January 16, 2026, Shanghai, China — Following the successful release of the foreign-funded architectural design brand rankings, the authoritative industry platform ARCHINA Architecture China today officially announced the results of its 2025 (5th) "Architecture China: Most Influential Brands" State-Owned Enterprises selection, focusing on the backbone of China's urban and rural construction. Under the annual theme of "Digital Empowerment, Green Future, Global Leadership," the selection grandly released two core rankings: the "2025 Top 10 Chinese Architectural Design Brand Enterprises" and the "2025 Architecture China Top 30 Most Influential State-Owned Enterprises," comprehensively showcasing the integrated strength and brand leadership of state-owned design enterprises in the new era.

This selection was jointly initiated by the Architecture China Brand Research Center and the New Media Data Research Center. It conducted a comprehensive quantitative evaluation based on the WMAA brand evaluation system developed over ARCHINA Architecture China's 23-year history. Starting from four core dimensions—new media influence, industry media exposure, professional activity participation, and acquisition of major global awards—and incorporating companies' cutting-edge practices in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), digital technology innovation, and international expansion, the system aims to provide an objective and authoritative annual review of brand influence.

Authoritative Rankings Released, Outlining the Industry Leadership Landscape

In the highly anticipated "2025 Top 10 Chinese Architectural Design Brand Enterprises" list (in no particular order), ten national-level and top university-affiliated design institutes were honored, including China Architecture Design & Research Group Co., Ltd., Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd., and Central-South Architectural Design Institute Co., Ltd., representing the highest echelon of brand clusters in China's architectural design field.

2025 Architecture China Top 10 Chinese Architectural Design Brand Enterprises

• China Architecture Design & Research Group Co., Ltd.

• Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd.

• Central-South Architectural Design Institute Co., Ltd.

• China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Corp., Ltd.

• CITIC General Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co., Ltd.

• Hunan Architectural Design Institute Group Co., Ltd.

• Architectural Design and Research Institute of SCUT Co., Ltd.

• Sichuan Provincial Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.

• The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd.

• Zhejiang Province Institute of Architectural Design and Research Co., Ltd.

Simultaneously released, the "2025 Architecture China Top 30 Most Influential State-Owned Enterprises" ranking clearly delineates the market competitive landscape through the WMAA Brand Index. China Architecture Design & Research Group Co., Ltd. (Beijing, Brand Index 57.86), Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, 57.29), and Central-South Architectural Design Institute Co., Ltd. (Hubei, 56.87) secured the top three positions with their exceptional comprehensive strength. This ranking brings together diverse state-owned design institutions, from central enterprises to local leaders, collectively showcasing the profound expertise and powerful brand momentum of Chinese design capabilities in technological innovation, full-process services, and industry chain integration.

Specialized Rankings Provide In-Depth Focus, Presenting Multidimensional Brand Strength

To depict the industry ecosystem in finer detail, this year's selection also concurrently released three specialized rankings: the "2025 Architecture China Top 10 Architectural Technology Brands," the "2025 Architecture China Top 10 ESG Social Responsibility Brand Enterprises," and the "2025 Architecture China City/Region Best Architectural Design Brands." The regional rankings cover key provinces, municipalities, and regions nationwide such as Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Hubei, demonstrating the vitality and distinct characteristics of local design brands and further sketching a three-dimensional map of the national architectural design brand landscape.

Spotlight on Leading Enterprises: Leading Development with Craftsmanship and Innovation

• China Architecture Design & Research Group Co., Ltd. (CADG): Founded in 1952, it is affiliated with China Construction Science and Industry Corp., Ltd. Boasting 3 Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and 6 National Engineering Survey and Design Masters, it has established a group-based industrial structure encompassing six major business segments including architectural design & consulting, and EPC contracting, serving as the "national team" in the field of state-level architectural design.

• Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd. (TJAD): Building upon the century-old foundation of Tongji University, it gathers over four thousand technical professionals. Its portfolio includes iconic domestic and international landmarks such as the Shanghai Tower, Shanghai Museum East Hall, and the African Union Conference Center. It consistently adheres to the integration of industry, academia, and research, driving design practice through technological innovation.

• Central-South Architectural Design Institute Co., Ltd.: Established in 1952, it is one of the first six comprehensive architectural design institutes founded in China. It possesses core technologies in areas like super high-rise buildings, long-span structures, green & low-carbon construction, and smart building, committed to becoming a whole-process, digital, high-tech platform service provider in the urban construction field.

Trend Insights: Technology, Culture, and Full-Chain Services Drive Brand Evolution

Analysis of the rankings points to three core trends for Chinese state-owned architectural design brands in 2025: Firstly, independent technological innovation (e.g., BIM forward design, AI-assisted design, digital twins) has become the core brand competitiveness. Secondly, cultural confidence and localized expression are deeply integrated, fostering the emergence of era-defining masterpieces with Chinese character. Thirdly, capabilities in whole-process engineering consulting and cross-border integration have significantly enhanced. Leading enterprises are building a "design+" ecosystem and transforming into integrated solution providers.

Global Authoritative Release, Empowering Long-Term Brand Value

These rankings were released simultaneously through ARCHINA Architecture China's matrix of over 50 mainstream media platforms spanning domestic and international markets. The domestic dissemination network includes official websites, social media, and major news portals; overseas distribution is facilitated through international industry media and social platforms. They are estimated to reach a global audience of hundreds of millions, including targeted industry professionals, greatly enhancing the international visibility and influence of the honored brands.

Wu Lei, founder of ARCHINA Architecture China, stated: "State-owned architectural design enterprises form the backbone of China's urban and rural construction, carrying the mission and responsibility entrusted by the times. This year's rankings serve not only as an annual review of their brand value and industry contributions but also as a collective celebration of the state-owned brand spirit characterized by 'adherence to craftsmanship, courage to innovate, and commitment to serving society.' We hope these rankings will further propel the overall rise of Chinese design brands and assist the industry in advancing more steadily and farther on the path of sustainability, digitalization, and internationalization."

About ARCHINA Architecture China
Founded in 2003, ARCHINA Architecture China is an authoritative media and brand service platform deeply rooted in China's architecture industry. It is dedicated to bridging design and the public, promoting the dissemination of design value, and empowering enterprise brand growth through professional media content, industry research, brand consulting, and resource integration.