins&Will. “This project is truly a testament to the city’s vision and commitment to arts and culture,” he adds. The contemporary architectural intervention has established itself as a dynamic social and cultural hub, redefining the relationship between the built environment and its surroundings. By integrating accessibility, sustainability, historical references and community-focused spaces, the complex celebrates the performing arts while enriching Beijing’s urban landscape, leaving a lasting legacy.

Previously published performing arts centres on STIR include a creativity and cultural beacon for the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Prior Performing Arts Centre by Diller Scofidio + Renfro; Amant Performing Arts Centre by SO-IL as an urban oasis in Brooklyn; and Taipei Performing Arts Centre by OMA offering a fresh take on theatres, with an additive, futuristic form.

Project Details

Name: Beijing Performing Arts Centre
Location: Tongzhou, Beijing, China
Client: China National Centre for the Performing Arts
Architect: Schmidt Hammer Lassen, Perkins&Will
Principal-in-charge: Chris Hardie, James Lu
Lead Architect: Chris Hardie, Rong Lu, Chao Chen>
Design Team: Simon Persson, Steven Yingnien Chen, Anna Nilson, Tim Kunkel, Han Lin, Bartek Winnicki, Li Wen, Chencheng Li, Xiaoshu He, Fangzhou Zhu, Trushit Vyas, Thomas Grannells, Lukasz Trucahlski
Site Area: 122,398 sqm
Gross Floor Area: 125,350 sqm
Year of Completion: 2023