The Department of Architecture (ARCH) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the Build a Smart City Competition 2026, culminating in an official Award Presentation Ceremony held on 10 October 2026. The competition, which brought together secondary school student teams from across Hong Kong, celebrated the exceptional ingenuity, spatial design vision, and computational modeling skills of the next generation of urban innovators.
The annual competition challenges young minds to develop forward-thinking architectural proposals aimed at enhancing urban sustainability, efficiency, and microclimates. Following a rigorous evaluation process, an esteemed panel of professional judges reviewed the final design proposals and models based on their architectural innovation, technical viability, and community impact. Wa Ying College was crowned the Champion of the competition for their outstanding commercial complex design. Inspired by the natural terraced landscapes of Jiuzhaigou, the team utilized advanced 3D modeling to seamlessly integrate three structural towers using a strategic network of bridges and escalators. Their proposal creatively exploited the structural variance between building layers to establish vibrant outdoor green terraces, while incorporating an automated misting system designed to lower urban temperatures and create a dynamic spatial atmosphere. The 1st Runner-up title was awarded to King's College, followed by China Holiness Church Living Spirit College as the 2nd Runner-up. Merit Awards were presented to Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, Shun Tak Fraternal Association Yung Yau College, and CCC Kei Yuen College in recognition of their high-quality design work.
The Department extends its warmest congratulations to all the winning schools, and expresses its sincere appreciation to every participating team for the immense effort, creativity, and dedication demonstrated throughout the competition journey. The Department also thanks the professional jury members whose guidance made this an invaluable educational experience for all involved.
