NUU Department of Architecture Wins Two Awards at the 2026 Taiwan International Space Design Titanium Awards
The Department of Architecture at National United University (NUU) has received two major honors at the 2026 2nd Taiwan International Space Design Titanium Awards (TSDA), recently held in Taiwan. The department received the Best Educational and Training Institution Award in the Education Promotion category, while Professor Chen Shang-Yuan, Chair of the Department of Architecture and Director of the Center for ESG and Sustainable Technology Development, received the Best Educator Dedication Award. Organized by the Taiwan Interior Design and Decoration Association (TWID), the international awards recognize the department’s achievements in design education and its commitment to preparing students for the evolving spatial design industry.
This year’s Titanium Awards attracted a record 524 entries from Taiwan and abroad. The event also collaborated with the Taiwan Design Expo, organized by the Taoyuan City Government, highlighting the role of spatial design in urban aesthetics and development. Under a rigorous evaluation process combining public voting and professional judging, NUU’s Department of Architecture stood out through its approach to education, which goes beyond traditional architectural engineering to integrate emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.
In recent years, the department has continued to strengthen its academic and practical achievements under the guidance of its faculty. On the international stage, NUU students won a top prize at the 2025 World Stage Design (WSD) exhibition in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. They also presented a research project on a “topologically interlocking” circular modular facade system at an international ICATI conference in Japan, receiving an Honorary Award from the conference. In digital technology, students conducted research on using the LiDAR sensor in the iPad Pro for precise indoor spatial measurement. The project received the Outstanding Research Presentation Award from the Taiwan Architecture Institute, demonstrating the potential of accessible digital tools to support the transformation of the architecture industry.
In response to the global transition toward net-zero emissions, the department has also aligned its teaching and research with Taiwan’s 2026 policy on achieving near-zero carbon emissions in newly constructed public buildings. Through practical learning opportunities offered by the Center for ESG and Sustainable Technology Development, student teams won an Excellence Award at the 2025 Near-Zero Carbon Building Design Awards. In addition, students performed strongly in a prominent student design competition organized by the New Taipei City Architects Association. Their projects explored a range of social and architectural issues, including the preservation of urban memories, space architecture inspired by biological systems, and housing concepts for young people. The team received two Merit Awards and one Honorable Mention, demonstrating its ability to address complex spatial challenges while incorporating humanistic and social perspectives.
The two Titanium Awards recognize the department’s continued efforts to connect design education with industry needs. They also reflect the dedication of Professor Chen and the faculty team in advancing ESG-oriented green design and the integration of digital technologies into architectural education. These achievements strengthen the foundation for future industry-academia collaboration and highlight the department’s commitment to cultivating graduates with practical skills and interdisciplinary expertise.
NUU’s Department of Architecture will continue to develop innovative approaches to design education, nurture talent with a global perspective, and contribute to the future of spatial design in Taiwan and beyond.
Photos and text provided by the Department of Architecture
October 12, 2026
This year’s Titanium Awards attracted a record 524 entries from Taiwan and abroad. The event also collaborated with the Taiwan Design Expo, organized by the Taoyuan City Government, highlighting the role of spatial design in urban aesthetics and development. Under a rigorous evaluation process combining public voting and professional judging, NUU’s Department of Architecture stood out through its approach to education, which goes beyond traditional architectural engineering to integrate emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility.
In recent years, the department has continued to strengthen its academic and practical achievements under the guidance of its faculty. On the international stage, NUU students won a top prize at the 2025 World Stage Design (WSD) exhibition in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. They also presented a research project on a “topologically interlocking” circular modular facade system at an international ICATI conference in Japan, receiving an Honorary Award from the conference. In digital technology, students conducted research on using the LiDAR sensor in the iPad Pro for precise indoor spatial measurement. The project received the Outstanding Research Presentation Award from the Taiwan Architecture Institute, demonstrating the potential of accessible digital tools to support the transformation of the architecture industry.
In response to the global transition toward net-zero emissions, the department has also aligned its teaching and research with Taiwan’s 2026 policy on achieving near-zero carbon emissions in newly constructed public buildings. Through practical learning opportunities offered by the Center for ESG and Sustainable Technology Development, student teams won an Excellence Award at the 2025 Near-Zero Carbon Building Design Awards. In addition, students performed strongly in a prominent student design competition organized by the New Taipei City Architects Association. Their projects explored a range of social and architectural issues, including the preservation of urban memories, space architecture inspired by biological systems, and housing concepts for young people. The team received two Merit Awards and one Honorable Mention, demonstrating its ability to address complex spatial challenges while incorporating humanistic and social perspectives.
The two Titanium Awards recognize the department’s continued efforts to connect design education with industry needs. They also reflect the dedication of Professor Chen and the faculty team in advancing ESG-oriented green design and the integration of digital technologies into architectural education. These achievements strengthen the foundation for future industry-academia collaboration and highlight the department’s commitment to cultivating graduates with practical skills and interdisciplinary expertise.
NUU’s Department of Architecture will continue to develop innovative approaches to design education, nurture talent with a global perspective, and contribute to the future of spatial design in Taiwan and beyond.
Photos and text provided by the Department of Architecture
October 12, 2026
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