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The School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has organized a series of events to mark its Silver Jubilee in 2017, on the theme of ‘IMAGINE．INNOVATE．IMPACT’. It aims to illustrate how architectural concepts are transformed into creative designs that engage meaningfully with the world.

The Celebration Day was held yesterday (7 January). Those present included Mr. Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR Government and the School’s former Adjunct Professor; Emeritus Professor Tunney Lee, Founding Chairman of the CUHK architecture programme established in 1991; Mr. James Kinoshita, CUHK Honorary Architect and donor of the Kinoshita Lectures in Architecture, as well as a number of representatives from leading architecture firms.

Prof. Nelson Chen, Director of the School of Architecture, spoke at the Anniversary Ceremony, ‘We recognize that architectural education is a lifelong process, that designing our built environment is a great privilege and, as present and future architects, we have a hand in shaping a better world for the future that we all would like to see. Let us strive to accomplish this with imagination, innovation and impact.’

At the occasion, a symposium was held for homecoming alumni and students. The first session ‘From Imagine to Innovate’ comprised five students presenting various studio topics at the School, while the second session ‘From Innovate to Impact’ invited five alumni to introduce a diversity of career paths, showing how they bring positive change to society in various ways. Guided tours of AIT Building, the School’s own purpose-designed building opened in 2012, were also arranged to introduce the School’s specialized teaching and communal facilities, including design studios, workshops, fabrication laboratories, an architecture library, and a rooftop garden with urban farming. The Digital Design Lab, which provides a comprehensive range of software and fabrication equipment for students to realize innovative design ideas, was also open on the day.

The 25th Anniversary programme also features an exhibition of designed and built projects by over 50 alumni across two decades, held at AIT Building’s Exhibition Zones until 18 January 2017. The great range of works recognizes the professional accomplishments of the School’s distinguished alumni, encompassing local and international architectural projects, community initiatives, product designs, artworks and unbuilt proposals. Alumni exhibitors include Robert Wong, 2001 graduate of Master of Architecture (MArch), one of the 2015 Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons; Sarah Mui, 2006 graduate of Bachelor of Social Science (Architectural Studies), a recipient of the HKIA Young Architect Award 2015; and Thomas Chee, 2016 MArch graduate, who recently won the RIBA President’s Silver Medal – the first Hong Kong student to receive the prestigious honour from RIBA in its 180 years’ history.

As part of the year-long 25th Anniversary celebrations, award-winning London-based architect David Adjaye has been invited to deliver a Kinoshita Lecture in Architecture on Thursday, 2 March 2017. Adjaye designed the recently opened National Museum of African American History and Culture, a landmark in Washington DC. He was honoured with the title of OBE in 2007 and is receiving knighthood later this year for his services to British architecture.

Celebration highlights will continue with a specially curated show at the Times Square Living Room Museum, designed by 2015 MArch graduates Marco Wong and Samuel Wong. The public exhibition, running from late April to mid-May 2017, will display a wide range of creative works by around 20 CUHK Architecture alumni.

A full schedule of the School of Architecture 25th Anniversary celebration events is available at: www.arch.cuhk.edu.hk.