About CityU

Building with style

Regina Lau

27 Jun 2002

CityU has announced plans to construct a Multi-MediaBuilding that will house the various academic departments and research centres associated with creative arts and media engineering.

The new building, with a gross floor area of 32,000 square metres, to be located at

Cornwall Street

adjacent to the student hostels, will be one of “architectural interest” and of a “signature value for Hong Kong”.

CityU President Professor H K Chang, together with the Deputy Chairman of the University Council and the Chairman of Council's Estates and Development Committee, Mr Henry Tang, announced the visionary plan on 27 June.

Mr Tang said that five world-renowned architects — David Chipperfield, Rem Koolhass, Daniel Libeskind, Michael Wilford and Rocco Yim — have been invited to submit design concepts for the new building. Considering the excellent track record of the shortlisted architects, added Mr Tang, the new building will emerge as a CityU landmark, as well as a signature building for Hong Kong. “The new building and its facilities will strengthen CityU’s leading role in the Asia region for future strategic academic and research development,” he said.

Because the Multi-mediaBuilding will also house state-of-the-art multi-media laboratories and research centres, media resource centres and library, lecture theatres and classrooms under one roof, the new building will address a 30 % shortfall in campus space, said Professor Chang. “The plan will offer resources for the benefits of society in nurturing all-round students for the knowledge-based economy,” he said.

The current shortfall of space needed to carry out core teaching and research activities on campus has forced the University to lease off-campus premises.

Key Facts on Multi-mediaBuilding

Total Gross Floor Area

32,000 sq metres

Project Cost (HK$ million):

Stage 1

$59

Stage 2

$641

Total:

$700

Sources of Funding (HK$ million):

Government