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-USNewswire/ -- 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.

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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 HKD $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 scad.edu/hongkong. Students may apply at scad.edu/apply.

Admission inquiries may be directed to 852.2253.8000 (Hong Kong) or 800.869.7223 (U.S.) or [email protected].

Media inquiries in Asia may be directed to Tom Ho, Edelman Hong Kong, at 852.2837.4726 or [email protected]. All other media inquiries may be directed to Sunny Nelson at 912.713.4275 or [email protected] or Emily Belford at 912.525.5225 or [email protected].

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.

For more information, visit scad.edu.

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.

SOURCE Savannah College of Art and Design