Campus Buildings, Landmarks and Sustainability: A Gazetteer and Reading Guide to the Hill-City's Architecture

CUHK's campus climbs from near the shore of Tolo Harbour at the foot of the hill to a plateau at the summit, stacking more than sixty years and over a hundred buildings onto three artificially terraced levels. This article is a comprehensive architectural archive of the campus's "physical face", merging three threads: the gazetteer (how buildings got their names, which buildings sit in which zone), the landmarks reading (the completion and naming facts behind University Mall, Beacon Terrace, the Pavilion of Harmony, Lake Ad Excellentiam and other icons), and sustainability (how the campus took shape and how it is shifting towards a low-carbon footing). Facts come first; sourcing is done in place. For the campus's geography and elevation context see campus-geography.md, for museums and ecology see museums-and-ecology.md, and for external transport and shuttle buses see transport-facilities.md.

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# 1. The Logic of Naming: Why CUHK's Buildings Are Named as They Are

CUHK's buildings can be broadly sorted into four categories. The first is donative naming: buildings named after their principal donors, the largest category — Run Run Shaw Science Building and Sir Run Run Shaw Hall (both named after Sir Run Run Shaw). The second commemorates forebears: buildings named after college founders or academic masters, such as New Asia College's Ch'ien Mu Library (commemorating founder Ch'ien Mu). The third is functional naming: buildings named directly for their use, such as the University Administration Building and the University Library. The fourth is conceptual or commemorative naming: names drawn from classical allusions, ideas, or people honoured, such as Lake Ad Excellentiam (taking its meaning from "not yet complete, and so must strive for completion"), the Pavilion of Harmony (from Ch'ien Mu's essay "On the Unity of Heaven and Man"), and the Benjamin Franklin Centre (named via the Chinese transliteration of American founding father Benjamin Franklin).

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# 2. The Planning Story: Szeto Wai and the "Three Terraces"

The campus's "upper, middle and lower" skeleton is the product of a planning and earthworks exercise, and its central figure is the architect W. Szeto (司徒惠). The key to reading CUHK's architecture is this: the campus's geometry does not follow the natural contours of the hill — the hillside was planned and levelled into three artificial terraces. The core teaching and research buildings, the administration building, the library and United College, all from the 1960s–70s, are largely Szeto's work, establishing the unified modernist skeleton of the early campus.

• Role and tenure: According to the Wikipedia article on W. Szeto, he served as CUHK's architect and planner of the "University Development Plan" from 1963, and as honorary architect from 1978 until 1987^※ (per Wikipedia, "W. Szeto").
• Terracing the hill: According to Wikipedia, he "carefully planned the entire hillside of the campus site, levelling it into a three-tiered layout"^※. The official description of today's campus as "built on three levels up the hill" traces directly to this.
• His works: The CUHK buildings he designed include the Institute of Chinese Studies, the University Administration Building, the Science Centre and its extension, the University Library, the entire United College campus, the Humanities Building of New Asia College, and the Benjamin Franklin Centre (1969)^※, along with the Gentleman's Tower and Lady's Tower water towers and Hui Garden.
• Honours and donations: He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by CUHK in 1978^※, and donated Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming's "Gate" (Ju Ming Gate), installed in 1987 in the Library Plaza (per Wikipedia, "W. Szeto").

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# 3. Central Campus Teaching and Academic Buildings (Mostly the Middle Level)

The CUHK campus is built along the hillside, from the foot (near Tolo Harbour and University Station) up to the summit in three terraces (see Campus Geography); this gazetteer marks the level in the "Location" column where possible.

During Szeto's tenure (per Wikipedia, "W. Szeto", architect and planner of the "University Development Plan" from 1963 to 1978), the CUHK buildings he designed include the Institute of Chinese Studies, the University Administration Building, the Science Centre and its extension, the University Library, the entire United College campus, and the Humanities Building at New Asia College (per Wikipedia, "W. Szeto").

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# 4. The Library System

According to the Wikipedia article on the CUHK Library System, the University's library system consists of several branch libraries^※ (per Wikipedia, "CUHK Library").

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# 5. Cultural and Sports Venues

Sir Run Run Shaw Hall is multi-purpose: according to the Hall's website, the venue suits concerts, theatre, dance, ceremonies, lectures and many other kinds of cultural and entertainment events^※ (per Sir Run Run Shaw Hall website). Sir Run Run Shaw's donations to CUHK are also reflected in Shaw College, the Run Run Shaw Science Building and elsewhere.

