The Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum will become a key destination to learn and explore the power of science & technology and understand their impact on our life and future. The museum’s U-shaped plan provides intuitive orientation and navigation, guiding visitors through its sequence of interconnecting public spaces, galleries and educational facilities centred around its atrium courtyard; defining a journey of discovery that unites the city and park with the museum’s inspirational exhibitions. Incorporating maximum adaptability as a basic design principle, the geometries, proportions and spatial experience of each gallery will offer visitors a rich and varied experience each time they visit. Responding to the city to the east, the design is defined by its solidity and dynamic curvilinear geometries. To the west, the building transforms as it extends towards the natural landscapes of Guangming Park to define layers of terraces that frame the glazed wall leading to the courtyard atrium at the heart of the museum. Planned as benchmark for sustainability within the region’s civic architecture, detailed computer modelling and wind tunnel testing have provided extensive analysis of thermal performance, natural lighting, wind levels and air quality to maximise the effectiveness of the building’s envelope in reducing energy consumption while ensuring visitor comfort.The design optimises energy conservation during Shenzhen’s hot, humid summer with the very high thermal insulation performance of its envelope together with high-efficiency glazing, HVAC, lighting and smart building management systems. The museum’s procurement, full life-cycle performance and adaptability for future configuration are also evaluated and assessed to reduce embodied carbon and achieve the highest Three-Star rating of China’s Green Building Evaluation Standard.