Hakka Affairs Commission, Taipei City Government

The new student activity center project at Taipei Municipal Xisong Elementary School in Songshan District has reached an important milestone. This morning (July 29), Taipei City Government held a solemn topping-out ceremony led by Deputy Mayor Wen-Te Chang, together with relevant city government staff and the construction team, to pray for the smooth progress of the remaining work and the safety of personnel and machinery. The city also looks forward to the project being completed on schedule and to the expected quality, bringing new vitality to the campus and the surrounding community.

Xisong Elementary School has a long history dating back to the Japanese colonial period. However, some of its school buildings have aged over time, and the campus has long lacked a large indoor venue and adequate sports facilities. To meet the teaching and learning needs of teachers and students while easing parking demand among nearby residents, the city government has actively planned this new smart and green building, realizing the shared goal of allowing the campus and the community to benefit together.

Ming-Shen Kao, Section Chief of the Construction Section of the New Construction Office, Public Works Department, Taipei City Government, noted that the project is planned as a steel structure with two underground floors and six above-ground floors. The interior will include parking facilities on the two underground floors, while the above-ground floors will house a swimming pool, preschool, auditorium, rhythmic classroom, multi-purpose ball court, and other facilities. In the future, the center will not only lay the foundation for the school’s diverse development, but also effectively ease the shortage of parking spaces in nearby areas.

Wen-Yen Chen Architects & Associates, which is responsible for design and supervision, has also shown thoughtful attention to architectural aesthetics. Chia-Wei Huang, Director of the Nangang Construction Office of the Taipei New Construction Office, explained that the activity center’s main design is built around three core concepts, “water ripples”, “dynamic musical notes”, and “speed and energy”, which correspond respectively to the swimming pool, auditorium, and multi-purpose ball court. High-saturation blue, red, and yellow frames and grilles are used to accent the light-gray exterior walls, creating a vivid, modern, and functional architectural appearance.

Director Huang said the project officially broke ground on May 20, 2024, and today’s successful topping-out ceremony marks a key milestone in the construction process. The overall project is expected to be completed in 2027. Once completed, it is expected to fulfill Xisong Elementary School’s vision for diverse education, create a new highlight for education in Taipei, and provide teachers, students, and community residents with a high-quality, sustainable, friendly, and safe activity space.