Canada Wood and ECADI Launch Mass Timber Pavilion Through Internal Design Competition
Canada Wood Group (CWG) and East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. (ECADI) recently concluded the 2026 ECADI Archi-Neering Design Competition in Shanghai. The competition is directly linked to a real deliverable, the Mass Timber Demonstration Pavilion that will be built and displayed in the lobby of ECADI’s headquarters.
For many Canada Wood industry members, ECADI may be a new name, but it is one of China’s most influential architectural design institutes. Founded in 1952 and headquartered in Shanghai, ECADI is widely recognized as one of the country’s leading design organizations, with more than 4,500 professionals and a nationwide network of branches. Its portfolio includes many landmark public, transportation, commercial, and cultural projects, and it plays an important role in shaping industry practice through participation in technical standards and engineering guidelines.
In recent years, ECADI has expanded its work in modern timber construction, including building internal capability for wood design and increasing involvement in significant timber-related projects. This direction aligns with Canada Wood’s long-term engagement with leading design institutes that influence how materials are understood, evaluated, and ultimately specified in China. Canada Wood and ECADI first formalized cooperation in 2020 and renewed the agreement in 2024, extending joint work around low-carbon buildings and advanced timber systems.
The design competition is a practical outcome of that partnership. ECADI collected 21 design proposals from teams across multiple internal departments, reflecting broad participation across the organization. For many young designers, this was an opportunity to explore wood design in a hands-on way and to test how mass timber systems can be integrated into real architectural space. The review session brought together ECADI leadership and technical experts, with Bruce St. John, Global President of Canada Wood Group, and Lance Tao, Export Development Director, attending in person.
Scheduled for completion by the end of March 2026, the pavilion will be installed in ECADI’s main lobby, where clients and visitors pass through every day. As a built example in a highly visible location, it will demonstrate how modern mass timber and Canadian wood products such as glulam, CLT, and SPF can be used in contemporary architectural design. Over time, the pavilion is expected to serve as a constant reference point, helping designers and clients alike see how wood can move from concept to reality in China’s commercial and public building context.
