“Nowadays, the rapid devlopment of technology induces significant changes in the design, construction and facilities of modern buildings and our living environment,” said Mrs Julie Mo, Head of the Division of Building Science and Technology (BST), at the opening ceremony of the Built Expo, on 2 April 2004.

 

Organized around the theme “Advanced Technology in Building”, the Expo displayed over 60 works by final-year BST students, through which they demonstrated the latest developments in building technology. The event, which attracted over 200 students, parents and construction professionals,

is in its 11th year. It reflects the changes in basic educational trends and philosophy, from a rigid mode of teaching and learning to a flexible one that promotes whole person development and life long learning,  Ms Mo said.

 

“Design and building professionals should carry a social mission. Students have the social responsibility to ensure that the buildings are well-designed,” said Mr David Lee, Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Society, an officiating guest at the ceremony. “They should pay more attention to detail in daily life, in order to create a pleasant environment.”

 

The winners of the “Student Projects of the Year” competition were announced at the ceremony. “The high standard of the students' works and their use of visual aids in their presentations really surprised us,” said Ir Philco Wong, Executive Director,

, one of the panel judges of the competition. Ir  Wong, Dr W S Wong, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong; Ir Dr Raymond Yau, Technical Director, Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited; and Professor Francis Ng, JP, Past President of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors presented awards to the winning teams from the four BSTAssociate Degree programmes, (Architectural Studies, Building Services Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, Surveying) respectively.

  

“The competition teaches us to think analytically and enrich our knowledge

of the surveying industry,” said Ms Lau Lai-fan Associate Degree in Surveying student. Ms Lau and her team won the championship in the Surveying programme with their project to redevelop the Maison De Bethanie, located on Pokfulam Road, to house a non-profit making educational institute for image and fashion design programmes.

 

“The Built Expo provided students with the opportunities to learn teamwork, and resolve real life problems. These are the skills that they can’t acquire from books,” said Professor Edmond Ko, Vice-President (Undergraduate Education).

 

The Built Expo concluded on 3 April. In addition to the student project exhibition, the Expo featured a seminar on “Future Development of the Construction and Real Estate Industries in Hong Kong” by distinguished scholars and building professionals: Hon P C Lau, Member (Architectural, Surveying and Planning Functional Constituency), Legislative Council; Miss Ada Fung, Assistant Director (Procurement), Hong Kong Housing Authority; and Mr Allan Chan, Executive Director, Hip Hing Construction Co. Ltd.