Sihua Chen, a PhD student in the Division of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka (Environmental Design and Information Technology Laboratory (Fukuda Laboratory)), has received the Young CAADRIA Award at CAADRIA 2026 (The 31st International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia), held in Hsinchu City, Taiwan, from April 29 to May 1, 2026.
The Young CAADRIA Award is presented to outstanding student researchers based on the merit of their accepted full peer-reviewed papers. The selection is conducted by a committee formed by CAADRIA, the Paper Selection Committee, and the Conference Host, and is based on criteria including clarity of concept, understanding of context, quality of writing, strength of research background, and applicability to the broader architectural research field.
Chen presented the paper entitled “An Indoor Walking-Distance Prediction System for Evaluating Layout Renovation Schemes in Open-Plan Academic Office Spaces.” The study proposes a system for predicting and evaluating walking distances under different layout renovation scenarios in open-plan academic offices. The work was recognized for its interdisciplinary contribution at the intersection of artificial intelligence and architectural design, particularly its potential for supporting design decision-making.

Awardee’s Comment:
I participated in CAADRIA 2026 held in Hsinchu City, Taiwan, where I presented my paper and delivered an oral presentation. During the conference, I was honored to receive the Young CAADRIA Award.
First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the award committee and CAADRIA for recognizing and supporting my research.
I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to my supervisor, Professor Tomohiro Fukuda, for his continuous guidance and support in research, academic thinking, and international collaboration. My sincere thanks also go to all members of our laboratory, colleagues, and collaborators for their valuable discussions and assistance throughout the research process.
In addition, I am deeply grateful to The University of Osaka for providing an excellent academic environment and strong support for research and international academic exchange.
This award represents not only an honor but also a strong motivation for my future work. I will continue pursuing research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and the built environment, striving to contribute meaningful and impactful work to the field.

Photo1: Sihua Chen (left), recipient of the Young CAADRIA Award, with Professor Tomohiro Fukuda (right)

Photo2: Group photo of conference participants at CAADRIA 2026 in Hsinchu, Taiwan