Lan-Tian Elementary School Inauguration Held! Mayor Chen: Taiwan's First All-Steel Structured School Integrates Net-Zero Carbon Sustainability Concepts

In response to the rapid development around National University of Kaohsiung and Nanzih District, the Kaohsiung City Government has built Lan-Tian Elementary School on nearly 3 hectares of land. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai attended the 'Lan-Tian Elementary School Unboxing Day and Inauguration Ceremony' today (3rd), announcing that Taiwan's first all-steel structured elementary school will officially commence operations on August 31. He specially thanked the principal, teachers, construction contractors, architects, and local councilors and village chiefs for their full support, and expressed hope that Lan-Tian Elementary School’s outstanding design and educational philosophy will serve as a model for all elementary schools in Kaohsiung.

The Kaohsiung City Government invested a budget of NT$1.07 billion to build Lan-Tian Elementary School—the nation’s first elementary school constructed entirely with steel structures and integrating sustainable environmental concepts. During his speech, Mayor Chen stated that to respond to the semiconductor industry’s presence and the overall development around National University of Kaohsiung, the city government allocated NT$1.07 billion to construct Lan-Tian Elementary School using all-steel architecture and sustainable principles. He expressed appreciation to the school administration, engineering team, and local councilors for their support, enabling the nearly 3-hectare campus to be completed smoothly within two years while preserving 200 existing trees and creating aquatic ecosystems, demonstrating both high efficiency and green building characteristics.

Mayor Chen further explained that low-carbon construction methods and materials were adopted during the building process, reducing nearly 2,000 metric tons of carbon emissions during construction. The school’s structure—from roof to framework—is entirely steel-based and incorporates a solar power generation system combined with an energy storage system, capable of providing stable 24-hour power supply, advancing toward the goal of campus energy autonomy. Additionally, in response to local residents’ concerns, the city government comprehensively improved pedestrian pathways, traffic signals, and crosswalks within a one-kilometer radius surrounding the school to enhance the safety environment for students commuting to and from school.

Lan-Tian Elementary School is planned for a capacity of 48 classes, currently operating 25 classes, with first-grade enrollment already full. It also includes a non-profit kindergarten and public childcare facilities. The non-profit kindergarten can enroll 40 children, while the public childcare facility is expected to serve 60 infants. Mayor Chen emphasized that with TSMC’s establishment and the vigorous development around National University of Kaohsiung, the city government swiftly completed the school construction to meet urgent local needs. He hopes that Lan-Tian Elementary School will become a high-quality model for Kaohsiung’s elementary schools, both in architectural design and educational philosophy.

According to the Education Bureau, Lan-Tian Elementary School is Taiwan’s first all-steel structured elementary school, incorporating BIPV (Building-Integrated Photovoltaics) solar power technology, with a total installed capacity of 1,671kW—the highest among all elementary schools in Taiwan—reducing 1,142 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. Lan-Tian Elementary School is also the first elementary school in Taiwan capable of self-sufficient teaching electricity. Combined with an energy storage system, it can maintain eight hours of uninterrupted teaching, realizing a campus microgrid. For safety design, public spaces adopt cylindrical structures, and all corner walls feature 'rounded corner' designs to reduce the risk of children getting injured from collisions. Drainage沟 bottoms are paved with permeable materials to lower water accumulation risks and prevent mosquito breeding at the source.