(Hong Kong, September 28, 2019) The Hang Lung Young Architects Program 2019-2020 organized by Hang Lung Properties has attracted a record high number of participants, with over 750 students nominated by more than 80 secondary schools applying to join the program. 330 students from 66 secondary schools have been selected by ballot to embark on a journey of learning that will see them become young architects over the course of the upcoming academic year.
 
The opening ceremony of the Program was held today at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center where the participating students, teachers and mentors, as well as more than a dozen renowned architects and academics who will serve as Program Advisors, joined the senior management of Hang Lung to inaugurate the Program. By participating in a series of interactive seminars, workshops, walking tours and creative project, the students will be able to explore Hong Kong’s unique architectural, cultural and historical developments, while gaining a better understanding of the connections between architecture and the community. They will also learn about modelling and 3D digital drawing techniques. At the final stage of the Program, the students will apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the Sketch Your Sky creative project. The three winning teams of this project will be awarded scholarships and the opportunity to participate in an overseas architectural tour to be held in the summer of 2020.
 
Mr. Weber Lo, Chief Executive Officer of Hang Lung Properties, remarked during the opening ceremony, “Hang Lung is committed to fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities, and we strive to serve the community by fully leveraging our network, resources and talents. As one of the Company’s flagship community projects, the Hang Lung Young Architects Program allows young people to make full use of this architectural education platform to deepen their understanding about the beauty and stories of architecture, thereby contributing to the inheritance and development of the Hong Kong construction industry.” He is particularly grateful to each of our Program Advisors for their professional advice, which has further enhanced the quality of the activities and learning elements of the Program this year.
 
Launched in 2017 by Hang Lung in collaboration with local cultural enterprise, Walk in Hong Kong, the Hang Lung Young Architects Program is the largest architectural-related youth education program in town. In addition to leveraging Hang Lung’s own talent pool including its senior management and architects, the program has also engaged 15 leaders from the construction industry and academia to take up roles as Program Advisors (please refer to the appendix for a detailed list of the advisors) who has furnished the Program with their professional suggestions. Besides, more than 70 new-generation architects and university students have also joined as mentors and event instructors, providing guidance and support to the participants throughout the Program.