Lin Huiyin awarded Bachelor of Architecture diploma from University of Pennsylvania

Lin Huiyin (1904-55), a pioneering Chinese architect and writer, was awarded a posthumous Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Weitzman School of Design of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, US on Saturday, local time. 

The year 2024 marks the 120th anniversary of Lin's birth. At the 2024 Weitzman Commencement, the University of Pennsylvania officially awarded Lin a posthumous Bachelor of Architecture degree in recognition of her outstanding contributions as a pioneer of modern architecture in China. 

Lin's granddaughter, Yu Kui, received the degree on her behalf a century later.  

Commenting on the decision, Weitzman Dean Fritz Steiner said that "All the men from China received full scholarships and Lin got half of one. She was the only woman and the only student who wasn't allowed to get an architecture degree."

"But she earned that degree."

In 1924, Lin enrolled in architecture courses at the University of Pennsylvania. That was a decade before the university began awarding architecture degrees to women. 

At that time, the university's architecture program rejected the admission application of this Chinese woman because it did not admit female students until 1934. 

Lin had to study in the only department that accepted female students - the School of Fine Arts.

In addition to art courses, Lin completed most of the required architecture courses in just two and a half years, including design theory, drawing and architectural history, except for a painting course that was not available to female students, which included male model sketching. 

Lin also worked as a teaching assistant in architectural design, and she outperformed most of her male peers academically, with many of her score cards being marked with a "D" for distinction.

After returning to China, as the first Chinese female architect in modern times, Lin obtained great achievements in the fields of architectural history, architectural design and architectural education despite the invasion of the war and disease. 

With the historical revision of the gender equality being underway overseas, Lin's legendary story has now been known by generations of young people. 

This is not just a story about how Chinese women are breaking through stereotypes and historical shackles, but also a role model for modern Chinese women. 

The University of Pennsylvania describes Lin as the "first and most famous female architect in modern China."