DKU Academic Quad

Design proposal · INFOSCI 302
Spring 2025

The academic quad at Duke Kunshan University had limited paths, shade, and seating. I proposed more direct walking routes, with trees and places to sit along them.

I focused on the routes people naturally take across the space, while keeping the central lawn available for activities and large events.

Proposed academic quad with diagonal paths, shade trees, and an open central lawn.
Proposed design.
Plan showing proposed diagonal paths, trees, chairs, and umbrella tables around the retained central lawn.
Paths, trees, and seating around the central lawn.

Following the routes people take

I used desire lines, the routes people naturally take, to guide new paths between academic buildings and dormitories. The plan proposes permeable stone paving.

Trees along the paths add shade without filling the central lawn. Camphor is one of the proposed species.

I included movable chairs so people could choose their seating arrangement, with picnic tables in shaded areas.

Prioritizing summer afternoons

I used Kunshan weather data from 2022 to 2025 to inform the shade plan. The analysis focused the proposal on summer afternoons, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Average hourly temperature by season in Kunshan, using weather data from 2022 to 2025.
Seasonal temperature chart from the project poster.

A phased proposal

Trees need time to grow. I proposed umbrella tables along the eastern edge as the first phase, with planting providing more shade over time. The total budget estimate was RMB 400,000.

Proposed budget · RMB 400,000
ItemCost estimate
TreesRMB 200,000
PathsRMB 120,000
FurnitureRMB 36,000
ContingencyRMB 44,000