HKUST (Guangzhou) finishes main structure of core building

The first core building in the initial phase of HKUST (Guangzhou) in Nansha finishes its main structure construction on June 30. [Photo by Li Xiatong/gznsnews.com.cn]

The main structure of the first core building in the initial phase of the Guangzhou campus of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) in Nansha district finished construction on June 30, marking a critical step forward for the whole project. 

Lionel M Ni, provost of HKUST (Guangzhou), sent a video of congratulations, noting that the construction of this core building took less than eight months.   

Huang Xiaofeng, deputy director of the administrative committee of Nansha Development Zone, said that the construction and design units from both Nansha and Hong Kong have overcome a lot of difficulties, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the extreme weather, to make sure that construction work could be finished on time, and providing a shining example of cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.  

Lionel M Ni, provost of HKUST (Guangzhou), sends a video of congratulations. [Photo by Li Xiatong/gznsnews.com.cn]

Nearly 3,000 workers in sectors such as management, design and construction were on site during normal days doing shift work, while the number of workers during peak days exceeded 5,000. 

Zhang Lechun, director of the administrative bureau of Nansha industrial park, said that the investment completed every month on average was around 350 million yuan ($54 million) and this number reached 700 million during peak months.  

"This building will include several advanced scientific research laboratories such as the nanosystems manufacturing laboratory, electromagnetic/acoustic laboratory and polymer laboratory," said Wu Jingshen, vice president of HKUST (Guangzhou). 

Wu added that the HKUST (Guangzhou) will be an intelligent campus characterized by low carbon construction and sustainable development.