The Zhongguancun International Innovation Center (ZGC) in Beijing, designed by MAD has been completed and is now in use.

Since 2007, the Zhongguancun Forum has operated under the permanent theme of Innovation and Development. Each year, it gathers scientists, entrepreneurs, and emerging innovators from around the world to exchange ideas and engage in in-depth discussions on innovation. After more than a decade of growth, it has become a global, comprehensive, and open platform for high-level dialogue on technological innovation a national-level hub for international collaboration in high-tech fields.

The Zhongguancun International Innovation Center is located in the core area of Zhongguancun, Haidian District. It sits near iconic landmarks such as Yuquan Mountain, the Summer Palace, the Old Summer Palace, Peking University, and Tsinghua University at the intersection of Beijing’s historic "Three Mountains and Five Gardens" cultural zone and the Zhongguancun Science City. Covering a site area of approximately 59,000 square meters and constrained by a 12-meter height limit, the project offers a total floor area of about 65,000 square meters, including around 17,000 square meters of green roof. The building rests on the landscape like a living leaf light, organic, and integrated with its surroundings.

The building’s form gradually unfolds from north to south across the site. When viewed from the nearby Three Mountains, the structure recedes into the urban landscape. Its green roof integrates subtly with the environment of the Three Mountains and Five Gardens, serving as a natural extension of the historic terrain. The project offers a rare example of land-integrated architecture and urban green infrastructure.

Viewed up close from the city's edge, the building rises and falls along the main urban roadway from south to north. Its transparent curtain wall follows the undulating form, becoming part of the city’s visual interface. The façade uses a vertical-exposed, horizontal-concealed framing system with ultra-clear semi-tempered glass panels, creating a more open connection between the building and the city while enhancing visual interaction between interior and exterior spaces.

Beneath the cantilevered roof is a comfortable urban grey space that provides shade and shelter, while allowing a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor environments.

A total of 2,769 fluorocarbon-coated double-curved aluminum honeycomb panels, each with unique shapes and curvature, are arranged in a “bottom-up” configuration atop the complex steel roof structure. These silver-white louvered panels vary in density, helping to conceal mechanical systems and facilitate rainwater collection.

At night, lighting embedded within the gaps between panels follows the rhythm of the roof lines expanding and contracting in sync creating a dynamic yet balanced visual effect. The movement echoes the constant flow of traffic on the adjacent urban artery, adding a sense of energy and vitality to the city.

Exploded Roof Diagram

The cascading water feature at the southeast corner of the site creates a flowing waterfall that separates the busy city from the building, establishing a pure and organic sense of arrival and ceremony.

MAD aims to support the energy and vitality of innovative dialogue through a minimal and pure interior atmosphere. The main hall features two large skylights made of ETEF membrane material, allowing natural light to penetrate the space and creating an open, bright environment.

The lighting design innovatively integrates tunable color temperature lighting that follows the rhythm of the architectural structure. Light converges at the central "aerial" installation, creating a dynamic spatial centerpiece that enhances the technological atmosphere while functioning as a visually striking art piece.

The functional spaces are organized in a pinwheel layout. On the first floor, the main conference hall, banquet hall, and multifunction hall serve as the primary event venues. The basement level houses a series of smaller meeting rooms and VIP lounges, accommodating events of varying scales and privacy requirements.

Multifunction Hall

In addition to supporting conference functions, the cantilevered roof, outdoor planning, and landscape design of the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center create a network of public urban spaces connected to nature, allowing free access and use by the public.

An existing ancient tree on the northeast side of the site has been preserved and transformed into the focal point of a sunken stepped courtyard. A covered walkway along the building’s northeast edge offers a quiet viewing area amidst the urban surroundings. Sunken courtyards at the southeast and southwest corners connect directly to the building’s basement level interior, enhancing spatial continuity and openness.

The ventilation system is fully concealed within the ceiling and the concrete “leaf vein” structure of the green roof, maintaining a clean and cohesive architectural expression. The roof incorporates lightweight soil and low-maintenance vegetation, meeting structural load requirements while achieving both aesthetic and performance standards, and reducing long-term landscape maintenance costs.

The Zhongguancun International Innovation Center also integrates renewable energy systems such as solar photovoltaics and ground-source heat pumps. It employs second-tier energy efficiency MEP systems and other low-carbon technologies to support the creation of a net-zero energy conference room. Calculations show that the building's carbon emission intensity is reduced by more than 50% compared to typical public buildings.

MAD设计的中关村国际创新中心希望从多维度树立其在规划中的点睛作用：科技层面，以开放、启发想象力的空间氛围展现会址所承载的创新愿景；文化层面，以谦逊的姿态与场地独特的历史及自然背景呼应；绿色层面，成为向城市、社区开放，人人乐至的新型城市公共空间。Design for the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center began in 2020, with construction breaking ground in August 2022. From April 25 to 29, 2024, the 14th Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference was held at the Innovation Center.

MAD’s design for the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center aims to establish the building as a defining landmark within the masterplan from multiple dimensions:
On a technological level, the open and imagination-inspiring spatial atmosphere reflects the forum’s forward-looking vision for innovation.
Culturally, the architecture adopts a humble posture, resonating with the site’s unique historical and natural context.
Environmentally, it aspires to serve as a new type of urban public space—open to the city and its communities, accessible and enjoyable to all.

Exploded Spatial Diagram

Master Plan
Zhongguancun International Innovation Center (formerly Zhongguancun Forum Permanent Venue)
Beijing, China
2020 – 2024

Type: Conference Center
Site Area: 59,099 m²
Gross Floor Area: 64,998 m²
(Above Ground: 20,000 m², Underground: 44,998 m²)

Principal Partners: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano
Associate Partners: Fu Changrui, Li Jian

Design Team: Zhou Rui, Zhuang Fan, Hu Jinchang, Liu Yiqing, Xue Yawen, Yang Xuebing, Edgar Navarrete, Zheng Chengwen, Wang Shuobin, Wu Qiaoling, Alan Rodriguez Carrillo

Client: Zhongjie (Beijing) Development and Construction Co., Ltd.
Architectural Design: MAD
General Engineering Consultant: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design Co., Ltd. | First Architecture Design Institute
Façade Consultant: Inhabit Group (Beijing)
Interior Design: MAD Architects, Beijing Institute of Architectural Design Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
Landscape Design: MAD, Guangzhou S.P.I Design Co., Ltd.
Façade Lighting Consultant: Pro-Lighting Design Center (Beijing)
Interior Lighting Consultant: Beijing Taifu Guangda Lighting Design Co., Ltd.
Signage Consultant: Beijing TOSIGN Spatial Design Co., Ltd.
AV Consultant: Academy of Broadcasting Science, NRTA
Photography: Arch-Exist, CreatAR Images, Zhu Yumeng, ChillShine Studio