The project merges traditional craft with technical learning to develop new cultural and economic opportunities for the community as prior subsistence logging and agriculture are no longer environmentally feasible. Landscape conditions shape campus form, correcting major scars created by a water reservoir and underground pipeline and hillside erosion paths carved by grazing cattle. The selected building site straddles the pipeline excavation, settling into an open grazing area to the east of and tracing animal paths on forested hillside to the west.

The resulting organic footprint preserves and heals in a form similar to traditional construction shaped over time. For centuries Shilong women and men have worked in community teams building stone foundations, rammed earth walls, timber frames and tiled roofs. The new project applies local teamwork using local stone, rammed earth, clay tile, timber framing. International standards are met by modern glazing, reinforced concrete, and manufactured fittings. A traditional stone ground plane wanders and fills scars to create terraces, streets, courtyards, drainage courses and foundations supporting rammed earth and timber.

A timber bridge across the pipeline ravine connects distinct campus zones: cultural dining/gathering spaces to the east; rammed earth dwelling clusters nestled into former cattle paths on the west. Local villagers provided the majority of work, rooting the new campus into community while developing new hybrid skills and opportunities.