Background
Mr. Tung was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Mr. Tung was born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Tung Ta-yu was brought up in Japan and capitals of Europe. He spent his boyhood in Rome where he received his first inspiration of choosing architecture as his future profession. Mr. Tung graduated from Tsinghua University, Peking, in 1921. He received Bachelor of Science degree in 1924, and Master of Science degree in architecture in 1925 from University of Minnesota, U.S.A. Mr. Tung worked for Doctor of Philosophy degree in Art and Archaeology at Columbia University, New York City, during 1926 and 1927.
Mr. Tung was employed by various architectural firms in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Chicago and New York between 1924 and 1928. He returned to China in 1928. During 1929-1930 Tung Ta-yu joined E. S. J. Phillips in Shanghai who was practising architecture under the name of E. Suensen and Co.
He was appointed advisor to the City Planning Commission of Greater Shanghai Municipality in 1929 and made design for the Shanghai Civic Center. In 1930 Tung Ta-yu became a chief architect in charge of the Civic Center development. He designed the Mayor's Building, the Stadium, the Gymnasium, the Swimming Pool, the Museum, the Library, the Hospital, etc. at the New Civic Center. Mr. Tung was an architect for the Shanghai North Station project. Tung Ta-yu acted was an architect for the Chen Chi-mei Memorial Tower on Boulevard des Deux Republics, Shanghai and Unknown Soldiers Memorial in Miao-Hong. Mr. Tung was known as an ex-president of the Society of Chinese Architects. He also was an editor of architectural section of the Journal of Chinese Institute of Engineers.