MEDIA RELEASE PR41848
SCAD and Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang Join to Commemorate Historic Revitalisation of
Former North Kowloon Magistracy, Opening of SCAD Hong Kong
HONG KONG, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-Asia-AsiaNet/ --
SCAD President Paula Wallace and the SCAD Board of Trustees today joined the Honourable Donald
Tsang, GBM, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and representatives from
Hong Kong's government and creative industries to commemorate the historic revitalisation of the former
North Kowloon Magistracy Building, now transformed into Hong Kong's first degree-granting university focused
exclusively on art and design, SCAD Hong Kong.
SCAD is the first organization to complete revitalisation and open for use one of the historic buildings
awarded by the Hong Kong government under the "Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership
Scheme," a program aimed at conserving and transforming historic buildings for innovative new uses. The
university invested more than HK$250 million of its own capital in the revitalisation and start-up of SCAD Hong
Kong without further investment from the Hong Kong government.
"SCAD loves Hong Kong. The new campus is electric with the energy of our first class of SCAD students,
and they love it," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "Hong Kong is an expansive collage of daring
architecture, vibrant people, and rich traditions. At SCAD, just as in Hong Kong, history meets innovation at
every turn, and we are so deeply happy to bring SCAD and our comprehensive art and design degree
programs to this stunning city."
Donald Tsang, GBM, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, congratulated
SCAD Hong Kong for being the first project to be completed under the "Revitalising Historic Buildings Through
Partnership Scheme."
"SCAD's work in transforming the North Kowloon Magistracy Building into this digital media education hub
shows how historical buildings can enjoy a second lease of life. SCAD Hong Kong brought their extensive
expertise in this conservation and restoration project and introduced world-class arts and design education
into Hong Kong, helping us to reinforce our position as a regional education hub, with an international learning
environment," he said.
SCAD's vision for the former North Kowloon Magistracy, located at 292 Tai Po Road in Sham Shui Po, was
to honor the structure's historic and cultural significance while updating it with leading-edge technology to
create teaching and learning spaces for professors and students. Significant features such as original flooring,
furniture, paint colors and other finishes were conserved and restored as the university created a 5,000-
volume circulation library, art gallery, dark room, green screen motion capture studio, sound design studio,
editing suites, computer labs, classrooms and lecture halls. Environmentally friendly features such as power
efficient lighting systems, state-of-the-art cooling systems and solar reducing technologies were utilized in the
process.
"SCAD is continually inspired by the challenge of blending old and new, form and function, art and
technology," noted SCAD Hong Kong Vice President John Paul Rowan. "With our established strengths in
education, career preparation, conservation, and the arts, we have been delighted to see the former North
Kowloon Magistracy blossom into SCAD Hong Kong."
SCAD is an internationally recognized leader in the field of historic conservation and rehabilitation. Since its
founding in 1978, the university has revitalised more than 100 buildings around the world, creating inspiring
communities for the study of art, architecture and design. SCAD has been recognized by the U.S. National
Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects, and the International Downtown
Association, among others, for excellence in historic conservation and urban revitalisation.
U.S. Art and Design Education in Hong Kong
SCAD Hong Kong opened September 13 with 141 highly qualified, talented students from 18 countries
enrolled for the first classes, continuing the university's tradition of maintaining selective admission standards.
This inaugural group of diverse international students represents the largest opening class for any SCAD
location, with nearly double the number of students enrolled for the opening of SCAD Savannah or SCAD
Atlanta. In 1979, SCAD Savannah opened with 71 students, and since that time has grown to nearly 8,000
students. In 2005, SCAD Atlanta opened with 77 students and now serves nearly 1,800 students.
Approximately 40 percent of the SCAD Hong Kong enrolled students are Hong Kong residents, 40 percent are
U.S. residents and 20 percent are residents of other countries.
SCAD Hong Kong also opened with 16 professors, initially offering a nine-to-one student-to-professor ratio.
This maintains SCAD's practice of offering small class sizes that emphasize learning through individual
student attention.
SCAD Hong Kong offers U.S. bachelor's and master's degrees in advertising, animation, graphic design,
illustration, interactive design and game development, motion media design, photography, and visual effects.
As is customary in U.S. universities, SCAD Hong Kong bachelor's degrees offer four years of instruction,
including a core curriculum in fine art foundation studies and general education before progressing into the
major courses. Master's degrees require advanced knowledge and specialized study that may include field or
teaching internships and thesis projects, papers or exhibitions.
