New Science And Technology Museum Of Henan Province / TJAD Atelier L+

Architects: TJAD Atelier L+
Area: 129,365 m²
Year: 2024
Photography: Schran Image, ZY Architectural Photography
Lead Architect: Li Linxue
Project Leaders: Li Linxue, Ren Lizhi
Design Team: Li Linxue, Zhou Kaifeng, Liu Yang, Shan Yunxiang, Jiang Yongqian, Wang Yanwen, Jiao Yan, Guo Qianli, Ye Xincheng, Wu Yumo, Wu Qi, Kong Mingshu, Ni Runer, Wu Wenjing, Hu Jialiang, Qian Ren, Zhang Qi, Zhang Xu, Huang Hongbin, Lu Qinghai, Jin Xin
Structural Design: Yu Zhongjun, Ruan Yonghui, Zhuojie, Wang Baotong, Zhang Shuai, Sun Huahua, Yan Yufei, He Lidong
Water Supply and Drainage Design: Liu Jin, Gu Songming, Zhou Cuiwei
HVAC Design: Shen Xuefeng, Gu Yong, Li Bo, An Yusong, Ji Wangchuan, Zhang Xiaolei, Zhu Weihua, Zhan Guangyi
Electrical Design Team: Sun Feng, Wang Chang, Ye Xing, Liu Yu, Zhang Jiedong, Bing Heliang, Jin Hai
Excavation: Jiang Wenhui, Liu Jikun
BIM Design: Liu Jian, Chen Ye
Logo Design: Hopesun Design Shen Haopeng Graphic Design Co., Ltd
Green Building Evaluation Label (Three Star Standard): Wang Zheng, Liu Bingyun, Zheng Xiaowei, Tang Chengyu, Wang Yingjun, Li Xiaolu, Li Dongmei
Budget: Yang Weiming, Chen Tingting
Wind Tunnel Test Consultant: Quan Yong
Interior Consultant: Shanghai Tongji Architectural Interior Design Engineering Co., Ltd
Landscape Consultant: Shanghai Weiya Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd
Curtain Wall Consultant: Shanghai Yixuan Architectural Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Lighting Consultant: Dongliang International Lighting Design (Beijing) Center Co., Ltd
Weak Current Intelligent Consultant: Shanghai Yisheng Construction and Installation Engineering Co., Ltd
Acoustic Consultant: Shanghai Acoustic Society
Civil Air Defense Consultant: Zhengzhou Civil Air Defense Engineering Design and Research Institute
Transportation Consultant: Shanghai Liwen Transportation Technology Co., Ltd
Client: Henan Science and Technology Museum
Engineering: Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd
Landscape: Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd
City: Zhengzhou
Country: China

The New Science and Technology Museum of Henan Province, designed by TJAD Atelier L+, is among China’s largest cultural institutions dedicated to science, nature, and astronomy. Completed in 2024 in Zhengzhou, the 129,365-square-meter complex integrates multiple museums into a unified public landmark. Its form draws inspiration from the confluence of the Yellow River and Luo River, echoing the heritage of Heluo culture while symbolizing technological progress. Conceived as a model of “environmental intelligent construction,” the building employs wind tunnel testing, parametric modeling, and BIM technology to balance material efficiency with sustainable performance. Central to its design is a 3,000-square-meter atrium, hosting China’s largest indoor full-dome theater and an intricate network of steel truss bridges. The museum grounds extend into plazas, exhibition areas, and waterfront landscapes that blend architecture and parkland. Recognized with numerous national awards, the museum has welcomed over 6.5 million visitors in its first year of operation, establishing itself as a cultural and scientific focal point in the Central Plains region.

New science and technology museum of henan province / tjad atelier l+

Rather than existing solely as a collection of exhibition halls, the museum was conceived as a civic landmark that would embody Henan’s cultural legacy while presenting an image of contemporary technological ambition. Its architectural form, interpreted as a flowing gesture inspired by rivers and flight, positions the building as both grounded in heritage and forward-looking. The trident-shaped layout responds to the complexities of its triangular site while setting up a monumental composition visible across Zhengzhou.

The design leverages its elevated three-meter plinth to address local flood conditions, while simultaneously creating new public spaces around the perimeter. These plazas, exhibition grounds, and waterfront areas extend the museum’s role beyond a container of knowledge to become a platform for civic life. Connections to the adjacent Guibiao Tower further reinforce the idea of an integrated cultural district, where architecture, landscape, and public programming overlap.

The central atrium forms the spatial and symbolic heart of the project. Spanning 3,000 square meters, it acts as an internal city where bridges, platforms, and voids interconnect in dynamic layers. The presence of the full-dome cinema, the largest of its kind in the country, makes the atrium not just a circulation hub but an immersive destination in itself. Around this core, nearly twenty exhibition halls radiate outward, each dedicated to themes such as astronomy, nature, and intelligence, establishing a diverse spatial sequence.

Environmental strategies were integral to the design process. Parametric simulations and wind tunnel testing shaped the building’s aerodynamic form, allowing for improved ventilation and reduced reliance on mechanical cooling. The double-layer aluminum façade, resembling fish scales, combines expressive form with shading performance. Adjustable louvers regulate solar exposure, while the atrium’s thermal chimney principle enables natural airflow. Together, these measures supported the museum’s attainment of China’s three-star green building standard.

Advanced construction technologies were essential to realizing the project’s ambitious geometries. The freeform façade and 80-meter-span truss bridges required extensive coordination, achieved through BIM integration and 3D scanning. The result is a highly precise construction process that resolved structural and spatial challenges while ensuring efficiency. These digital methodologies underscore the alignment of the building’s subject matter—innovation and science—with the techniques used in its making.

Since opening, the museum has emerged as a landmark not only for its architectural qualities but also for its social and cultural impact. Hosting more than 6.5 million visitors in its first year, with peak daily numbers reaching 27,000, the institution demonstrates the appetite for public engagement with science and technology in the region. Its awards, including the prestigious Luban Prize for National Quality Projects, reflect recognition of both design excellence and construction achievement.

As a work of architecture, the New Science and Technology Museum of Henan Province embodies a synthesis of cultural symbolism, environmental intelligence, and technological precision. It stands as an emblem of Henan’s ambition to build a national innovation highland while offering a public space where science, nature, and human imagination converge.