Sparking inspiration at the Shaw Auditorium
With a few months to go before it is opened for public use, an exhibition celebrating the new arts and culture hub has been opened at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
In anticipation of the opening of the Shaw Auditorium later this fall, a new exhibition has been opened at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Entitled “Shaw Auditorium: Spark of Inspiration”, the exhibition introduces the public to the building as a new home for arts, culture, events, and more at the Clear Water Bay campus of the university.
“We’re very proud to have been a part of this project,” says Godefroy. “A project as complex and innovative as the Shaw Auditorium takes many actors, and we’re excited to see it become a hub for the university and community at large.”
The multi-purpose auditorium will be a dynamic new venue for the HKUST’s academic, cultural, and artistic functions. The main auditorium space is equipped with modular seating and a flexible “stage” space, all of which can be reconfigured to support a wide variety of events and performances. Auxiliary classroom spaces, public areas, and a café will support the broad public program of the university, creating a living room for the entire campus.
The deep cantilevers of the layered ellipses that make up the building’s form will offer shade and shelter from Hong Kong’s subtropical climate.
“I think you will be amazed to see the auditorium space transform itself from being a conference hall during the day to become a real concert hall at night with a full-size stage,” said Godefroy at the ceremony. “I look forward to seeing the students take ownership and bring it to life.”
The ribbon cutting was attended by a group including Claude Godefroy, Henning Larsen Hong Kong Design Director, Elva Tang, Henning Larsen Hong Kong Managing Director, as well as numerous members of HKUST leadership. The project, which began construction in April 2019, will be open to public use in late 2021.