SCAD Hong Kong offers students an innovative curriculum, accomplished professors with impressive
academic credentials and significant professional experience, a facility equipped with state-of-the-art
technology and learning resources, and a student success staff to offer a variety of services to help students
pursue professional careers after they complete their degrees. In addition, students enrolled at SCAD Hong
Kong have the opportunity to study at any of the university's other locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia,
Lacoste, France, and online via SCAD eLearning. Globally, SCAD offers degree programs in 43 majors and
more than 50 minors.
The SCAD curriculum is designed to offer new students the opportunity to begin their studies at SCAD in
September, January, March or June each year. This means that SCAD has the potential for additional new
students to enter SCAD Hong Kong this academic year.
Outreach and Partnerships that Benefit Students, Professors, Alumni and the Hong Kong Community
Continuing a more than 30-year-long tradition of outreach in the local communities surrounding SCAD
facilities, the university is pleased to offer ongoing educational, cultural and economic opportunities to
students, professors, alumni and community members in Hong Kong.
In September, the university unveiled Moot Gallery, the second SCAD gallery space to open in Hong Kong
this year, featuring the work of talented SCAD students, professors, alumni and renowned visiting artists.
Located at SCAD Hong Kong, Moot Gallery is named as a lighthearted reference to the former function of the
gallery space as a courtroom. The current exhibition, "Seekers of Light," continues through Dec. 30 and is free
and open to the public.
On display Oct. 25-Dec. 30 at SCAD Gallery, 2/F 30-32 Wyndham St. in Central, are "City of Exile" and
"The Poetry of Classical Hymns." These exhibitions represent the fourth and fifth exhibitions at SCAD Gallery
since the gallery's debut in March. They are free and open to the public.
Also maintaining the university's longstanding practice of establishing partnerships with local businesses as
well as arts and cultural organizations, SCAD Hong Kong is partnering this autumn with the Hong Kong
Tourism Board, Yves Saint Laurent, and American Greetings, among others. These mutually beneficial
relationships expand learning, internships and career opportunities for students and alumni while providing
fresh new design insight for corporate and nonprofit partners. Since the time that SCAD Hong Kong was
announced in February 2009, the university has collaborated with G.O.D., VTech, Jockey Club Creative Arts
Centre and Hong Kong International Film Festival, among others.
Connect with SCAD Hong Kong
SCAD offers admission for new students at the start of each academic quarter (September, January, March
and June) and currently is accepting applications for winter 2011 and beyond. Additional information on SCAD
Hong Kong degree programs and admission requirements can be found online at
Admission inquiries may be directed to 852.2253.8000 (Hong Kong) or 800.869.7223 (U.S.) or
admission_hk@scad.edu.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is the most comprehensive art and design university in the world,
offering more degree programs and specializations than any other art university. SCAD is a private, nonprofit,
accredited institution conferring bachelor's and master's degrees in distinctive locations and online to prepare
talented students for professional careers. SCAD offers 43 majors and more than 50 minors at locations in
Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; in Lacoste, France; online through SCAD eLearning; and in Hong Kong.
SCAD offers an exceptional education and unparalleled career preparation. The diverse student body of
more than 10,000 comes from all 50 United States and nearly 100 countries worldwide. Each student is
nurtured and motivated by a faculty of more than 650 professors with extraordinary academic credentials and
valuable professional experience. These professors emphasize learning through individual attention in an
inspiring university environment. SCAD's innovative curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level
technology, equipment and learning resources and has garnered acclaim from respected organizations and
publications, including BusinessWeek, American Institute of Architects, DesignIntelligence, U.S. News & World
Report and Los Angeles Times.
SCAD Hong Kong At A Glance
-- SCAD is the first university in Hong Kong to focus exclusively on art
and design education.
-- SCAD's vision is for SCAD Hong Kong to become the leading site for the
study of digital media in Asia.
-- SCAD Hong Kong offers 14 degree programs in advertising, animation,
graphic design, illustration, interactive design and game development,
motion media design, photography, and visual effects.
-- SCAD received the building from the Hong Kong government in February
2009. The university carefully conserved and revitalised the building
according to the government's standards, respecting the facility's
heritage while creating a vibrant new environment to benefit students,
professors, alumni and the local community.
Contacts for Asia region:
Tom Ho
Edelman Hong Kong
Tel: +852-2837-4726
Email: tom.ho@edelman.com
Contacts for other regions:
Sunny Nelson
SCAD
Tel: +912-713-4275
Email: snelson@scad.edu
Emily Belford
SCAD
Tel: +912-525-5225
Email: ebelford@scad.edu
SOURCE: The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
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