Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
2015 - 2021
Shaw Auditorium
Sitting on a mountain ridge overlooking Kowloon Bay, the 1,000-seat multi-purpose Shaw auditorium at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is intended to serve as dynamic, climate-adapted, new cultural center for the university, attracting international events, speakers, students and faculty.
At its core, our vision for the auditorium emphasizes flexibility: HKUST is a major global research institution and this space has been designed to accommodate academic, cultural, and artistic functions, including a wide variety of performances and events, from lectures to concerts, musicals, and more. Equipped with modular seating that can be adapted to allow for multiple arrangements, its capacity will range from 850 up to 1,300 seats. The hall will also be able to become a large flat floor area, providing spaces for conventions, exhibitions, galas, or high-capacity university open days.
Reflecting the university’s pursuit of innovation, the curved auditorium walls function as a 360-degree projection screen, enabling immersive audio-visual experiences. Auxiliary classroom spaces, public furniture, and an integrated café support the broad public program of the university, creating a cultural living room for the entire campus, as well as the community beyond its walls.
"We aimed to create the most transformative and innovative auditorium in this region to match the reputation of the University, and to make sure the venue will be lively at all times."
Claude Bøjer Godefroy
Design Director, Partner
01/06
Informed by local climate
The pivotal role that Shaw Auditorium would play in the cultural life of the university is what inspired its elliptic form. Addressing its surroundings openly, the building offers a welcoming space that supports campus flows and acts as a gateway to the university campus. It is a cultural incubator for student life, and a bridge between academic and cultural life at the university.
Conceived in consideration of Hong Kong’s subtropical climate, the building is made up of three concentric volumes with terraces that offer panoramic views of the Kowloon Bay and mountains, while doubling in function as shade and shelter.
“Our design aims to become an example of sustainable subtropical architecture, hopefully influencing the construction industry in this region to design with more consideration to our climate,” says Claude Godefroy, Design Director in Hong Kong.
By reducing energy consumption through this climate-optimized design, Shaw Auditorium was the first of its kind to achieve a BEAM Platinum sustainability rating in Hong Kong.
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Regional Director, Partner
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