Tongji University celebrated its 118th milestone with a resounding spirit of unity and forward momentum, and the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) proudly joined the festivities by orchestrating a dynamic series of events that echoed its core values—innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal impact. From May to June, the College transformed its campus into a vibrant hub of ideas, connecting academia, industry, alumni, and the public in a shared mission to redefine the future of the built environment, while harmonizing with the university’s broader anniversary theme of Building Bridges to Tomorrow through collective celebration and visionary action

Fostering Future-Ready Talent: From Classrooms to Industry Frontiers

The anniversary festivities kicked off with the Excellence in Talent Development, Empowering Innovation through Emerging Contexts forum on May 14. Here, industry leaders and CAUP faculty explored how to cultivate high-level professionals attuned to the digital age, aligning with national strategies for engineering education. This dialogue set the tone for the week: education as a bridge between theory and practice.

A week later, the AI for Spatio-Temporal Intelligence forum at World Intelligent Plaza A001-CHONGZHI PLAZA amplified this theme, showcasing how AI and smart technologies are reshaping urban design and planning. The event underscored CAUP’s commitment to pushing disciplinary boundaries by integrating cutting-edge tools into traditional architectural and planning practices.

Industry-Academia Synergy: Building Solutions for Tomorrow

On May 24, CAUP deepened its ties with the professional world through two pivotal events. The Tongji Planning Technical Exchange: Responding to Industry Transformation brought together planners, policymakers, and scholars to dissect challenges like urban sustainability and digital transformation. Meanwhile, the 118th Anniversary Alumni Homecoming & Cultural Bazaar transformed the College into a public playground. Labs and innovation bases opened their doors, inviting visitors to experience architecture as an interactive dialogue—not just frozen structures, but living, evolving spaces. Alumni spanning six decades returned, bridging CAUP’s storied past with its visionary future.

Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Charting New Research Horizons

The momentum continued on May 29 with the Interdisciplinary Integration and Innovation: Transformation and Challenges of Research Paradigms forum. Scholars debated how architecture, urban planning, and landscape studies must adapt to global crises like climate change and urbanization. The event highlighted CAUP’s role as a thought leader in reimagining disciplines for the 21st century.

Nurturing Academic Growth: Empowering the Next Generation

The anniversary series concluded on June 3 with the Young Teachers’ Career Development Sharing session. Seasoned mentors guided early-career faculty on balancing teaching, research, and well-being, ensuring CAUP’s intellectual vitality remains sustainable and inclusive.

A Legacy Reimagined

This year’s anniversary was more than a celebration—it was a declaration. By weaving together industry insights, public engagement, and academic rigor, CAUP reaffirmed its mission: to cultivate professionals who not only design buildings but also shape societies. From AI-driven urban planning to community-driven cultural bazaars, the College demonstrated that the future of the built environment lies in collaboration, creativity, and connection.

As Tongji University looks ahead, CAUP stands ready to lead the charge—one brick, one idea, and one partnership at a time.