First Academic and Research Building Tops Out at HKUST(GZ)

On June 30, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) topped out the first building of the academic and research complex, a major step to establish a world-class higher education institution in the Greater Bay Area through the collaboration between Guangdong and Hong Kong.

The topping-out ceremony was held at the construction site where attending guests celebrated the concrete pour, with Prof. Lionel NI Ming-Shuan, President of HKUST(GZ), offering his congratulations via a video. The guests included Mr. HUANG Xiaofeng, Deputy Director of the administrative committee of the Nansha Development Zone, Prof. WU Jingshen, Vice President for Teaching & Learning of HKUST (GZ), and various unit heads from Nansha District and construction firms.

Prof. Ni said that the building was the first on campus to have been topped out, which will serve as an integral part of the academic and research complex of HKUST(GZ) in the future. “The topping-out marks significant progress on campus construction and a major milestone in the University’s preparatory work,” said Prof. Ni. He also extended his heartfelt gratitude to all the departments and governments under the Party committees of Guangzhou and Nansha District, members of the public who supported the establishment of HKUST(GZ), and also people involved in the construction and design of the campus. He added that he and his team have every confidence that HKUST(GZ) would become an exemplary example of Mainland-Hong Kong academic collaboration and a world-renowned university.

Delivering an update on the progress of HKUST(GZ)’s preparatory work, Prof. Wu said the core building topped out today would be home to future cutting-edge research labs including Nanosystem Fabrication Facility (NFF), Electromagnetic/Acoustic wave Lab, Materials Characterization and Preparation Facility (MCPF), Polymer Lab, among others. “HKUST (GZ) will be a low-carbon, smart, and sustainable campus providing a testing ground for innovative ideas and be seen as a ‘living laboratory’,” said Prof. Wu. Regarding faculty recruitment, Prof. Wu said that by the time HKUST(GZ) opens next September, approximately 150 full-time faculty members will have joined the University. To date, more than 70 professors have already begun their service or accepted their job offers to take part in the development of HKUST(GZ) as founding members. Among them are senior faculty members at the Clear Water Bay campus.

The first phase of construction of HKUST(GZ) covers an area of approximately 636,000 square meters. Since the first pile was installed on November 1, 2020, Guangdong and Hong Kong have maintained close collaboration to ensure building standards are met. Construction works are going full speed ahead without compromising quality, and the prevention of COVID-19 and construction safety have remained a top priority. Construction is expected to complete in March 2022. After that the campus will be handed over to the University in May and open its door in September.

In September 2019, the Ministry of Education approved the preparatory status of HKUST(GZ), the first Mainland-Hong Kong cooperative education institution being approved as a legal entity after the release of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.