The new campus of Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE) won the Merit Award under Quality Building Award (QBA) 2018, in the category of Hong Kong Non-residential (New Building – Government, Institution or Community). The QBA is a biennial award that recognises buildings of remarkable quality and distinguishes the outstanding teamwork behind them. In addition, the new campus won the Public Service Architecture (Hong Kong) Award of the prestigious Asia Pacific Property Awards for 2018-19.
The new campus was envisioned as a step towards the establishment of the Saint Francis University. The campus is not only to provide state-of-the-art facilities, it is also designed as a neighbourhood friendly campus with symbolic motifs in a contemporary setting.
This new university-standard campus, comprising a 9-storey academic and administration building with a cluster of lecture theatres and seminar facilities, health sciences laboratories, learning commons, and a 24-hour common zone, presents an exciting vision for a Catholic University. It features a green and synergetic design integrating with the existing adjoining campus of Caritas Bianchi College of Careers (CBCC). Free flowing passages have been created between the two adjoining campuses; and landscaped piazza and roof gardens have been built to provide ample open space. Environmentally friendly designs efficiently regulate the use of water, air and electricity at the campus. Water preservation equipment, air quality enhancement devices, energy efficient light fittings, LED-type exit signs and landscaping lighting, renewable energy devices, are amongst the many designed elements. In essence, the green design integrates nature into the daily lives of the Institute’s community.
The new campus has inaugurated a new era in the pursuit of excellence towards the delivery of quality education services and commitment to becoming a caring community education leader.