CityU has announced plans to construct a Multi-Media Building 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-media Building 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-media Building
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	$550
Sponsorship	$150
Total:	$700
Key Dates for the Project:
Commencement of Consultancy Work	9/2002
Issue of Main Contract Tenders	11/2003
Commencement of Main Contract	6/2004
Completion	2005/2006