Guanghua Gymnasium was built in 2000 with a total construction area of over 13,000 square meters. To host the volleyball events of the Chengdu FISU Games, the venue has been renovated under international standards. During that time, SWUFE attached great importance to the renovation project and established a designated task force. The renovation project was accomplished in strict accordance with the relevant requirements of the governments at different levels as well as the organization committee of the FISU Games. It is a manifestation of the strength, wisdom, and extraordinary efforts of the whole university. SWUFE will present a wonderful and glamorous event for young people to the rest of the world.

In July 2020, the renovation project of Guanghua Gymnasium was launched. In February 2021, the project was completed and passed the sports techniques examination, and in February 2023, it passed the on-site review of the Executive Committee of the Chengdu FISU Games. Meanwhile, SWUFE also invested special funds to implement other relevant tasks and completed the safety evaluation of the renovated building structure.

The renovated venue focuses on sustainable development and recycling, integrating concepts of green, low-carbon, environmental protection, and technology. The volleyball events of the Chengdu FISU Games will be fabulous in such venues.

Economical, energy-saving, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly  

Venues with a "green coat"

Adhering to the renovation concept of "green, low-carbon, environmental protection and science and technology", Guanghua Gymnasium renovation fully implemented the national green building codes. Sticking to the principles of ecological priority, resource conservation and environmental friendliness, the project adopted environmental protection technologies and materials, made maximum use of natural ventilation and lighting, and utilized advanced technologies such as information technology, new materials, and environmental protection to transform the Gymnasium into a first-class sports facility. The venue was put on a "green coat".

After the renovation, the venue fully meets the international A-level competition standards. The total construction area of the structure remains unchanged, with a seating capacity of 2,511. Central air conditioning, ventilation system, and functional rooms have been added, and the wooden floor is laid in line with international competition standards. Above the seats of the Gymnasium, the walls are re-converted into automatic smoke exhaust windows. The windows can be opened with one button, which can discharge smoke in case of emergency; It also takes into account natural lighting and ventilation. The window opening and closing angles can be freely adjusted. When the window is fully opened, the air in the Gymnasium achieves convection.

"We are also implementing low-carbon office work and operation at the venue." The person in charge of the volleyball Gymnasium said that the lighting system in the Gymnasium adopts LED light sources with low energy consumption and strong lighting effect, 6-level intelligent control, and the VRV multi-frequency conversion air conditioning is also used in the functional room, which fully promotes high efficiency, low consumption, and stability.

Rent instead of buying, Borrow instead of renting

Saving thousands of pieces of logistical materials

The renovation of the venue followed the requirements of "green, frugal and essential," in line with the principle of "recycling the used", supplemented by procurement and sporadic supplement. The project adhered to the concept of "Rent instead of buying, Borrow instead of renting", giving priority to the use of existing inventory materials for logistics. For instance, facilities like office tables and chairs will be recycled for other activities and events after the games.

There is one good example. The ordinary massage bed could not match the tall figure of volleyball players. New customized massage beds would inevitably incur high costs. SWUFE volleyball center working group contacted the Health Bureau of Qingyang District, borrowed ordinary massage beds from hospitals, and added about 40 cm parts at the end of the bed, effectively solving the problem of insufficient length. The cost was less than one-tenth of the cost of new customized massage beds, which saved tens of thousands of yuan.

As of May 2023, 512 pieces of office furniture, 114 pieces of office equipment, 300 pieces of office consumables, and other materials have been assembled and transported in 38 batches to the venue in two years through the utilization of old inventory materials, coordination and allocation of existing materials, borrowing other spare materials, etc. In addition, 4,351 pieces of different materials required are guaranteed, and more than 5,300 materials are secured in total by means of procurement, customization, and leasing as supplementary means.

Return to the essence by integrating sports and education  

Embrace the "post-games" era

Unlike the Olympic Games, which emphasizes the competitive nature, the FISU World University Games pays more attention to the educational significance of sports, cultivates the sports habit of the public, and returns to the essence of sports. During the renovation of Guanghua Gymnasium, on the one hand, large-scale renovation of the venue was carried out, and on the other hand, full consideration was given to the operation and management of the venues in the "post-Games" era.

For example, in the setting of functional rooms, full consideration was given to the use of post-game scenarios. A multi-functional hall on the second floor, a badminton hall on the basement floor, and a variety of functional zones, such as the gym, were set up using a large number of lightweight materials on the partition wall. In this way, after the FISU Games, the original functional room can be quickly transformed into spaces for sports, training, and office work for teachers and students, which is convenient for them to carry out various sports teaching and sports activities in the "post-games" era, and can also be used to undertake other events. Another case is the warm-up area of the venue, which was transformed from a badminton hall. Volleyball training may damage the original lighting facilities. For this reason, the working group installed a special shade outside each lamp, to avoid safety problems caused by lamp damage and ensure the maximum extent of sustainable use.

In recent years, the Guanghua Gymnasium has not only served teachers and students on campus, but also opened to the public in a planned and orderly manner. After the FISU Games, SWUFE will build gyms, yoga rooms, and other sports venues based on the existing sports facilities and continue to work closely with local communities and primary and secondary schools to form a strong sports atmosphere under the coordination of the Qingyang District government.