Founded in 1953, The Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. (UAD) is one of the earliest Class-A design institutes established among national key universities, with a history spanning over seven decades. Upholding the guiding principle of "Harmonious Environment, Global Vision, Design Integrating Teaching & Research & Creation, Aiming High & Professional & Powerful", the company pursues a development strategy centered around "High-Grade Culture, Long & Wide Vision, High-Efficiency Management, High-Caliber Personnel, Highly Professional Technique and High-Quality Works". UAD obtained ISO9001 quality management system certification in January 2000 and occupational health and safety management system certification as well as environmental management system certification in November 2017.

UAD comprises over sixty production and management departments (see organizational chart for details).

UAD currently employs nearly 1,700 staff, including 1 national master of engineering survey and design, 1 expert enjoying special government allowances from the State Council, 2 of China's contemporary top 100 architects, 6 masters of engineering survey and design in Zhejiang Province, 4 outstanding engineers of China, 12 recipients of the Youth Architect and Youth Engineer Awards from the Architectural Society of China, over 500 senior technical title holders, and more than 600 registered engineers.

Always dedicated to architectural design as the core business, UAD integrates high-quality design services with cutting-edge industry perspectives, making it a large engineering design consulting company standing at the forefront of the industry. Our scope of business covers architectural design at home and abroad, territorial spatial planning, municipal engineering design, engineering general contracting, full-process consulting, cultural heritage preservation, exhibition design, geotechnical engineering, geological exploration, and green building, among others. With integrated design, technology, and research capabilities, we provide one-stop comprehensive construction consulting and services for construction projects.

UAD has been persevering in the creation of innovative, high-end projects, applying the academic theory of "Balance Architecture" as design guidelines. Leveraging forward-looking technology and market research and development, we have delivered an array of high-quality designs in various fields such as educational, scientific research, cultural, office, medical, residential planning, sports, high-rise, existing building renovation, landscape bridges, and rural revitalization planning. Over the years, we have reaped over 1,900 national, ministerial, provincial-level excellent design awards, international design awards, quality engineering awards, and scientific and technological achievement awards.

Pursuing the integration of design, teaching, and research, UAD, on the strength of Zhejiang University, employs high-tech talents such as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Sciences as technical support to thrive in architectural creation. We actively partake in market competition and extensively engages in international academic exchanges and joint engineering design initiatives. We have collaborated with well-known design firms from around the world, such as SOM, KPF, CRTKL, NBBJ, and GENSLER from the United States, HDM Herzog & De Meuron Architects from Switzerland, Kengo Kuma Architects from Japan, GMP and Hein from Germany, COX, PTW, and Woods Bagot from Australia, MVRDV from the Netherlands, and TFP Farrells and Forster+Partners from the United Kingdom, among others.

The Engineering Technology Research Center of UAD established in 2008 was designated as a provincial-level enterprise technology center; in 2011, UAD was recognized as a national high-tech enterprise; in 2012, it established an academician expert workstation (municipal-level), which was approved as a key academician workstation (provincial-level) in 2022; in 2014, it jointly established the "Collaborative Innovation Research Center" with the College of Civil Engineering and Architecture of Zhejiang University; in 2016, it was licensed as a postdoctoral workstation in Zhejiang Province and approved as a national postdoctoral workstation in 2022; in 2020, it was licensed as a Zhejiang Provincial Enterprise Research Institute; it joined hands with Zhejiang University in establishing the Center for Balance Architecture of Zhejiang University and the Urban Fire Safety Engineering Research Center of Zhejiang University, both functioning as school-level research institutions.

UAD has been awarded titles such as "Contemporary China Top 100 Well-Known Architectural Design Institutes", "Innovative Excellent Enterprise in the Survey and Design Industry of China", "Top 10 Survey & Engineering Design Firms of Hangzhou", and the "First Batch of Ten Leading Industries with Enterprise Technology Innovation Teams in Hangzhou. We have been recognized as one of the key enterprises of Hangzhou Top 10 Industries, a demonstration enterprise (pilot) for the integration of culture and technology in Hangzhou, and one of the top 20 "Hangzhou Service Brand" enterprises. We have received awards such as the "Advanced Collective of Zhejiang Province for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 and the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou" awarded by the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and the People's Government of Zhejiang Province and the "Administrative Award for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 and the 4th Asian Para Games Hangzhou" awarded by the Hangzhou Municipal People's Government. The company is among the first national centers for engineering practice education. We have garnered good social reputation and created notable economic benefits, winning praise and commendation from construction units as well as various sectors of society.