The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today hosted the official opening ceremony for the “Jockey Club i-Village” (i-Village) at its Clear Water Bay campus. Supported by a donation of over HK$203 million from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the project aims to provide students with a high-quality residential accommodation that integrates living and learning, enriching their personal development and educational experience. It also supports the promotion of the “Study in Hong Kong” brand by enhancing the campus’s international atmosphere, fostering diverse interactions within the student community, and contributing to Hong Kong’s long-term goal of developing as an international education hub.
The ceremony was attended by officiating guests including Mr. Lester HUANG, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Ms. Winnie YING, Head of Charities (Education & Youth Cluster) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club. They were joined by members of HKUST’s Council and Court, as well as senior management, including Dr. John CHAN, Pro-Chancellor of HKUST; Prof. Harry SHUM, Chairman of HKUST Council; Ms. Edith SHIH, Vice-Chairperson of HKUST Council; Dr. the Hon. Andrew LIAO, Chairman of the University Court; and Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST.
Expressing profound gratitude to The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Prof. Shum shared the core philosophy behind the new student residential complex, “The Jockey Club i-Village represents a new model for student living, where the ‘i’ stands for internationalization and innovation. As a diverse and inclusive global community, the residential halls feature small residential clusters designed to foster a deep sense of belonging and shared ownership among residents, while allowing each student’s individual identity to flourish. The four residential complexes are fully integrated into the University’s energy network and utilize rooftop photovoltaic arrays to generate renewable energy, supporting HKUST’s transition toward its net-zero carbon goals. They serve as a living example of how smart design and cutting-edge technologies can benefit both people and the planet. Looking ahead-including welcoming the first cohort of students to our new School of Medicine in 2028-the i-Village will provide an ideal environment to attract and nurture talent from diverse cultures and backgrounds.”
Mr. Huang underscored the vision and collaboration behind the new complex, “This purpose-built facility is the realisation of a vision six years in-the-making, brought to life through the collaboration of the HKSAR Government, The Trust and HKUST. Collectively we aim to empower young people to pursue their passions and, in doing so, nurture leaders who can propel Hong Kong’s economic development and sustain the prosperity of our nation.” He added that it is the fourth and largest residential project the Club has part-funded at the university, and that the Club is honoured to have supported many groundbreaking initiatives at HKUST over the years, reflecting the Club’s long-term commitment to and investment in human capital and education.
In her address, President Ip closely linked the completion of the new student residential complex to the University’s upcoming milestone, “This year marks a significant milestone for HKUST as we proudly celebrate our 35th anniversary. The inauguration of the Jockey Club i-Village opens an exciting new chapter in this journey, embodying our founding spirit of embracing challenges and serving the broader community. For many years, we have recognized that a world-class university education extends beyond the classroom. The Jockey Club i-Village addresses a long-standing need by providing our students with quality accommodation that fosters connection, collaboration, and holistic development. Designed as a dynamic hub for learning and engagement, this space brings together students from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and forge lasting friendships.”
The i-Village comprises four residential halls providing 1,551 hostel places for local and non-local undergraduate students. Seamlessly embedded into a steep, 25-meter hillside, the complex follows the natural contours of the terrain. Rooftop levels incorporate pedestrian walkways and shaded outdoor spaces, offering tranquil spaces for rest and social interaction among students and staff. These features enhance cross-campus connectivity and foster a vibrant, cross-cultural campus environment. The elevated walkways also establish a vital new connection between the academic zone in the northern campus and the primary residential quarters in the south, allowing students and staff to traverse the campus without detouring around the hillside.
Arranged in a hexagonal layout forming four distinct terraces along the slope, the approximately 35,500-square-meter facility features multi-functional communal spaces for living, learning, recreation, and leisure, with all rooms offering open views. The courtyards provide quiet resting spaces, while the surrounding hillsides are replanted to prevent soil erosion and designed to accommodate sports and social activities.
To create a self-contained “home” setting that nurtures community and a sense of belonging, the halls are split into three distinct apartment types composed of varying configurations of single or double bedrooms that accommodate 18 to 36 students. These include ‘Y’-type apartments for 27 students, featuring dedicated study zones, a leisure lounge, and a kitchen; split-level ‘V’-type apartments for 36 students, with a double-height communal living space and an internal staircase connecting the quieter upper-level study area with the lower-level dining and kitchen space; and ‘Linear’-type apartments for 18 students, offering an open-plan living space with an integrated kitchen that allow for flexible, reconfigurable use.
As a vanguard in sustainability and green building practices, the project achieved a provisional Platinum rating under the local BEAM Plus green building scheme. It also received the Grand Award at the Green Building Award 2021 (New Buildings Category: Projects Under Construction) and a Merit Award at the Green Building Award 2025 (New Building Category: Completed Projects). Based on a modular design, the façade units utilize double-glazed insulated windows with low shading coefficients. Shading panels above the windows are tailored based on digital solar path and radiation simulation, with their geometric depth and length optimized to meet the daylighting needs of different façade units and ensure indoor comfort. The exterior of the prefabricated façade modules is clad in ceramic tiles of varying colours. The shading system is calibrated to reflect the differing thermal properties of these tile finishes, forming a cohesive façade composition that visually reflects the building’s dynamic response to its microclimate.
The i-Village’s eco-friendly systems are directly connected to the University’s main network, combining a central freshwater cooling system with a district cooling to significantly reduce energy consumption. A centralized smart system predicts and balances the daytime energy demand in academic buildings with the nighttime needs of residential spaces. Serving as a key circulation route across the campus, the rooftops are equipped with high-performance thermal and acoustic insulation. Solar panels installed on unoccupied roof areas generate renewable energy, supporting the University’s vision of transforming the Clear Water Bay campus into a carbon-neutral environment.
