Facilities of renovated campus to be open to public
An artist's rendition of the Putuo campus of East China University of Political Science and Law.
Shanghai's East China University of Political Science and Law has begun the renovation and expansion of its campus in Putuo District.
The project on the east bank of the Suzhou Creek, covering a construction area of 80,000 square meters, aims to create a high-quality living area for students on the waterfront of Suzhou Creek.
It will include dormitory buildings and support facilities, such as assembly halls, a swimming pool, underground parking lots and other cultural and sports infrastructure, as well as public spaces.
According to Guo Weilu, Party secretary of the university, buildings on the Putuo campus will be built in harmony with the historical buildings on the Changning District campus, which is on the western bank of the river.
The whole Changning campus of East China University of Political Science and Law, built in 1952 on the site of former St. John's College, and its 27 buildings, are listed as national historical and cultural sites for protection. Its historical buildings typically feature gray and red bricks, as well as architectural style combing the east and West. Its branch campus in Songjiang District, built in 2003, also follows these characteristics.
The campuses of the university across the Suzhou Creek.
As the first university in the city to remove its walls to open its historical campus in Changning to the public in 2021, East China University of Political Science and Law will also open its cultural and sports facilities in the Putuo campus to the public, said Guo.
Since 2021, the university has actively implemented several practical measures, such as tearing down the walls, transforming the waterfront spaces, enhancing green landscapes, and adjusting regional functions, to benefit the public.
Now, its Changning campus has become a popular place where people can stroll or jog, or enjoy other sports along the creek, appreciate the natural beauty and historical architectures, and take photos.
By sharing resources on its two campuses across the Suzhou Creek, the university wishes to set up a model for integration between universities and communities, contributing to the enhancement of community functions and the development of urban civilization, Guo said.
The university will open its cultural and sports facilities on its newly renovated campus to the public.
