The Juilliard School Breaks Ground in China on Its First Overseas Campus

Joseph W. Polisi, president of Juilliard

The Juilliard School broke ground today on its first overseas campus, The Tianjin Juilliard School, marking a significant milestone in cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and US.

The Juilliard School Breaks Ground in China on Its First Overseas Campus

Located in the Yujiapu Pilot Free Trade Zone, The Tianjin Juilliard School will be a centre for performance, practice, and research, as well as interactive exhibitions and communal spaces that are designed to welcome the public into the creative process and the performance of music.  Once completed, the campus will be an international hub for young musicians, actors, and dancers as well as the only performing arts institution in China to offer a U.S.-accredited master’s degree.

Aerial View of Site. Image courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro

“For more than a century, Juilliard has provided the highest calibre of performing arts education to talented young musicians, actors, and dancers,” said Polisi, president of Juilliard and chairman of The Tianjin Juilliard School’s board of directors. “We look forward to continuing this tradition of excellence in Tianjin while deepening ties between China and the United States through artistic collaboration.”

Main Entry at Southeast corner. Image courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro

“After many months of careful planning and collaboration, we are thrilled to share our designs for The Tianjin Juilliard School,” said Charles Renfro, Partner-in-charge at Diller Scofidio + Renfro. “In planning this new facility, we wanted to capture the spirit of Tianjin while creating an architectural connection to Juilliard’s home campus in New York City.” The Tianjin Juilliard School’s location adjacent to a new high-speed rail hub, one hour’s ride from Beijing’s South Rail Station, makes the campus and everything it has to offer easily accessible to people living and working in the greater Beijing-Tianjin area.

View of Main Concert Hall. Image courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Juilliard history was made when President Joseph W. Polisi was joined by the first lady of China on September 2015 to announce The Tianjin Juilliard School. As a prestigious singer with a successful career in China, Peng was invited to perform at Lincoln Center in 2005.

The school is scheduled to open in 2019.

View from the Northwest Reflecting Pool. Image courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro