On April 8th, the Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture, University of Hong Kong, and the Zhuhai Municipal Planning and Design Institute held a meeting in Zhuhai to discuss the joint construction of the “Hong Kong Base of State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science—Zhuhai Municipal Planning and Design Institute Base.” Consensus have been reached on signing a memorandum of understanding for further cooperation, marking a gradual expansion of the research scope of the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science and the further deepening of collaborative research with cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on building and urban science issues.
Professor Shenjing He, Head of the Department; Assistant Professor Jin Zhu, PhD students Zekun Zhou and Dian Xia from the Department of Urban Planning and Design, University of Hong Kong; Professor Yuting Liu from the Department of Urban Planning, School of Architecture, South China University of Technology; Zhengtao Zhang from Zhuhai Municipal Bureau of Natural Resources; Zhen Liu, Jin Luo, Weiqiang Zhou, and Hui Da from the Bureau’s Technical Center; Wenjie Tan, Secretary and President of the Zhuhai Municipal Planning and Design Institute; Zhiwen Li, Vice President; Yiheng Zhang and Qing Zhang of the Planning Branch; and Yu Fang of the Science and Technology Development Department, among other staff members, participated in the meeting.
Professor He delivered a keynote speech at the meeting entitled “Infrastructure for Promoting Mobility in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area—The Rise of Infrastructure Regionalism under Multiple Crises.” Following the speech, Professor He introduced the background, main objectives, and research resources of the Hong Kong base of State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building and Urban Science. Subsequently, both sides focused on urban development and planning, conducting in-depth discussions on cooperation opportunities such as services for Hong Kong and Macao residents in Zhuhai, industrial development, and the joint construction of the Hengqin Shenzhen Cooperation Zone. The participants also engaged in a lively exchange on the future urban development of Zhuhai and Hong Kong.
After the meeting, both sides reached a consensus on signing a memorandum of understanding for further cooperation and took a group photo.
Established by SCUT, SKL-SBUS focuses on major scientific and technological challenges in subtropical architecture and urban systems, particularly in smart transformation, carbon reduction, and resilience enhancement. Its key objectives include coordinated regional development and climate adaptation, green building design and cultural preservation, low-carbon construction and structural resilience improvement, alongside intelligent sensing and data-driven solutions. SKL-SBUS makes significant contributions to high-quality construction and sustainable development in the Greater Bay Area.
The newly established Hong Kong Base is a comprehensive platform integrating scientific research, talent cultivation, and social service. Led by Professor Shenjing He, Lady Edith Kotewall Professor in the Built Environment and Head of the Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture, HKU, the Base is committed to cutting-edge research in areas such as innovative design for high‑density urban architecture in subtropical regions, urban ecological resilience and coordinated development, and smart cities and urban renewal models.
The Hong Kong Base of SKL-SBUS will provide robust technical support and professional consultation for key areas such as urban development, rural revitalisation, ecological protection, sustainable development, urban renewal, and smart transformation in both Hong Kong and the GBA, aiming to promote sustainable development across multiple dimensions, including urban quality, economic growth, and optimization of the ecological environment. The Base will thereby reinforce Hong Kong’s position as an international centre for finance, shipping and trade, as well as a hub for innovative technology, while actively integrating into the national development strategy. HKU and SCUT will work closely to build a multi‑level training system from undergraduate to doctoral levels, to nurture highly qualified professionals in architecture and urban science, equipping them with the expertise for international metropolitan development and regional innovative collaboration, for Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the country.