NO.7 • DECEMBER 2008 - The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Special Feature
專 題 介 紹
The Award Winners
The JSD awards for 2008 were given to The Hong Kong Science Park,
Phase 2, MGM Grand, Macau and Mega Box. For this article we are
focusing on two of these structures, the Science Park and the MGM project.
The structures are innovative and contain unique features. The architectural
style of each, boldly targets a specific clientele and in so doing provides
us with striking structural contrasts. The style of the former is exciting with
its golden eggauditorium, and its focus on the management of natural
beauty, environmental concerns and waste management. It invites the
participation of the cerebral customer by providing an organised, refreshing
and stimulating environment. The style of the latter is raunchier and exudes
vitality, energy and provokes the imagination, concerning what might bein
terms of entertainment and maybe indulgence.
However, our particular interest in these two structures is stimulated by the fact
that Faculty alumni, Ir Mr Wallace W.Y. Cham, (the Science Park Project), Ir
Mr Wilson Y.S. Cheung (the MGM Project) and Professor S.L. Chan (CSE)
took leading roles in the development of these structures, hence presenting us
with pleasing evidence of the synergy which exists between the Faculty, our
alumni and the construction industry.
Since the days of the establishment of the Trade School in 1939, the building
industry has moved hand in hand with the needs of Hong Kong people and
developed in line with the economic, social and political conditions. Looking
at Hong Kong now, it is difficult to believe that as short a time ago as the
late 1940s, and early fifties tallbuildings were around seven or eight
storeys in height, and the construction in 1960 of a twenty storey building at
North Point was news. Air conditioning existed only in the Hong Kong Bank,
and no flyovers existed until 1963.
A question often repeated by alumni of the sixties and seventies is, I wonder
what we would have achieved if we had the opportunities of the Faculty
students of today? This question can never be answered with any degree
of certainty, but it draws attention to the perceived better facilities, equipment,
technology, international communications, materials, management methods,
advances in the use of information technology and the greater social political
and economic stability evident today. All have led to the development of
the industry. The justified proud claim of one engineer in 1955, that wheel
barrows rather than shoulder poles were used for carrying materials on
the Alexandra House site, is today well overshadowed by the presence
of the assortment of sophisticated equipment and plants on sites. Likewise
calculations by slide rule and calculator are well overshadowed by the
power of advanced construction software now available to engineers.
Contributory to positive value changes in the construction industry are
changes in attitudes and cultures. Management systems have been
designed to improve site safety and new technology while ordinances have
been introduced to control noise and protect the environment in the face
of global warming and climate change. The focus continues to be, on
the development of ways to reduce energy wastage in buildings. Further
contributions to change are provided by advancement in teaching methods,
a broadening of curriculums, and widening of research areas in line with
societal and professional expectations, a stronger relationship between
the industry and the work of academia to expose areas of clear cut mutual
benefit.
The Growth of Information Technology
A prominent promoter of change, is the dramatic growth in information
technology usage. In the 60s, batch processing was the mode of computer
utilization. Within the FCLU, the Civil and Structural Engineering Department
was the first to have a 4k Wang mini computer system, followed soon after
by Hewlett Packard desktops. Computer growth in Information Technology
was first seen nationally in the 60s and 70s, in the use of Computer
Aided Design(CAD) for the production of drawings, calculation programs
such as fluid flow and structural analyses, calculations for bills of quantities
and also the development of critical path analysis systems, such as the now
commonly used Primavera software.
獎 項 得 主
200708
Mega Box
()1937
1960
1963
--
1955
資 訊 科 技 發 展
4k
(CAD)
(Primavera)
40
02