AIA Hong Kong

1st Quarterly Meeting – Global Institutional Architecture and Local Heritage Sites: The University of Chicago Hong Kong Center

In order to expand on this year’s theme: AIAHK20++, the Chapter’s first Quarterly Meeting will reinforce our role in promoting AIA members’ design and professional practice through an in-depth discussion of the University of Chicago Hong Kong Center project.

The Center, construction on which started in June 2016, is already home to the Chicago Booth Executive MBA Program in Asia. It will eventually host workshops and conferences for scholars from across the academic spectrum as well as the University’s first undergraduate study-abroad program in Hong Kong, and joins the University’s Centers in Delhi, Beijing, London and Paris in bringing together researchers and students for interdisciplinary collaboration.

The design by Bing Thom Architects skilfully weaves the campus into the contours of Mount Davis, touching down only at points of least intrusion. The historic Pok Fu Lam hillside site was originally part of the Jubilee Battery, in the late 1930s and 1940s, then a British Army Royal Engineers’ mess and quarters in the 1950s, and, still later, a detention center. Highlights of the project include adaptive reuse of several key heritage buildings and the design also features an abundance of greenery with panoramic views of Hong Kong Harbor.

The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with principals of Bing Thom Architects and leaders of both the University of Chicago and Hong Kong’s Antiquities Advisory Board moderated by Philip Liao, AIA, founding partner of Philip Liao & Partners, who is also a founding member of the AIA Hong Kong Chapter.

This event is intended to be a tribute to the celebrated architect Bing Thom, AIA, who passed away last year and who was a friend and long time supporter of our Chapter.

 

Guest Speakers:

Bing Thom Architects

Bing Thom Architects is an innovative architectural and urban design practice with an emphasis on community-minded work. The firm, founded in 1982, is now led by Principals Venelin Kokalov and Michael Heeney who direct a team of 50, specializing in architecture and planning, engineering, sustainable building, interior design, project management, landscape design, and construction. With offices in Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Washington, DC., the staff originate from a dozen different countries and bring diverse language skills and multi-culturalism to the practice:

  • Venelin Kokalov, Principal
  • Francis Yan, Managing Director, Hong Kong office
  • Earle Briggs, Director
  • Shinobu Homma, Director

 

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1890.  It has many prominent alumni including 92 Nobel laureates who have been affiliated with the university as professors, students, faculty, or staff, the fourth most of any institution in the world.  It is also well known for its professional schools including the Booth School of Business which has a substantial Hong Kong based alumni population.  With an estimated completion date of 2020, the Barack Obama Presidential Center will be housed at the university and include both the Obama presidential library and offices of the Obama Foundation.

  • Gavin Tun, Director of Design & Project Management
  • Simon Wong, Project Manager

 

Antiquities Advisory Board, Hong Kong Government

The Antiquities Advisory Board is a statutory body consisting of experts in various fields related to heritage conservation.  The Board was set up to advise the government on any matters relating to antiquities and monuments and on whether an item or building should be declared as a monument or a proposed monument.  It also advises the authorities on measures to promote the restoration and conservation of historic buildings and structures and on measures to promote awareness of and concern for the conservation of Hong Kong’s heritage.

  • Andrew Lam, Chairman

 

Moderator

Philip Liao, AIA, Founder & Principal Partner, Philip Liao and Partners

 

 

Acknowledgement

Event Sponsor

 

Annual Gold Sponsor