The University Square 校園草坪 by Campus Development Office

The University Square 校園草坪 by Campus Development Office is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 園境設計 Competition Category.

鐵園境設計· 2025

The University Square 校園草坪

by Campus Development Office

Client: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 園境設計 Category

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Colors

The Design

About The University Square 校園草坪

大學廣場係香港一所大學校園嘅景觀設計項目。原本一個使用率偏低嘅地方，經改造後變成一個對行人友善嘅草坪同開放空間，面積約2,200平方米，長闊約60米乘36米。呢個草坪成為校園嘅中心聚腳點，同時改善咗校園各座建築物之間嘅人流動線。兩棵原有嘅成熟大樹被保留作為視覺焦點，四周以人手在現場打造嘅訂製木製平台座椅圍繞。呢個雙層平台可以支援非正式聚會、休憩，以及大型校園活動嘅舉行。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

The University Square 校園草坪是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計The University Square 校園草坪將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。The University Square 校園草坪因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The University Square is a project that rejuvenated an existing low-utilization area into a 2,200 s.m. pedestrian friendly lawn and open space that significantly enhance the quality of the PolyU community.
The project introduce a new symbolic and iconic center for the main campus, and enhance the circulation between campus blocks. The openness of the lawn also provide a groundbreaking social interaction mode.
Dimensions & Packaging: The lawn is a 2,200 square meter open space. The lawn itself is roughly 60 meter x 36 meter long.
Tags: Lawn, Open Space, University, Institutional, Green Area, Heritage preservation
Production Technology: The usual preference for large empty space in campus setting, leans toward constructing academic or research related facilities, but through reimagining the existing plaza and surrounding space, the design creates a 2,200 s.m. pedestrian-friendly lawn and open area that enhances circulation around Block M and the Library Area. This redefined the value of open space in academic environment, as the space will not only provide a serene retreat for relaxation and reconnection with nature but also to accommodate large-scale events for the PolyU community and visitors, such as Flag raising ceremonies, Graduation ceremonies, Information Day, academic fairs to cultural celebrations. These events serve as a welcoming and dynamic showcase for campus life, and strengthens PolyU's reputation as a forward-thinking and inclusive institution.
Design Challenge: To minimize disturbance to the daily operation of the campus, the bulk of the construction is compressed into the summer holiday period. This limited window of time is further squeezed as Hong Kong faced some of the heaviest rainfall in the past 50 years during 2023 summer. The design and construction team had implemented a phased approach, with more flexible working schedules to ensure the PolyU Community can continue to their operations smoothly and the pedestrian flow around the site is seamless.
Research: The design team conducted a thorough observation of the younger generation's behavior and identified a key trend: they enjoy being seen and engaging in social interactions within public spaces. To cater to this preference, the team reimagined the existing plaza, transforming it into a vibrant, open space that fosters connection and visibility. The new design features expansive, tree-lined deck seating areas that are both inviting and functional, encouraging people to gather, relax, and interact. The open layout ensures that the space feels inclusive and accessible, while the strategically placed seating under the trees provides a blend of shade and comfort. This thoughtful redesign not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the plaza but also aligns with the younger generation's desire for spaces where they can socialize, be seen, and feel a sense of community. The result is a dynamic, welcoming environment that bridges functionality with modern social trends.
Inspiration: The design concept is to balance the site's natural heritage and introduce the PolyU community of a new social interaction mode, to see and to be seen. This bold design solution represents a new paradigm in campus design, enhancing the sense of community, and strengthen connection between nature.
Project Duration: The project started in March 2023 and completed for Grand Opening in October 2023.
Operation Flow: The lawn celebrated highlight the two existing veteran trees, integrating them into the design with new timber sitting decks to create popular gathering spots. The custom made deck seating with its irregular shaped decks, is hand-crafted and constructed on site. This approach not only preserved the trees as focal points that encourage the community to sit and interact, but also its warm timber tones add a touch of artistry to the space, making it visually striking. The two tier deck also allow for flexibility in terms of use, and allow users to interact and form different types of engagement. This thoughtful integration of heritage and modernity sets a new paradigm in campus design, enhancing the sense of community and fostering a deeper connection between people and place.
Patents: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Team Members: Architect: AJAR Ltd.
Landscape Consultant: SLSL
Structural Consultant: KHAL
E&M Consultant: EGIS
Image Credits: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University