HKUST Annual Report 2021-2022

40 LANDMARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT HKUST’s much-anticipated Shaw Auditorium, a state- of-the-art multipurpose venue for large-scale University gatherings, arts and culture, and other activities, opened in November 2021. More than 500 guests attended the launch ceremony, with the Honorable Mrs. Carrie LAM, then Chief Executive of the HKSAR, giving a keynote speech. The four-story elliptical building, supported in part by a HK$150 million donation from the Shaw Foundation Hong Kong, features around 10 different configurations, allowing flexible adaptation for a range of events. It was designed by Danish architect Mr. Claude Bøjer GODEFROY and completed in time to celebrate the University’s 30th anniversary. A diverse array of activities, including the HKUST Congregation, concerts, and competitions have been held in the auditorium since the opening, demonstrating the venue’s versatility. On the student accommodation front, the sustainable, smart Jockey Club i-village project moved forward, with its planned 1,551 bed spaces due to be ready by 2024. The eco-friendly project was recognized by a Grand Award under the New Buildings category in the Hong Kong Green Building Awards 2021. Meanwhile, occupation of the Jockey Club Global Graduate Tower got underway in September 2021, with an official opening held the following month. The tower’s design, including an interactive smart metering system, has earned a BEAM Plus Platinum rating from the Hong Kong Green Building Council. In other major campus development projects, the Martin Ka Shing Lee Innovation Building received further approval and funding over the year and is expected to kickstart construction in the fourth quarter of 2022, while design is underway for the Life and Chemical Sciences and Technologies Building. EMPLOYER OF CHOICE With the pandemic remaining a challenge to regular working routines over 2021-22, the University kept up its flexible mode of work to maintain operations and efficiency, including facilitating recruitment and