Case Study: Zaha Hadid Architects achieves robotic, structurally optimized remote school construction with Altair HyperWorks

Using Remote Robotic Construction Techniques for Architectural Development of an Extraordinary School in Rural China

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) designed the Lushan Primary School on a remote, flood‑elevated site in Jiangxi province, China, and faced the challenge of delivering complex vaulted concrete buildings with minimal transported elements, limited local resources, and the need for clear wayfinding. To develop structurally feasible, locally fabricated formwork and to evaluate fabrication-driven design options, ZHA turned to Altair and its HyperWorks simulation suite during early conceptual design and development.

Altair supported ZHA with HyperWorks tools (including HyperMesh and OptiStruct) to drive topology optimization, rib and perforation patterns, and material‑reduction strategies that informed robotic hot‑wire foam formwork fabrication. The result was a lighter, more efficient vault design requiring less rebar, a small family of onsite casting molds, streamlined on‑site robotic production, reduced transport and construction time, and tighter integration between design intent and fabrication—outcomes credited to Altair’s simulation capabilities.

Zaha Hadid Architects

Vishu Bhooshan

Designer