HKU's Project Mingde Wins Second Global Award

Project Mingde, a non-profit initiative by the University of Hong Kong (HKU), has been recognised for its Duling Educational and Cultural Centre (the Project) as the Architizer A+ Jury Winner in the "Concepts – Architecture + Community" category. Additionally, the project was shortlisted as a finalist in three other categories: "Concepts – Architecture + Localism", "Concepts – Architecture + For Good" and "Built – Sustainable Cultural Building". This marks the second international accolade for the project, following its success in November 2024, when it won The Architecture MasterPrize under the category of Educational Buildings.

The Architizer A+ Awards is the largest awards programme dedicated to recognising and celebrating outstanding architecture and spaces worldwide. Its mission is to nurture the appreciation of meaningful architecture in the world and champion designers who are integral to bringing great buildings to life. Finalists and winners are selected by a collection of over 250 industry leaders globally, including practicing architects, designers, critics, journalists, real estate developers, and representatives from manufacturing and technology sector.

Professor David Srolovitz, Dean of Engineering at HKU, said, "Project Mingde has been a meaningful and impactful initiative over the past 20 years – originally established by the Department of Civil Engineering and our distinguished alumni. The winning project exemplifies the core values of Faculty of Engineering – interdisciplinary collaboration, practical application, and creating positive impact on society. The two international awards recognise not only architectural aesthetics but also the engineering innovations that make such architecture possible and effective. We are immensely proud of all of the HKU students, faculty and alumni from many Faculties who joined to make this project such a success. Congratulations to the entire Project Mingde team!"

The Duling Education and Cultural Centre, a collaborative project designed by Ms. Elisabeth Lee, was brought to life through the enthusiastic and dedicated participation of HKU students. Situated in the tranquil Hakka village of Duling in Guangxi, the Project addresses the community's critical challenges. Despite the region's abundant rainfall, the community of 3,000 residents faces persistent issues with access to fresh water and hygiene. Rooted in principles of sustainability and a deep respect for Hakka culture, the Project was delivered in two phases. The first phase focused on strengthening and renovating the village school, incorporating a protective roof and sustainable sanitation facilities to improve health. The second phase saw the construction of a new kindergarten and cultural centre, featuring innovative water collection methods—where rainwater is harvested from tiered roofs and channelled into a lotus pond and underground recycling system—to address water scarcity.

Ms. Elisabeth Lee, architect for the Project, commented, "Inspired by water's cultural significance in Hakka heritage, the design of Duling Educational and Cultural Centre features the lotus pond as both a water reservoir and a symbol of education. The spaces emphasise openness, flexibility, and harmony with nature, fostering learning, play, and community engagement, while allowing users to adapt the environment to their needs."

Project Mingde is a unique experiential learning programme that brings together HKU faculties, students, industry professionals, donors and local communities to collaborate on real-world project that address social gaps in rural settings. The success of the Duling Educational and Cultural Centre is made possible through the dedicated support of the Lee Hysan Foundation, which served as the project's strategic partner and donor, along with the collective efforts of HKU faculty, students, alumni, local government, and community members.

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