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# 6. College Buildings (By College)

CUHK operates a college system; each college has its own canteens, activity centres and landmarks. The origins of the college system and the character of each college are a major theme of Module 10; this section lists only the signature buildings directly relevant to "campus architecture".

# The Gentleman's Tower and Lady's Tower (Water Towers)

According to the Wikipedia article on W. Szeto, the campus's two water towers, the "Gentleman's Tower" and "Lady's Tower"^※, were designed by Szeto; along with Hui Garden and Ju Ming's "Gate" sculpture which he donated, they count among the campus's landmarks (per Wikipedia, "W. Szeto").

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# 7. Landmarks Reading: University Mall and the Central Campus

Beyond the building gazetteer, the "core landscape cluster" deserves a reading of its own — these places are at once physical spaces and anchor points of CUHK's collective memory. According to CUHK's official "Introducing CUHK"^※, the campus covers around 138.4 hectares, overlooking Tolo Harbour, and is, per the University, Hong Kong's largest and greenest campus. This hillside campus is called "the hill-city" (山城) by the CUHK community, and the heart of the hill-city is the central campus high on the hillside.

University Mall (百万大道) is the long open esplanade at the centre of the CUHK campus. According to Wikipedia, its official name is "The University Mall" (林蔭大道)^※, and together with surrounding buildings it forms the "University Plaza". Per CUHK's official landmarks page^※, University Mall sits between the University Library and the Science Centre, and is the most iconic walkway on campus — as well as the venue for the University's annual graduation ceremony (congregation), where graduates line up, take photographs, and complete an important rite of passage.

• Orientation: Per Wikipedia, the Mall's eastern end is the Science Centre (home of the Faculty of Science) and its western end the University Library, flanked by administration buildings, research institutes and activity venues (per Wikipedia, "University Mall").
• The University emblem monument: Per the Wikipedia article on CUHK, the university emblem monument on University Mall was built in 1978^※. Per the CUHK 60th Anniversary Miniature Exhibition press release^※, the University Science Centre, the four stone pillars and others are listed together with University Mall as iconic CUHK buildings.
• Uses: Per Wikipedia, University Mall hosts graduation ceremonies, student events (such as the arts bazaar) and large gatherings (per Wikipedia, "University Mall").

On the name "Million Mall" (including folk accounts): the name "University Mall" invites curiosity. Per CUHK's official landmarks page^※, one saying records that the Mall cost about a million (dollars) to build, hence the name. Whether "million" refers to the construction cost or something else is debated informally; the "about a million to build" account is one circulating version recorded by the source, its exact figure folk legend and not necessarily precise — readers should bear this in mind. Whatever the name's origin, University Mall's standing as CUHK's most important venue for ceremonies and events is beyond doubt.

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# 8. Landmarks Reading: Beacon Terrace and the Ju Ming Gate Sculpture

Beacon Terrace is the raised platform at the University Library end of University Mall; atop it stands a sculpture called "Ju Ming Gate" (仲門, also known as the "Gate of Wisdom").

• Sculptor and donation: Per Wikipedia, "W. Szeto", the "Gate" (Ju Ming Gate) is the work of Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming, donated by campus architect W. Szeto and installed in the Library Plaza in 1987^※. The Wikipedia article on University Mall also records that Beacon Terrace carries a sculpture by Ju Ming called "Ju Ming Gate"^※ (per Wikipedia, "University Mall").
• As an events venue: Per CUHK's official landmarks page^※, the "Gate of Wisdom" sculpture stands before the main entrance of the University Library, and its broad rectangular base is a popular venue for student activities, especially open forums and ceremonies.
• Learning Garden: Beneath Beacon Terrace lies the 24-hour "Learning Garden"; to protect this historic landmark, the 2012 library extension placed the Learning Garden below the plaza.

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# 9. Landmarks Reading: the Pavilion of Harmony and Lake Ad Excellentiam

# The Pavilion of Harmony

The Pavilion of Harmony (合一亭) sits between the New Asia College student hostels of Grace House (學思樓) and Knowledge House (知行樓), and is the campus's celebrated "sky-and-water merge as one" seaside landmark.

• Completion and donation: Per Wikipedia, the Pavilion was completed in December 2003, donated by Ms. Wu Tsung-lin, and designed by architect Professor Chen Hui-chi^※ (per Wikipedia, "Pavilion of Harmony").
• Design concept: Per Wikipedia, the Pavilion takes its meaning from "the unity of Heaven and Man" (天人合一), using a crescent-shaped shallow pool and a glass structure so that "the pool water and the view of Tolo Harbour merge into one line"^※, creating the effect of water and sky dissolving into each other — a representative work of contemporary landscape architecture.
• Naming origin: Per Wikipedia, the Pavilion commemorates New Asia College founder Ch'ien Mu and his essay "On the Unity of Heaven and Man"^※; the essay and a corresponding seal are inscribed on the Pavilion's outer wall.

