Jockey Club Innovation Tower (JCIT) wins RIBA Award for International Excellence, selected from 30 projects from around the world and the project proves an 'International Excellence' as setting high standards for the 'general advancement of Civil Architecture'. Zaha Hadid's project JCIT is home to the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Design, and the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation.

The 15 storey, 15,000 sq. m. tower accommodates more than 1,800 students and staff, with facilities for design education and innovation that include: design studios, labs and workshops, exhibition areas, multi-functional classrooms, lecture theatre and communal lounge.

Image © Iwan Baan 

The tower’s interior and exterior courtyards create informal spaces to meet and interact, complementing the large exhibition forums, studios, theatre and recreational facilities. Its design promotes a multidisciplinary environment by connecting the variety of programs within the School of Design, encouraging interaction between the many learning clusters and design disciplines.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus has developed its urban fabric over the last 50 years with the university’s many faculties housed in visually coherent, yet very different buildings. The JCIT creates a new urban space that enriches the diversity of university life and expresses the dynamism of an institution looking to the future.

Image © Iwan Baan

Located on a narrow, irregular site at the northeastern tip of the university campus (bordered by the university’s football ground to the south, and the Chatham Road/ Kowloon Corridor motorway interchange to the north), the JCIT is connected to the heart of the campus; encouraging the university’s various faculties and schools to develop multidisciplinary initiatives and engagement with the community, government, industry, NGO’s and academia.

Image © Iwan Baan

The JCIT design dissolves the typical typology of the tower/podium into a more fluid composition. Interior and exterior courtyards create informal spaces to meet and interact, complementing the large exhibition forums, studios, theatre and recreational facilities.

The tower’s design promotes a multidisciplinary environment by connecting the variety of programs within the School of Design; establishing a collective research culture where many contributions and innovations can feed off each other.

Image © Iwan Baan

Students, staff and visitors move through 15 levels of studios, workshops, labs, exhibition and event areas within the school. Interior glazing and voids bring transparency and connectivity, while circulation routes and communal spaces have been arranged to encourage interaction between the many learning clusters and design disciplines. 

With its contribution of HK$249 million towards the construction of JCIT, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust also funds the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation.

Image © Iwan Baan

Image © Doublespace

Image © Doublespace

Image © Doublespace

Image © Doublespace

Image © Doublespace

Image © Virgile Simon Bertrand

Image © Virgile Simon Bertrand

Image © Virgile Simon Bertrand

Site plan. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Ground floor plan. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

1st floor plan. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

5th floor plan. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

7th floor plan. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

13th floor plan. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Roof plan. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Section-1. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Section-2. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Section-3. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Section-4. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Section-5. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Section-6. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

East elevation. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

South elevation. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

West elevation. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

North elevation. Image © Zaha Hadid Architects 

Project Facts

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects

Design: Zaha Hadid&Patrik Schumacher

Project Director: Woody K.T. Yao

Project Leader: Simon K.M. Yu

Project Team: Hinki Kong, Jinqi Huang, Bianca Cheung, Charles Kwan, Juan Liu, Junkai Jian, Zhenjiang Guo, Uli Blum, Long Jiang, Yang Jingwen, Bessie Tam, Koren Sin, Xu Hui, Tian Zhong

Consultants: 

Local Architect: AGC Design Ltd (Hong Kong) AD+RG (Competion Stage)

Geotechnical / Structure / MEP / Façade Engineer: Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd

Landscape Team: 73 Hong Kong Ltd

Acoustic Westwood: Hong & Associates Ltd

Quantity Surveyor: Rider Levett Bucknall Ltd.

Area/Size Net Occupied Floor Area: 15,000sqm

Height: 78m

Capacity: 1800 students & staff

Program: School of Design and Design Institute for Social Innovation

Construction

General Contractor: Shui On Construction Company Ltd., Hong Kong

Façade Contractor: YKK AP Facade Hong Kong LTD / Beijing Jangho Curtain Wall Co. Ltd.

Top image © Doublespace

> via Zaha Hadid Architects