Zeming Zhang is an acclaimed architectural designer with an impressive portfolio that spans educational, healthcare, civic, and community-focused projects, showcasing a keen eye for design and a strong commitment to sustainable architecture.
Since 2022, Zhang has been working at HMC Architects in Ontario, California, contributing to a range of design and documentation phases for K-12 and higher education buildings, as well as community and cultural centers. His involvement includes notable projects such as Laurelwood Elementary School, Fiesta High School, San Benito High School, and the Ontario Wellness Center. Zhang’s role extends beyond basic design, as he also focuses on integrating sustainability principles, particularly through daylight analysis using tools like Climate Studio.
Before joining HMC Architects, Zhang developed innovative architectural productions through Beijing University of Technology. Zhang holds a patent as the primary architect and developer of a system titled “Method and System for Environmental Sensor Data Processing in Old Residential Areas Based on Ultraviolet Light Communication.” The system utilizes a distributed array of environmental sensors to collect facade data from older residential communities. It constructs a UV channel reflection skeleton by integrating the coordinates of surrounding obstacles. A dynamic spatiotemporal grid engine incorporates a time-efficiency decay model and physical spatial topology to generate multi-dimensional feature sets with temporal-spatial attenuation weights. The system analyzes channel interference in real-time based on a probability matrix of UV reflection interference strength, creating multi-band transmission configurations. Furthermore, it calibrates multipath transmission delays through phase compensation factors to generate UV pulse sequences encoded with path characteristics. A closed-loop feedback mechanism is triggered when adjacent unit differentials exceed critical thresholds, updating link weights accordingly. Zhang’s innovative system significantly improves both the efficiency and accuracy of environmental data processing in aging urban neighborhoods.
Zhang’s patented method and system for environmental sensor data processing was utilized in the development of the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Beijing University of Technology’s Anzhen Street Block Public Space Renovation and Enhancement Project. Located in a dense, aging residential area of Chaoyang District, the Anzhen Street project was the first to fully implement Zhang’s UV-based system. The team installed sensor nodes on building façades, lamp posts, and surrounding vegetation to collect real-time data on air quality, temperature, humidity, and noise levels. These data were transmitted via ultraviolet communication, which proved highly reliable in dense urban environments where traditional signals often fail. A dynamic spatiotemporal engine processed the data to support environmental analysis and public decision-making, while interactive displays allowed residents to monitor environmental conditions in real time.
Furthermore, in 2021, Zhang was granted a patent for his development of an innovative system for the hierarchical storage of blockchain data in urban renewal projects.This system was first deployed in the renovation of Jiayuan Sanli Community Park in Beijing’s Fengtai District, covering 16,337 square meters and serving over 12,000 residents. The blockchain-based structure categorized data across four project phases—planning, construction, feedback, and maintenance—while access levels were tailored to stakeholder roles. With encrypted and traceable records, the system facilitated collaboration among government agencies, designers, and local residents. It helped ensure transparency, enhance responsiveness, and set a precedent for smart urban renewal in community-level public spaces.
Zhang’s innovative, hierarchical storage of blockchain data system was instrumental in the development of the Majiabao Public Space Improvement Project by the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Beijing University of Technology Architectural Survey and Design Institute. The project consisted of a renovation of the Jiayuan Sanli Community Park in Beijing, which officially launched in April 2021.
Located in the Majiabao area of Fengtai District, the park spans approximately 16,337 square meters and serves over 12,000 residents across 20 surrounding apartment buildings, including more than 2,700 senior citizens. Zhang’s patented data processing method and system were vital in the initial stages of the project’s analysis and development.
Centered around a spatial concept known as the “Smart Life Ring,” the project introduced three major circulation routes—landscape walking paths, a health jogging loop, and an adventure wooden trail—along with five distinct functional zones: a children's playground, sports garden, community garden, activity plaza, and cultural-fitness zone.
The park incorporates smart features such as intelligent irrigation and lighting systems, interactive audio devices, and nature sound-responsive installations. Accessibility upgrades included new barrier-free ramps, drinking water stations, public restroom signage, and improved night lighting to ensure usability for seniors, children, and individuals with limited mobility. Cultural additions like the “Community Party Square” and “Matchmaker Pavilion” help strengthen neighborhood identity and cohesion. Emphasizing environmental sustainability, the project preserved original trees and expanded seasonal plantings, achieving a green coverage rate of 65.6%.
Zhang’s architectural design transformation addressed a longstanding lack of public gathering space and has become a model for small-scale urban renewal projects in Beijing, promoting healthy, inclusive, and tech-enabled public environments.
Zhang’s early professional training took place at the China Architecture Design Institute, where he participated in major projects such as the Beixin’an Shantytown Transformation and the Hulunbeir Party School Relocation. His responsibilities ranged from construction documentation to urban-scale planning and analysis.
Academically, Zhang holds a Master’s degree in Advanced Architecture Design from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona. He is proficient in a range of design and visualization tools including Revit, Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, Enscape, and Autodesk Forma.
Zhang’s talents have also been recognized through several international and national awards. He received a Finalist Mention in the 2022 Young Architects Competitions for the “Riyadh Dream Villas” and was honored with the DETAIL Award for Students and Schools of Architecture in the same year. His student work has also been acknowledged by the AIA East Bay and the American Institute of Architects' Design Excellence Awards.
Combining a global perspective with technical expertise and a clear sensitivity to environmental and social issues, Zeming Zhang represents a new generation of designers ready to shape the future of architecture.
