Tsing Yi Southwest Leisure Building provides more leisure and sports facilities in Kwai Tsing (with photos)
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Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, said the completion of Tsing Yi Southwest Leisure Building not only caters for the needs of residents, but also signifies the Government's effort to provide leisure and sports facilities in the community with the aim of encouraging the public to exercise regularly and establish a healthy lifestyle.
Mr Lau attributed the successful completion of the building to the concerted co-operation of the Kwai Tsing District Council (K&TDC) and local organisations with the Government. He also expressed gratitude for their valuable comments on the planning and construction of the building.
Other officiating guests at the ceremony were the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Leung Koon-kee; the Chairman of the K&TDC, Mr Law King-shing; and the Chairman of the K&TDC's Planning and District Facilities Management Committee, Ms Tam Wai-chun.
Located at 70 Chung Mei Road, Tsing Yi Southwest Leisure Building occupies a total area of about 6 700 square metres and was commissioned in July this year. On its first to third floors is Tsing Yi Southwest Sports Centre, featuring the first outdoor climbing wall in the district. Sport climbing lovers are able to practise their skills on the 15-metre-high climbing wall. In addition, the sports centre provides a multi-purpose arena that can be used as basketball courts or volleyball courts or badminton courts; two multi-purpose activity rooms; two dance rooms; and an ocean-themed children's play room which is the biggest public play room in Hong Kong.
Tsing Yi Southwest Swimming Pool situated on the first floor of the building is the first indoor heated swimming pool in Kwai Tsing District and is open all year round. Residents of the district can enjoy swimming even in winter. The pool measures 25m by 15m and has six swimming lanes.
Tsing Yi Southwest Leisure Building was designed and built by the Architectural Services Department. Its unique design has won the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Merit Award of Hong Kong 2016/17 (Community Building). Visitors are first attracted by the building's modern exterior including its black-coloured tilted external walls matched with raw fair-faced concrete pillars, as well as the punch-holed signage of the sports centre. The eye-catching ceilings and benches with zigzag forms inside the building also reflect the vibrancy and energetic vibe of the premises. Furthermore, the ceiling of the indoor swimming pool has been stylishly designed with aluminium strips to form an undulating shape that resembles the body movement of a swimmer thrusting forward in the butterfly stroke.
In addition, various green elements have been adopted in the building design. Feature walls and benches made of timber are used. Skylights and full-height glass walls are also introduced in several locations to allow natural daylight to penetrate in order to reduce power consumption in the lighting system and achieve energy saving. The public can also relax and enjoy themselves in the ample interior and exterior open spaces of the building, including an outdoor lawn area.
Members of the public can visit the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's website for the opening arrangements of the sports centre and swimming pool. For enquiries, please contact the venue staff of the sports centre (Tel: 2341 0102) and the swimming pool (Tel: 2715 4202).
Ends/Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:23
Issued at HKT 16:23
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