Creating an American Methodist college in China: A building history of Soochow University, 1900–1937

The paper examines the American influence and the “new” local tradition in the development of the old campus of Soochow University (Suzhou) in 1900–1937. It traces how the campus and the earliest buildings of Soochow University were built and evolved, going from the early golden era (1900–1927) to the Nationalistic period (1927–1937). The paper examines the various factors in play and their impact on the design and construction process: the physical environment of the site; the involvement of Western and Chinese architects as well as local builders; the sources of building materials and construction funds; and the contemporary building construction manuals. This analysis reveals that the story of Soochow University offers a vivid illustration of the major challenges faced in building Sino-Western university campuses in early 20th-century China.