The Review 2007

40 41 we are determined to take the lead on these issues by adopting innovative measures in environmental and heritage conservation. More than 40 environmental initiatives will be incor- porated into the design, such as the use of renewable ener- gies to reduce carbon emissions and the harvesting of grey water and storm water for irrigation and cooling. The cam- pus buildings will be aligned to maximise airflows, reduce air-conditioning demand, and minimise the heating effects of the sun. Green rooftops and green walls, which have a cooling effect, are also being explored. One of the challenges we faced in building the new campus was the presence of the Water Supplies Department (WSD) on the site. We could not disrupt water supplies, so we devised an unprecedented approach that also minimises our impacts on the local ecology. Salt-water reservoirs will be relocated to a cavern under an adjacent slope and the outdoor fresh-water tanks will be covered with a rooftop that could be put to public use. We are also preserving three heritage buildings belonging to the WSD and we will incorporate them into the campus design. As we fine-tune our plans for the Centennial Campus ahead of the start of construction in 2009, we will continue to consult the public on our plans. From the start, we have been committed to a transparent process that reflects our role as a unifying force in the neighbourhood. The new campus will enrich that role by developing a University District that provides much-needed open space and wonderful opportunities to support the learning community within the University and Hong Kong as a whole. The University of Hong Kong aspires to be a leading international university, a goal that is amply supported in our teaching and research programmes. We are now seeking to reflect that ambition in the physical development of our campus. The Centennial Campus, named in honour of the University’s centenary in 2011, will be a vibrant, modern learning environment that showcases our commitment to sustainability and transparency, and integrates us more closely with the local community. The catalyst for our physical transformation is the unprecedented expansion in student numbers in 2012, when undergraduate education in Hong Kong will switch to a four-year curriculum. Our student body will increase by more than 40 percent, complemented by a larger academic and non-academic staff, and resources have been earmarked to accommodate their learning and research needs. The new campus will be located to the west of the Main Estate and feature three main buildings grouped around academic courtyards to promote scholarly contem- plation and discourse. A University Street will connect the old campus with the new, and a new Mass Transit Railway station will bring people directly to the Centennial Campus. Visitors will be able to enjoy the green, open spaces on our grounds and gain easy access to the Lung Fu Shan Country Park on our southern border. Detailed design work got underway in 2007 and followed extensive public consultations in 2006, including several meetings with key stakeholders and exhibitions that attracted more than 18,000 visitors. Sustainability and heritage were identified as the chief priorities and University Street Senior Staff Quarters (Grade II Historic Building) New Lily Pond Elliot Treatment Works Building (Grade III Historic Building) Heritage Buildings and Entry Plaza Academic Courtyards The Centennial Campus