Conservation In-situ of the Three Heritage Buildings on the Site
The Project Group for Centennial Campus & Main Campus Re-development and The University Council have recently approved the conservation of the Elliot Pumping Station & Filters , Treatment Works Building (Elliot Treatment Works Building) in-situ, which is one of the three heritage buildings located at the site for the development of the future Centennial Campus. This initiative is in line with the University's strong commitment to heritage preservation.
There are a total of three heritage buildings at the Centennial Campus site which
are the property of Water Supplies Department, namely (from left to right):
Elliot Pumping Station & Filters Senior Staff Quarters (Grade II)
Elliot Pumping Station & Filters , Treatment Works Building
(Grade III)
Elliot Pumping Station & Filters Workmen's Quarters (Grade III)
An earlier decision has already been made to conserve the two quarters in-situ,
at the entrance of the future Centennial Campus, subject to
adaptive conversion to more appropriate uses for university members as well as
the public. Some ideas for adaptive conversions include a world-class bookstore,
visitors' centre,
coffee shop, etc. The strategic location of the two buildings gives them the
potential to serve as major landmarks and form the grand entrance to the Centennial
Campus.
The viability of conserving the Elliot Treatment Works Building in-situ, due
to more complicated technical and practical considerations, however, has been
subjected to further studies by the University. Despite the many physical and
technical constraints, the HKU team has been working very hard with Water Supplies
Department to map out a feasible option to retain the building in-situ.
The University has gone through a rigorous process in the planning for the conservation of the heritage buildings. Apart from hiring local and overseas independent consultants to investigate the heritage impact, views from relevant government departments, local Green and Heritage Concern Groups, university experts as well as district councillors of Central and Western District Council have been actively sought.