Construction has begun on the Henning Larsen designed Shaw Auditorium, the newest addition to the Clear Water Bay campus of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The multi-purpose auditorium will be a dynamic new venue for the campus’ cultural and artistic functions. At its core, the auditorium for concerts, lectures, musicals and dramatic and visual productions, is equipped with modular seating that can be adapted to allow for multiple arrangements, ranging from 850 to up to1300 seats.
The hall can also become a large flat floor area providing spaces for conventions, exhibitions or large university open days. Reflecting the university’s pursuit for innovation, the curved auditorium walls will function as a 360-degree projection screen, enabling immersive audio-visual experiences. Auxiliary classroom spaces, public furniture and an integrated café will support the broad public program of the university, creating a cultural living room for the entire campus.
Image © Henning Larsen
Perched on a hilltop overlooking Sai Kung Bay, the Shaw Auditorium takes the form of three layered white rings. The concentric volumes of the Shaw Auditorium will extend panoramic views to the surrounding scenery, doubling in function as oversized sunshades. By reducing energy consumption through this climate-optimized design, the Shaw Auditorium is poised to become the first of this type of buildings in Hong Kong to achieve a BEAM Platinum sustainability rating.
“Our design aims to become an example of a sustainable subtropical architecture, hopefully influencing the construction industry in this region to design with more consideration to our climate. We also 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,” Partner and Design Principle, Henning Larsen, Claude Bøjer Godefroy explains.
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen
The building’s rounded form acts to orchestrate the surrounding campus flows; a gateway to the university campus and a cultural incubator for student life. With the auditorium at the center of adjacent academic and social spaces, The Shaw Auditorium becomes a nucleus of pedestrian activity and a bridge between academic and student life at the university. Construction is expected to reach completion in 2021. Source by Henning Larsen.
- Location: Hong Kong, China
- Architect: Henning Larsen
- Executive Architect: Wong Tung and Partners
- Partner responsible: Elva Tang and Claude Godefroy
- Project Team involved: Richard Wood, Thomas Bormann, Adrian Fong, Klaus Troldborg, Kathy Tang, Dominik Mrozinski, Mikkel Baekgaard Breck, Adam Busko, Kasia Piekarczyk, Isabelle Lee, Elaine Tsang, Hannah Zhang, Emma Wang, Melissa Sandoval, Tilde Haremst, Chee Yuen Choy, Minck Simonis, Mai Ta, Camilla Wisborg, Narcisa Ionita, Fai Lam, Jess Yu
- Structural Engineer: WSP Hong Kong
- MEP Engineer: WSP Hong Kong
- Environmental, (BEAM+) cons: WSP Hong Kong
- Room and Building Acoustics: Marshall Day Acoustics
- Building Acoustics: WSP Hong Kong
- Theatre consultant: Theatreplan, UK
- Landscape: URBIS, Hong Kong
- Façade consultant: Inhabit, Hong Kong
- Lighting Designer: Inhabit, Hong Kong
- Traffic consultant: CTA, Hong Kong
- Client and Address: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- GFA: 9,900 m3
- Construction period: 2019-2021
- Images: Courtesy of Henning Larsen
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen Image © Henning Larsen Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen 
Image © Henning Larsen Image © Henning Larsen Image © Henning Larsen 
Axo Conference Mode 
Axo Conference Mode 
Axos_Combined