On December 17, 2025, the grand RIBA Architecture Festival Asia (RAFA) unfolded in Shenzhen, with the RIBA Asia Pacific Awards ceremony taking center stage at the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center. Among the highlights, the Rui Xue Multi - functional Exhibition Hall, a project from the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) at Tongji University, emerged victorious, securing the prestigious AI Power (AI Powered Design) award.

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This accolade is a testament to CAUP's relentless pursuit and international acclaim in the realm of integrating artificial intelligence, generative design, and digital construction. The RIBA Asia Pacific Awards encompassed 10 diverse categories, with shortlisted projects carefully selected from 63 entries across 13 countries and regions in the Asia - Pacific, showcasing the region's architectural diversity and innovation.

Led by Professor Philip F. Yuan's team, the award - winning project ingeniously combined performance - driven algorithmic generation with robotic prefabrication and assembly. It generated the geometry of a pure compression shell through performance - based algorithms and supported the roof with an interlocking timber structure system, which was prefabricated by robots. It also utilized advanced techniques like particle - spring simulations for optimization and large - scale 3D printing for complex roof structures, pushing the boundaries of sustainable rural construction.

During RAFA, on December 16, Professor Philip F. Yuan actively participated in a round - table discussion, exchanging insights on future architecture with industry and academic experts. The award ceremony, attended by architects, scholars, and industry partners from the Asia - Pacific, celebrated excellence in architecture.

This win not only acknowledges the team's endeavors but also serves as a driving force for CAUP to further advance its research and talent cultivation in the cross - disciplinary fields of AI and architecture, as well as in research and education for sustainable and resilient cities, paving the way for more innovative and widely applicable practices.