On March 19, 2026, Dong Shilin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Space Structures Research Center at Zhejiang University, led a delegation on a visit to the Zhejiang University (Ninghai) Joint Research Center for Bio-based Materials and Carbon Neutral Development. Professor Xiao Yan of Zhejiang University–University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Institute (ZJUI) , Director of the Zhejiang University (Ninghai) Joint Research Center for Bio-based Materials and Carbon Neutral Development, was joined by Chu Yunsong, Dean of Ninghai County Architectural Design Institute, and Ye Yaling, Senior Engineer of Ninghai County Architectural Design Institute to accompany the visit.

The delegation included experts from East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd. (ECADI), Shaoxing University, Hangxiao Steel Structure Co., Ltd., Qizhen Zhigou (Jiaxing) Technology Co., Ltd., The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. (UAD), and the College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University.

The meeting was chaired by Chu Yunsong, who extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation on behalf of Ninghai Urban Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd.

Professor Xiao Yan presented to Academician Dong Shilin and his delegation the Center’s core research focus and progress since its establishment in Ninghai. He highlighted two ongoing flagship projects led by the Center: the Ninghai Bamboo Tower and the Shuangshui Low-Carbon Exhibition Hall.

Academician Dong Shilin spoke highly of the breakthroughs the Center has achieved in the field of bamboo-wood construction within a short timeframe. He noted that the integration of biomass materials such as bamboo and wood with high-performance cable-membrane structures and steel structures represents a critical development direction for long-span and high-rise green buildings in the future.

During the visit, the delegation received a detailed briefing on the center’s latest research advancements, followed by guided tours of its two landmark projects: the Ninghai Bamboo Tower and the Shuangshui Low-Carbon Exhibition Hall. This visit served as a high-value collaborative exchange platform focused on bamboo-timber structures, low-carbon construction technologies, and the integration of biomass materials into modern structural systems. It also further underscored the center’s unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable building innovation and supporting China’s dual-carbon strategic goals.