Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2006

CUHK’s Environment-friendly, State-of-the-art Science Laboratories Building 37 and comfortable working environment. The high light transmission factor of the glass offers natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting during day time. Abstract colour patterns in the exterior are inspired by the periodic table which uses different colours to categorize chemical elements, symbolizing the importance of science to mankind. When light hits the fa ç ade at different times of the day, it creates different beautiful reflections. design concept that segregates corridors into ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’. Offices are also segregated to make sure staff use ‘clean’ corridors. The ventilation systemhas a ‘smart’ control facility to ensure safety and to provide a pleasant teaching and research environment. Different zones of the building all have independent pressure control systems. Laboratories are kept in a state of negative pressure to prevent airborne hazards from Storey-high, insulated glass units on the southern façade of the Centralized Labs A laboratory in the building Funding from the government for the construction of the Centralized Science Laboratories Building was secured in 2002. A Building Committee was set up and an architectural consultant was appointed to provide the design and recruit contractors. The present design was selected after careful consideration of the building’s functions, the terrain and the surrounding environment, and it was endorsed by the Campus Planning Committee. The project is now at the stage of exterior and interior furnishing. With its completion at the end of this year, it will become a new CUHK landmark, bringing a breath of fresh air to Central Campus. First Building with Segregated Corridors for Safety and Energy Conservation Environmental protection has always been a major consideration of the University’s campus development projects. TheCentralized Science Laboratories Building is Hong Kong’s first laboratories building with an innovative spreading to public areas such as corridors. Laboratories are equipped with up to over 130 fume cupboards and biosafety cabinets for research purposes. All these cupboards and cabinets are exhausted through a dedicated fast-response-type air valve, which can adjust airflow control to suit changing operating environments within an extremely short period of time. On the roof are high-plume type fume exhaust fans for the safe discharge of chemical fumes. The laboratories are fitted with an emergency control system. When activated, ventilation will run in full fresh air mode, exhaust power will increase, and the zoning alarmwill sound immediately, alerting people not to enter the affected laboratories. To conserve energy, a variable air volume design is adopted for the air-conditioning system and the fume cupboards of the laboratories. There are also heat exchangers for fresh/exhaust air to further save energy.