In November 2019, the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission announced the first batch of social science laboratories at institutions of higher education in Tianjin, and Tianjin University’s creative urban design laboratory was approved. Recognition of the social science laboratory is an important measure taken by the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission to further promote the development of the humanities and social sciences. The laboratories are supposed to address major problems in the field of humanities and social sciences that are urgently needed for social development by applying experimental methods and equipment prevalent in the natural sciences to social sciences in a creative way.

With the support of Tianjin University’s School of Architecture, the Laboratory of Creative Urban Design features multi-disciplinary integration and promotes the theories, methods, technologies and practical strategies of creative urban development from the aspects of livable environment construction, creative industry development, and support system construction, etc. It strives to provide strong support for the transformation and upgrading of Tianjin's industrial structure and the improvement of the city's global competitiveness. The laboratory has three key research directions including，first, research on the smart and ecological livable environment of creative cities, second, research on the intelligent design industry of creative cities and third the study of the intelligent support systems of creative cities.

Led by Professor Huang Jingtao who is a Tianjin chief urban planning expert and one of the State Council Specialist Experts, the Creative Urban Design Laboratory is now actively engaged in Tianjin's efforts to apply for the United Nations’ Creative Cities Network- Cities of Design’.

By the School of Architecture

Editors: Eva Yin & Doris Harrington