The announcement of the 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation has brought well - deserved recognition to two remarkable projects associated with Tongji University, underscoring the university's leading role in the field of cultural heritage preservation. Since its inception in 2000, this prestigious award has honored 305 outstanding cultural heritage conservation projects across 27 countries in the Asia - Pacific region, establishing itself as a benchmark for excellence and innovation in the field.

Professor Philip F. Yuan from the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University secured the Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts for his ingenious design of the Yunnan Yong'an Village project. This project, a continuation of Tongji's long - standing targeted poverty alleviation efforts, addressed multiple challenges such as fragmented spatial structures and limited resources in the mountainous village. By focusing on two key public nodes and employing local materials and low - tech, adaptive construction methods, it created a socially responsible and non - commercial public space that seamlessly integrated digital technology to enhance precision and efficiency.

Tongji alumnus Tang Yu'en, a National Engineering Survey and Design Master and Senior Chief Architect at Shanghai Architectural Design & Research Institute, received the Award of Distinction for the Shanghai Sihang Warehouse Conservation Project. This project transformed an industrial heritage site into a public space that not only preserved urban memory but also promoted collective commemoration, highlighting the social significance of cultural heritage in enhancing public historical awareness and expressing peace values.

These awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also signify Tongji's commitment to advancing cultural heritage conservation through interdisciplinary research and practical application, setting an example for the global community in balancing heritage preservation with sustainable development.