New York City is poised to become a global hub for life sciences, public health, and healthcare, and at the heart of this transformation is a dedication to education. Creating beautiful and accessible learning spaces is crucial to providing a foundation for this change. Award-winning architectural designer Zeyi Xuan, an emerging talent at Ennead Architects, is playing a pivotal role in reimagining spaces, building and reshaping what was already there.
Xuan, a graduate of Cornell University's Architecture program, joined Ennead Architects in 2022, an architecture firm renowned for its transformative architecture within the public realm. Ennead was founded in 1963 by James Polshek, and the firm has worked on renowned projects like the Shanghai Planetarium (2020), the Brooklyn Museum's Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art (2007) and the Peabody Essex Museum Expansion and Renovation (2019), among others.
She has made contributions to significant Ennead projects, such as the Kuwait University Health Sciences campus, which has gained industry recognition. Now, she brings her expertise to creating learning spaces that will revolutionize education, workforce development, and community engagement.
[Courtesy of Ennead Architects]
A Core Designer on a Landmark Project
Xuan has already worked on multiple major international projects. As a core designer, she was instrumental in developing the scheme during the concept phase, encompassing the building's massing, facade design, and program planning. Currently, she's involved in the schematic phase, focusing primarily on the building's exterior design, which includes crucial public-facing elements like the facade and main entrances of the two schools.
"I'm working alongside partner architects and consultants to coordinate the structural system and facade ensuring the cohesion between the colleges and public school portions of the building," Xuan explains, highlighting the collaborative nature of this large-scale project.
Designing for Societal Connection
This project is more than just a building; it's envisioned as a meeting place for society, fostering collaboration and innovation. Integrating multiple schools with the aim of creating a synergistic environment where students and faculty from different disciplines can interact and learn from each other. These interactions infuse their education with newfound views allowing for faster growth and understanding.
It won’t be an easy task with the project encompassing up to two million square feet dedicated to educational programs, workforce development, and job opportunities within the life sciences, public health, and healthcare sectors. This first-of-its-kind job and education center is expected to generate billions of dollars in economic impact, enhance the public realm, and create a pipeline from local public schools and city universities into these burgeoning fields.
The new 700,000 GSF education building prioritizes public space in Manhattan with a large open area facing the street and a new bridge across the FDR Drive, connecting the site to the waterfront.
[Courtesy of Ennead Architects]
Sustainability and Resiliency at its Core
What truly sets this project apart is its innovative approach to deconstruction and material reuse. Xuan emphasizes that the project team is meticulously cataloging materials from the existing nursing school, with the intention of repurposing or storing them for future use. This commitment to sustainability is deeply embedded within the design process.
"The knowledge of the existing building and available material is baked into the design ideas," Xuan explains, emphasizing the project's dedication to resiliency and sustainability.
[Courtesy of Ennead Architects]
Looking Ahead
This project is scheduled for completion in 2031. As it progresses, Xuan's expertise and dedication will continue to shape its final form, ensuring that it not only meets the functional needs of its occupants but also serves as a vibrant and welcoming space for the community.
Xuan's work as a core designer on this project highlights her commitment to creating impactful architecture that addresses critical societal needs.
As she continues to contribute to significant projects at Ennead Architects, she proves to be a rising force in the field, shaping the future of public architecture and leaving a lasting legacy on the built environment.
Beyond this project, Xuan has also contributed to major architecture projects for education institutions, including Princeton University’s Environmental Studies and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Purdue University Polytechnic Institute, College of Engineering’s Dudley and Lambertus Halls, and John Hopkins University’s Bloomberg Center in Manhattan, demonstrating versatility and a dedication to shaping spaces that foster innovation and learning.
