In July 2025, among the "Evaluation Results of Outstanding Engineering Design Projects" released by the Shanghai Engineering and Consulting Association, the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao and Music Arts Center project stood out among over 600 participating projects and was awarded the "First-Class Achievement"!

This award is a provincial-level industry review organized by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and entrusted to the Shanghai Engineering and Consulting Association. It aims to implement the concept of sustainable development and encourage innovation and creativity. It is widely recognized as an authoritative endorsement of the design and construction control of construction projects within the industry. The judges unanimously agreed that "this project not only boasts extraordinary design concepts and languages but also demonstrates tremendous courage and excellent results in the innovative application of new materials, technologies, and processes. What is even more commendable is its perfect synergy with music art teaching, performances, and creative activities, making it a true architectural artwork."

"Everything for the children, everything built for the children, and everything to enable the children to express art" is the fundamental philosophy behind the architectural design of the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao and Music Arts Center project. The architectural design was undertaken by the renowned Tongji University Architectural Design. Inspired by the concept of " Waves Crash Rocks, Notes Dance Free", the design ingeniously integrates traditional and modern elements through meticulous spatial layout and architectural form design. It not only achieves visual harmony with the city skyline but also highlights its uniqueness through details. The architectural, landscape, and interior designs seamlessly blend together, creating a public building space that is both distinctive and harmonious. In particular, the design incorporates the dynamic nature of light, breaking conventions and challenging new architectural geometric aesthetics. The building is filled with the rhythm, tempo, and vitality of music, perfectly integrating the rigorous structure and artistic form of musical performances. The overall architecture aligns with the idea of combining nature and inspiration, providing a tranquil oasis amidst the bustling city. It offers breathtaking views of the beautiful seascape while also facilitating natural interaction, allowing students to enjoy a sense of peace and tranquility during their studies, inspiring artistic creativity, and helping them immerse themselves in the ideal realm of music art creation and expression. It has created an "Artistic Vessel of Mountain, Sea, and Reef Resonance".

Zeng Qun, Vice President and Chief Architect of the Shanghai Tongji University Architectural Design and Research Institute, who led the project's creative design team, has devoted a great deal of effort to this school. He stated, "Amidst the beautiful mountains and seas, and on the fertile musical soil of the 'City of Violin', the architecture should embody the essence of classical music. The original intention of the design is to create a human-centered environment that fosters the happy growth of children, stimulates their potential and creativity. We hope this place can become a haven for children's growth, helping them integrate classroom learning with life, music with creativity, and personal development with academic knowledge, while also connecting them with the world and the future."

Furthermore, given the importance of acoustic quality for a high-standard music-specialized school, the internationally renowned music acoustics master, Yasuhisa Toyota, was specially invited to personally oversee the acoustic design. In every performance space of the school, the acoustic design and architectural design have been perfectly combined through multiple iterations. Even the moisture content of every piece of wood and the fabric thickness of every seat have been precisely calculated, reflecting an extreme pursuit of acoustic excellence.

Since its opening in August 2022, the excellent and unique hardware facilities have provided an outstanding environment on par with world-class standards for the school's various teaching activities, music performances, and student life. It has received unanimous praise from teachers, students, parents, and the international community. Renowned international conductor Yu Long, Cultural Counselor of the Austrian Embassy in China Christian Mandl, Head of the Piano Department at the Royal College of Music Vanessa Latarche, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull Philip Gilmartin, Dean of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Aaron Shorr, and Deputy Ambassador of the British Embassy in China Geraldine McCafferty, among other musicians, educators, and diplomatic envoys, have all highly praised the project during their visits.