Part of the Xizang Art Museum at night. [Photo by Su Shengliang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The Xizang Art Museum in Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region, received the prestigious 2024 Supreme Award for Structural Engineering Excellence for structural engineering excellence at the recent Structural Awards ceremony held in London. It is the first time a project from Xizang has received the accolade.

A design team from Tongji Architectural Design Group preserved the original structures of an old cement factory, integrating them into a layout that meets the complex functional requirements of a large art museum. The building also incorporates elements of the local culture, highlighting the region’s industrial heritage.

The old cement factory, which has been transformed into part of the Xizang Art Museum. [Photo by Su Shengliang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The award judges cited the museum's reuse of the cement factory and artful transformation of the storerooms, kilns and slurry tanks into new museum spaces. They noted that the museum exemplifies bold construction concepts, preserving history while embracing transformation to modern structures.

An aerial view of the Xizang Art Museum. [Photo by Su Shengliang/for chinadaily.com.cn]

The Structural Awards, dubbed the "Oscars" of structural engineering, were initiated in 1968 by the Institution of Structural Engineers in the United Kingdom. They honor the most outstanding structural designs in infrastructure and building projects worldwide using the four pillars of planet, people, process and profession. The award has gone to iconic structures like the Sydney Opera House.

Guo Yanqi contributed to this story.