Historical Development
The Architecture major originated from the Railway Architecture Department of the Harbin Sino-Russian Industrial School established in 1920. The Railway Architecture program featured a five-year curriculum with 32 courses, taught in Russian by Russian engineers—known as the Russian-style education. It was among the earliest architecture-related professional education institutions in China. In 1998, the Architecture major established its postdoctoral research station. Subsequently, it was recognized as a Key Discipline by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, a Provincial Key Discipline, and was selected into China's Double First-Class Discipline Construction Initiative. It was also designated as a Provincial Key Major, included in the first batch of the Ministry of Education’s Outstanding Engineer Education Plan, and recognized as a National First-Class Undergraduate Major. In 2005, it gained authorization to grant doctoral degrees in architecture as a First-level Discipline. In 2011, it was officially recognized as a First-level Discipline in Architecture.
Educational Approach
The Architecture major aims to cultivate high-quality professionals equipped with fundamental principles in human settlements and sustainability, aligned with national development needs. Graduates possess strong capabilities in architectural design and professional practice, a sense of social responsibility, innovative thinking, and cultural and artistic literacy, enabling them to engage effectively in architecture, urban and rural planning, administrative management, and scientific research.
Career Prospects
Architecture is leading major in the field of human settlement design, with strong industry demand for skilled professionals and broad employment opportunities. Graduates may pursue careers in architectural design, urban planning, interior design, architecture-related project planning and management, government planning and construction departments, or academic and research institutions. Additionally, graduates are qualified to establish independent architectural firms.
Research Directions and Achievements
Major research areas include: Public Architecture Design and Theory, Computational Architectural Design Theory and Technology, Green Architecture and Built Environment, Architectural History and Theory, Urban Design and Theory. In education, the program has been awarded the National Teaching Achievement Second Prize in 2014 and 2018. Over the past decade, faculty have received one Special Award and four First Prize Awards in Provincial Higher Education Teaching Achievements. In scientific research, the discipline has consistently earned Provincial and Ministerial-level Science and Technology Progress First Prizes, as well as over a hundred prestigious engineering design awards including the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation (Honorable Mention), Architectural Creation Grand Award from the Architectural Society of China, and the National Excellent Engineering Survey and Design Industry First Prize. It has undertaken over 300 landmark projects, including the Chongli Taizicheng Ice and Snow Town for the Beijing Winter Olympics, the smart renovation of the National Aquatics Center, Shenzhen (Harbin) Industrial Park, and the conservation planning of Hengdaohezi—listed as a National Famous Historical and Cultural Town.
Social Impact
In 2025, the Architecture major ranked 46th globally in the QS World University Subject Rankings. In the 2024 Shanghai Ranking’s (ARWU) Chinese University Discipline Rankings, Architecture was rated A+ (ranked 5th nationally). The discipline has trained top-tier talents including Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, National Masters of Engineering Survey and Design, National Distinguished Educators, and New Century Talents of the Ministry of Education. Faculty members serve significant roles in the State Council Academic Discipline Review Group, Education Steering Committees, and various domestic and international academic organizations. The discipline established the Computational Design Academic Committee of the Architectural Society of China and the Environment-Behavior Academic Committee. It publishes academic journals such as Low Temperature Architecture Technology and Contemporary Architecture, and has hosted 12 large-scale, high-level academic conferences over the past five years. Internationally, it has established the University of the Arctic-HIT Training Center and the HIT Polar Research Institute, conducting research on polar architecture. It leads the International Ice and Snow Architecture Innovation Research Center, hosting the International Ice and Snow Innovation Construction Competition, collaborating with renowned global institutions such as Cambridge University, and has constructed the world's tallest composite ice-shell ice tower, which was awarded the WA Design Experiment Award.
