Guangzhou, China

Designed as a multi-purpose facility, the University Activity Centre at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), designed byKohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), is a dynamic and visually striking addition to the university’s campus, housing spaces for events, recreation, and relaxation.

This architectural marvel aligns with HKUST’s commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge design while enhancing the student and faculty experience.

The University Activity Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has been awarded a 2024 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Part of the entirely new Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Guangzhou campus, the University Activity Center (UAC) links the central campus to the residential high street.

The UAC is characterized by its green roof and fluid form, inspired by the rolling hills surrounding the university’s Hong Kong Island campus.

Nestled behind the gateway building and main entrance to the campus, the UAC balances the rational, radially planned research and administration buildings with its sinuous, landscape-inspired forms and planted roof.

It facilitates a vital connection between the central campus and the residential precinct through an internal street and a covered walkway alongside the building’s landscaped court.

The second floor connects to the main concourse level, with a direct bridge to the academic and research facilities.

Every student goes through or by the UAC daily, making it an important part of their academic experience. The building serves as a social home, or‚ “living room” for students, accessible at all hours.

A double-height entrance and gathering space anchors one end of the active interior “street” of the UAC and promotes‚ “positive friction” or haphazard encounters among students; a sculptural staircase leads to the second floor, which is dedicated to music practice, reflection, and wellness.

For HKUST’s first campus in mainland China, cultural harmony, a sense of belonging, and inclusivity were important aspirations to achieve.

As such, the design team was inspired by the bamboo plant, a unifying symbol for growth and advancement across countries in the region, to develop the concept for the façade texture, pattern, and coloring.

The result is a building that not only connects to nature, a common universal connector for all people but also taps into an inclusive cultural narrative.

The finish of the metal extrusions on the façade is a subtle layering of colors using a custom paint technique developed for the project.

The UAC spaces tap into principles of biophilic design to maximize the restorative effect.

By employing patterns, colors, and textures inspired by nature, and natural materials and by bringing plant material indoors, the line between interior and exterior is blurred, enhancing the sense of immersion in nature.

Amplifying the biophilic motif, the planted roof of the building gently rises like a hill from the ground.

The design prioritizes air quality through enhanced filtration and healthy materials, certified for low VOCs and the avoidance of red-listed chemicals.

Ample daylight fills the spaces, ensuring a healthy circadian rhythm and uplifting environments for the students.

The UAC boasts multiple facets of sustainability that are integral to the design, including a high-performing façade with operable windows, which promotes energy-use reduction through natural ventilation and the chimney stack effect.

The calibration of the glass-to-solid wall balances access to daylight with a well-insulated envelope.

An extensively planted roof further optimizes insulation while managing rainwater absorption and reuse. Photovoltaic cell panels harness solar energy for the building.

Project: University Activity Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, PC.
Lead Architect: Hana Kassem
Associate Architects: Architectural Design & Research Institute of South China University of Technology Co., Ltd. (SCAD)
Client: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
General Contractor: China Railway Guangzhou Engineering Group Co., Ltd.