設計的理念來自兩條並行的思考脈絡：一是如何去對應校園中原有的建築傳統與形式；二是如何重新鏈結校園的空間，創造新的活動場域。
原有校園的建築樣式多為古典，斜屋頂、對稱，且有著穩重基座固著於坡地上；空間形式則多為中庭或合院。然而科技藝術館做為北藝大新媒體藝術的實驗基地，「當代性」甚至於「未來式」該是其建築精神。因此在設計的策略上則一反原有校園古典建築的傳統，在形式上以「抽象」與「幾何」做為設計主軸，並採用「輕」去對比原有校園建築的「重」，在構築上利用四支結構巨柱和上方架設的四組桁架懸吊而下在空中的「黑盒子」和「灰盒子」成為建築的主體。「黑盒子」、「灰盒子」的空間定義是機能性的，也是構築性的。「黑盒子」的皮層空間有著滿足服務機能的坡道連接，同時也是自然通風的風道；「灰盒子」是機能未被明確定義的空間，其包覆的皮層是由外牆與透光的擴張網所組成，有著漫射的光。
亦有別于校園中大部份建築內聚性的空間，科藝館在這些碩大盒子的下方創造了一個「大雨遮」的穿透空間。除了滿足原本體泳館及科藝館入口、校客車迴車外，同時又可以是藝術展演、學生活動、甚至是公眾可參與觀看關渡平原美景的場所，這個場域延伸了校園主要的道路，緩緩一路往上連接著大階梯向上連接著一條漫遊的路徑，時而貼近回望校園、時而滲透於黑盒子其中和週邊，穿越回望而綿延遼闊的關渡平原就在眼前。
Our design concept derives from two parallel lines of thinking: first, what kind of structure could echo the original forms and traditions of the campus architecture, and second, how to form new connections between campus spaces and create new areas of activity.
Originally, the campus displayed a mostly classical style of architecture, with sloping roofs, symmetrical shapes, and stable foundations firmly anchored on the sloping ground; spatial forms mostly featured central courtyards or tight clusters of buildings. But, as an experimental base for new media art at the Taiwan National University of the Arts (TNUA), the architectural spirit of the Center for Art and Technology ought to be "contemporary," or even "futuristic." Thus, with a design that hinges on the abstract and geometrical, the strategy here runs counter to the original campus tradition of classical architecture, and the building's lightness further presents a contrast to the heaviness of those original structures. The main body of the building is formed by the "black boxes" or "grey boxes" suspended from trusses mounted across its four giant structural columns; the spatial character of the black boxes or grey boxes is dictated both by their proposed use and their structural functions. Spaces inside the outer shell of the "black box" are connected by a ramp that satisfies service functions while also creating an air duct for natural ventilation. The future functions of the "grey box" spaces are not yet clearly defined, and its skin is composed of an outer wall with a light-permeable, expanded mesh cladding that creates diffuse lighting.
Likewise, by contrast with the inward-facing cohesion of most buildings on the campus, the huge suspended boxes of the Center for Art and Technology create a giant "rain canopy," under which lies an open and traversable plaza. As in the past, this area continues to be the entrance to the existing sports and swimming complex and a turnaround space for buses, but it can also serve as a site for exhibitions or performances, for student activities, or simply a platform for enjoying the spectacular scenery of the Guandu Plain. Continuing on from this space, which forms an extension of the main campus road, you reach a broad stairway that then further connects to a long upward path through the building, leading sometimes back in the direction of the campus and sometimes penetrating into the black box or its periphery, while also offering a grand view out onto to the broad Guandu Plain.