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Renovation of magistracy building to start in autumn
13 June 2009
South China Morning Post
The renovation of the former North Kowloon Magistracy building is expected to begin in the autumn and will make as few changes as possible to the structure, says an expert with the American arts college that was awarded tenancy of the historic building.
Savannah College of Art and Design's preservation specialist Bob Dickensheets, who moved to Hong Kong two months ago, said the heritage impact assessment of the building had begun and he expected it to be completed soon. The college will open next year.
Mr Dickensheets said the assessment would lay down specifications on meeting Development Bureau requirements, and give suggestions "on ways to keep history alive". After the assessment was completed and followed by other studies, including those on engineering and fire safety, the college would be given approval to start the renovation project in October, he said.
The renovation would go through the same procedures that applied to similar projects in Hong Kong, he said, including going through the Antiquities and Monuments Office and Antiquities Advisory Board, and would be completed before the college opened.
The college has earned a reputation for conservation through restoring more than 70 historic buildings for its campuses in the United States and France.
Mr Dickensheets expected the former court building to be less complicated than work on much older buildings, adding that the building had been well maintained and was in good condition.
Despite the need to convert the building to house eight computer laboratories, 14 classrooms, three studios, a darkroom, a small workshop, gallery space, a library and administrative offices, Mr Dickensheets said as few changes as possible would be made. Items such as seats, benches and tables would be preserved, he said. When building a studio, instead of knocking down or damaging the walls, a curtain made of soundproofing materials would be placed around the walls.
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