Construction has begun in Ho Chi Minh City on Fulbright University Vietnam, the country’s first independent not-for-profit higher education college, designed by New York-based firm SHoP Architects.
The first stage of the 15ha development will contain an amphitheater, a student centre and a library. Subsequent phases will include a network of pedestrian streets extending from the lawn and main building. At the end of each road there will be "focal-point buildings" such as galleries, a wedge-shaped dormitory, a theatre and a gymnasium.
In a press release, Fulbright University Vietnam says water features will play an important role in the college’s landscaping, as rain is a key aspect of life in Ho Chi Minh City. Water management such as drainage and water reclamation will be incorporated into visible design elements.
The first phase of construction is due to be completed by 2022.
Dam Bich Thuy, Fulbright University Vietnam’s president, said: "We at Fulbright are excited to see the efforts of planning, fundraising and negotiation merge into this realisation.
"The university has always made a priority of providing competencies-based, experiential learning opportunities for our students. This flagship campus affords us opportunities for growth in these areas through innovative, newer technologies and flexible learning spaces."
Gregg Pasquarelli, SHoP Architects’ founding principal, said: "We are thrilled to break ground on this world-class university.
"The opportunity to collaborate with the Fulbright team to develop the university’s programmes and spaces at the same time is both an honour and an exciting challenge, and we look forward to creating a beautifully crafted and modern campus."
Images courtesy of SHoP Architects