# Lake Ad Excellentiam

Lake Ad Excellentiam (未圓湖) lies in Chung Chi College on the lower level of the campus, and is Chung Chi's most famous waterscape landmark.

• Naming origin: Per Chung Chi College materials, the lake's name takes its meaning from "not yet complete, and therefore must strive for completion"^※, echoing the College motto "In Pursuit of Excellence" and its spirit of ceaseless self-improvement.
• Two bridges: Per Chung Chi College materials, during a major renovation in the mid-1990s two bridges were newly built over the lake^※ — a winding bridge on the eastern side and an arched bridge on the western side, said to symbolise the ups and downs and the twists and turns of life.
• Former name: Per Chung Chi College materials, the lake was formerly known as the "Lily Pond" (荷花池) (per Chung Chi College, "College Lake"). The lake's ecology (water birds, plants) is covered in Museums and Campus Ecology.

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# 10. Landmarks Reading: the Institute of Chinese Studies and Yasumoto International Academic Park

• The Institute of Chinese Studies (中國文化研究所) is both a research institute and a campus architectural landmark, its inner courtyard a Chinese-style garden. Per CUHK Art Museum materials, the Art Museum was founded in 1971, under the Institute of Chinese Studies^※; the Institute building was designed^※ by campus architect W. Szeto. The Art Museum's collections and its new wing opened in 2025 are covered in The Art Museum and the Institute of Chinese Studies.
• Yasumoto International Academic Park (YIA) (康本國際學術園): Per Wikipedia, "The Chinese University of Hong Kong", YIA opened in 2013^※, built for the new "3-3-4" academic structure, just above University Station.
• Jockey Club Museum of Climate Change: Per Wikipedia, the Museum is located on the 8th floor of Yasumoto International Academic Park, opening on 16 December 2013^※, and is the world's first museum devoted to climate change. See Museums and Campus Ecology.

# Public Sculptures in the University Station Plaza (Installation Facts)

The plaza outside MTR University Station once held several public artworks. This section records only the facts of their installation and relocation. Per Wikipedia, a Goddess of Democracy statue (about 6.4 metres tall, fibreglass, by the artist Chan Wai-ming) was installed in the University Station plaza on 5 June 2010 and removed by the University on 24 December 2021^※ (per Wikipedia, "Goddess of Democracy (Hong Kong)").

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# 11. Architectural Style (Overview)

CUHK's early buildings are dominated by the modernism of the 1960s–70s: fair-faced concrete, geometric massing, and terraced levels following the hill. Later buildings (from the 2000s onwards) bring in more contemporary architectural language and environmental design, for example:

• Run Run Shaw Science Building: Per the CUHK Newsletter, it received the 2006 Hong Kong Institute of Architects Merit Award in Community Architecture^※, and is built into the hillside.
• The Pavilion of Harmony (2003, designed by Chen Hui-chi): uses glass and a crescent-shaped shallow pool to create the "water and sky become one" effect — a representative work of contemporary landscape architecture (per Wikipedia, "Pavilion of Harmony").
• The Art Museum's new wing (2025): per Wikipedia, "Art Museum", designed by architect Rocco Yim, with a cantilevered structure and fair-faced concrete facade (per Wikipedia, "Art Museum"; see special feature on the Art Museum).

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# 12. The Green Campus and Carbon Neutrality 2038

The CUHK campus is known for its extensive greenery. Per CUHK's English website, most of the campus is covered in green, dotted with pavilions, a herb garden, sculptures, award-winning architecture and natural landscapes^※. Per CUHK's sustainable campus page, the green campus effort centres on five areas: campus greening and wildlife, climate and energy, green buildings, waste reduction and recycling, and water conservation^※ (per CUHK English, "Sustainable Campus").

CUHK's signature commitment on sustainability is "Carbon Neutrality 2038":

• Target year: Per the Office of Institutional Research and Planning's SRSDO unit, CUHK has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2038^※, describing itself as "the first university in Hong Kong to pledge carbon neutrality"^※.
• Aligned with national/territorial targets: Per SRSDO, the 2038 target aligns with mainland China's 2060 and Hong Kong's 2050 net-zero commitments^※.
• Governance structure: Per SRSDO, a "Task Force on Carbon Neutrality" was established on 1 November 2021^※, under the Social Responsibility and Sustainability Committee, coordinating decarbonisation efforts.

# Key Carbon-Reduction Measures

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