KPF unveils design of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology campus

Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) has recently unveiled the master plan of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) campus. 

The project, located in Nansha, Guangzhou will span 11.6 million sf and accommodate more than 10,000 students and faculty. Space for housing, teaching and research, athletics, performing arts, and amenities, as well as a 24-hour library and state-of-the-art laboratories, will also be included. All of the spaces and facilities will converge around a dynamic central space meant to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and create a strong community.

The design of the campus will combine HKUST’s programmatic aspirations with the site’s natural aesthetic, waterways, and urban context while targeting carbon neutrality and zero waste water. Three canals will embrace the delta and enforce the zero waste water goal, collecting and filtering rainwater for reuse and promoting resiliency through flooding and wetland protection. Within the canals’ borders, the campus will be free of emissions. A smart electric mobility network will support all transportation of resources and people.

The main outdoor collaboration areas and the buildings themselves will incorporate a combination of active and passive thermal comfort strategies to guarantee the well-being and enjoyment of occupants within the humid micro-climate of the site.