Professional interest in wood construction is growing in China
On February 28, a forum on wood construction technical exchange was successfully held at the Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Centre in Jiashan county, Zhejiang Province. Jointly organized by the China Engineering & Consulting Association (CECA) and FII China, the event brought together four leading national design institutes and forty-five regional design institutes mainly from Shanghai, Zhejiang province and Jiangsu province, with more than 80 participants in attendance.
The forum opened with remarks from Mr. Pang Zongzhan, the Secretary-General of CECA, who emphasized the importance of technical exchanges on wood construction within the engineering and design industry. He underscored the need for standardization and regulatory development in this field while advocating for greater international cooperation to advance the sector.
Mr. Michael Loseth, the president and CEO of FII followed with a speech recognizing the essential role of designers in shaping the built environment, and influencing the long-term carbon footprint, economic value, and overall sustainability of projects from its earliest stages. He also highlighted the significance of reducing embodied carbon with innovative low-carbon materials and shared insights into B.C.’s advancements in mass timber construction.
A keynote speech by Mr. Xue Feng, a renowned chief architect from China Construction Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. (CSCEC) and a key contributor to major projects such as Beijing Daxing International Airport, was the forum’s most anticipated sessions. His presentation focused on human-centric architecture and the growing prominence of wood construction as a future trend. He expressed strong interest in collaborating with FII China and Canada Wood on future projects, further emphasizing the increasing influence of wood construction in China’s evolving architectural and construction landscape.
Another key highlight of the forum was the on-site presentation by Mr. Zhu Weiwei, the lead designer of the Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Center, the landmark wood building that served as the venue for the forum. This session provided an in-depth overview of the architectural concept, design process, and key technical details of the project. By engaging directly with attending design professionals, the presentation encouraged a dynamic exchange of ideas on wood construction techniques and the challenges of their application. It also offered domestic design professionals a valuable opportunity to deepen their knowledge of wood construction. Fundamental principles of architecture apply across different materials, and a deeper understanding of wood construction enhances the designers’ overall expertise, allowing them to incorporate innovative materials more effectively into their projects.
The Yangtze River Delta Integration Demonstration Centre, with a total floor area of 12,820 square meters, stands as a pioneering example of modern wood construction in the region. Built using Canadian Douglas Fir and technically supported by Canada Wood China, the project showcases the potential of wood in large-scale architectural applications. Since its completion, the building has been widely recognized as a model for future wood construction projects, demonstrating the viability and benefits of using wood in China’s construction sector.
With representation from both national and regional leading design institutes, the forum reinforced CECA’s role in shaping industry trends. The strong engagement from senior-level professionals reflected the growing recognition of wood construction in China. Once considered a niche segment, wood construction is now gaining wider acceptance among mainstream industry players. This shift marks an important phase of development, highlighting not only increasing technical advancements but also expanding market opportunities for wood architecture across the country.