Students slam plan to add escalators to historic gate at University of Hong Kong, launch petition to halt construction
- The proposed revamp will improve accessibility to the campus, the institution says
- Students and alumni lead outcry over ‘disappointing’ redesign of landmark structure, questioning its effectiveness and visual impact
Architecture students and alumni of Hong Kong’s top university have criticised its plan to revamp a historic gate by adding two escalators to improve accessibility, questioning the redesign’s effectiveness and the institution’s decision-making procedures.
The row involving the University of Hong Kong (HKU) escalated as 280 people, including architecture students and alumni, signed a petition against the revamp of the east gate which they regarded as holding “a special place in people’s collective memory”.
Speaking to the Post on Friday, HKU alumnus Alfred Ho Shahng-herng, founder and director of the Urban Studies Institute, also criticised the university for not carrying out consultations with students and staff or seeking advice from architecture and engineering faculties.
“This is a ‘missed opportunity’ for the university to improve the image and design of the east gate,” Ho said.
He indicated the two-week window between the notification and the beginning of the work was too short, while acknowledging the university’s intentions to revamp the gate to improve accessibility.