The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) held a groundbreaking ceremony today for Cheng Yu Tung Building, marking major milestone for the University’s campus development.
As a world-class research university, HKUST has long been proactive in strengthening its teaching and research facilities so as to create a stimulating academic environment necessary for the fostering of excellence in research and the nurturing top talents.
With a generous $90 million donation from the Chow Tai Fook Cheng Yu Tung Foundation, HKUST sets out to build a new Research and Academic Building named in honor of Dr Cheng Yu Tung. To ensure that the design, facilities and setting of the new building are on a par with the highest international standards, an organizing committee comprising university administrators has taken a special interest in visiting the world’s leading research universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Caltech to study their first-class facilities, so as to provide a learning and research environment second to none.
Officiating at the groundbreaking ceremony, Chairman of the Chow Tai Fook Cheng Yu Tung Foundation Dr Cheng Yu Tung said, “Chow Tai Fook has always directed significant efforts in supporting charitable causes throughout its eighty-year history in Hong Kong. We focus our resources on the education of future generations through funding support to educational programmes in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The Chow Tai Fook Cheng Yu Tung Foundation decided to collaborate with HKUST because we share a common mission, which is to work for progress in society through a spirit of innovation. By providing students with an excellent learning environment and facilities, we hope they would fulfill their potential to the fullest and contribute to society upon graduation.”
HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan expressed his gratitude to Dr Cheng Yu Tung for his generosity and support. He was appreciative of Dr Cheng’s belief in our mission in pursuit of innovation and social progress. Prof Chan pledged that the HKUST community would put into good use the excellent facilities offered by the building in pursuit of these noble goals in grooming outstanding leaders and driving the city’s socioeconomic development.
Other officiating guests at the ceremony included Dr Cheng Kar-shun, Chairman and Executive Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, Mr Wong Siu-kee, Managing Director of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited, Mr Cheng Kar-shing, Chairman of Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation, Mr Koo Tong-fat, Councilor of Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation; HKUST Acting President Prof Wei Shyy, Vice-Presidents Prof Yuk-shan Wong and Dr Eden Woon, as well as Acting Vice-President Prof Mitchell Tseng.
The eight-storey Cheng Yu Tung Building covers a total floor area of 10,000 square meters. Basing its design on the world’s top-notch research universities, the building houses multi-disciplinary laboratories and an extensive range of teaching and research facilities. It comes with an open plan and high flexibility that is most congenial to interdisciplinary research. The new structure also features work stations for research personnel, complete with special equipment and services that are common to all disciplines occupying the building. Equipped with a large-scale multi-purpose lecture theater, it would make for a perfect venue for teaching activities and even artistic performances.
Related material: Characteristics of Cheng Yu Tung Building
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