Architecture

Elementary school in China builds a rooftop running track

Elementary school in China builds a rooftop running track
A Chinese elementary school located in Taizhou, Zhejiang has come up with an innovative way to save space by building an athletic track on its roof
A Chinese elementary school located in Taizhou, Zhejiang has come up with an innovative way to save space by building an athletic track on its roof
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Designed by LYCS Architecture, the Tian Tai No.2 Primary School features an open-air rooftop basketball court, 100 meter (328 ft) sprinting track and a 200 meter (656 ft) looped running track
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Designed by LYCS Architecture, the Tian Tai No.2 Primary School features an open-air rooftop basketball court, 100 meter (328 ft) sprinting track and a 200 meter (656 ft) looped running track
The open air track is protected by three layers of safe guarding
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The open air track is protected by three layers of safe guarding
The entire structure of the school was built in an oval shape to cater for the rooftop athletics area
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The entire structure of the school was built in an oval shape to cater for the rooftop athletics area
A Chinese elementary school located in Taizhou, Zhejiang has come up with an innovative way to save space by building an athletic track on its roof
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A Chinese elementary school located in Taizhou, Zhejiang has come up with an innovative way to save space by building an athletic track on its roof
The school also features a 2,658 sq m (28,610 sq ft) internal courtyard, which is suitable for further physical activities, whole school assemblies and lunch time play area
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The school also features a 2,658 sq m (28,610 sq ft) internal courtyard, which is suitable for further physical activities, whole school assemblies and lunch time play area
The classrooms and walkways look out onto the interior courtyard, creating a private and protected environment for the students
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The classrooms and walkways look out onto the interior courtyard, creating a private and protected environment for the students
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Tian Tai No.2 Primary School by LYCS Architecture
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Tian Tai No.2 Primary School by LYCS Architecture
The school's façade features bands of opaque and clear glass panels
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The school's façade features bands of opaque and clear glass panels
Tian Tai No.2 Primary School by LYCS Architecture
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Tian Tai No.2 Primary School by LYCS Architecture
In an effort to reduce kinetic noise throughout the building below, spring cushions have been dispersed beneath the all-weather running track
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In an effort to reduce kinetic noise throughout the building below, spring cushions have been dispersed beneath the all-weather running track
Tian Tai No.2 Primary School Model by LYCS Architecture
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Tian Tai No.2 Primary School Model by LYCS Architecture
View gallery - 12 images

A Chinese elementary school located in Taizhou in China's Zhejiang province has come up with an innovative way to save space on land by building an athletic track on its roof. Designed by LYCS Architecture, the Tian Tai No.2 Primary School features an open-air rooftop basketball court, 100 meter sprinting track and a 200 meter looped running track, which is half the size of an Olympic track.

In order to complete the achievement, the entire structure of the school was built in an oval shape and reduced to four levels (instead of five) to cater for the rooftop athletics area. Made possible by the circular shape of the building, the school also features a 2,658 sq m (28,610 sq ft) internal courtyard, which is suitable for further physical activities, whole school assemblies and lunch time play area. The classrooms and walkways also look out onto the interior courtyard, creating a private and protected environment for the students.

Tian Tai No.2 Primary School by LYCS Architecture
Tian Tai No.2 Primary School by LYCS Architecture

"The design focuses on the relationship between architecture and site, site and city, form and function," says LYCS Architecture. "Because of the very small area given, the 200 m running track was projected onto the roof level, giving an additional 3000+ sq m [32,291 sq ft] of usable area on the ground as well as the oval shape of the school building, creating a sense of inwardness and security for the students."

The open air track is protected by three layers of safe guarding, which includes: an external 180 cm (5.9 ft)-high tempered glass wall; a 50 cm (1.65 ft)-wide green belt, and an interior 120 cm (3.93 ft)-high metal guardrail. In an effort to reduce kinetic noise throughout the building below, spring cushions have also been dispersed beneath the all-weather running track.

Source: LYCS Architecture via Archdaily

View gallery - 12 images
6 comments
6 comments
Peter Horne
Fiat were first with this idea. They had a banked test track on the roof of their factory in Turin. It was famously used in the film "The Italian Job". Factory is now a hotel/shopping mall and the track is available to hotel guests for running.
WagTheDog
Very cool! Reminded me of my high school track. It was on the 2nd floor, looking down on the practice basketball court, and it was steeply banked so that you could run full bore all the way around. You walked up the stairs to get there, but coming down was on a FIRE POLE! Loved it! This was in the 50's at St. Ambrose Academy (now college) in Davenport, IA ... I wonder if that track is still there.
Stradric
Union City high school in NJ has a football field on the roof. Just sayin.
Nelson Hyde Chick
What good is a rooftop running track if the air is too polluted to run in?
Fretting Freddy the Ferret pressing the Fret
@Nelson
Who said the air is too polluted to run in?
Roma Khudoleyev
I feel bad for the classes on the top floor. Unless the Chinese have hella good sound-proofing it would be like sitting under a thunderstorm.