HKU Holds High West Development Topping Out Ceremony
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) held the topping-out ceremony for its High West Development on 24 October. The development is one of the key projects that will promote the "Study in Hong Kong" brand and strengthen Hong Kong's role as an international education hub. As part of the University's Hostel Development Fund, High West directly addresses the rising demand for student and staff accommodation as HKU attracts talent from around the world.
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard Wong, Executive Vice-President (Administration & Finance), Mrs Cherry Tse, Council Member Ms Wendy Gan, Chairperson of the Project Group for the High West Development Ir Professor Chai-kwong Mak, Director of Estates Mr Sunny Yeung, as well as invited guests, attended the ceremony.
Professor Richard Wong stated that the project "marks a key milestone in enhancing HKU's residential facilities to attract top global talent," and thanked the Estates Office and project team for their collective efforts. Professor Wong further added that the new accommodation will support HKU's recently unveiled strategic framework "Vision for 2026–2035: Leadership for Impact" which guides the University's direction over the next decade.
The development comprises four buildings, including two 19-storey student hostels, and two staff quarters towers, one featuring 19 stories and the other 20 stories, delivering more than 1,000 units. Located near the Sassoon Road Medical Campus and a short distance from the Main Campus, High West will offer cosmopolitan living with world-class facilities and diverse amenities for study, work, and holistic development.
The project adopts Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) with notably high floor-to-floor heights—an achievement in innovative construction—drawing more than 60 group visits to the site. An HKU-developed programme leverages real-time data to simulate delivery schedules for MiC components, model transport routes, and estimate arrival times, ensuring timely delivery and optimised traffic.
Ir Professor Chai-kwong Mak, Chair of the Project Group of the High West Development, said, "We are delighted to see the project nearing completion after a challenging journey from concept to reality, we are grateful for the support of the President and Vice-Chancellor, and the united efforts of the Estates Office, consultants, and contractors."
The topping-out underscores HKU's commitment to expanding high-quality residential options, fostering vibrant scholarly communities and cross-disciplinary exchange, and reinforcing the University's position as a preferred destination for students and academics. The High West Development is scheduled to open in 2026.
