Atkins has been chosen to develop the below ground elements as part of the consultancy team that has been selected to design a world class Chinese opera facility for the reservation and development of this traditional art form in Hong Kong. The Xiqu Centre has been commissioned by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) as the gateway building of the island's planned new Cultural District which will eventually boast 15 performing arts venues.
      The Xiqu Centre is sited within a cramped urban area and will sit directly above the MTR West Rail metro tunnels and the southern end of Austin station. Atkins' engineers are facing multiple challenges to ensure the works do not affect the stability of the station and the tunnels, working closely as sub-consultants to structural engineers BuroHappold who will carry out the remainder of the engineering, and with the architectural design team Bing Thom Architects and Ronald Lu & Partners.
     C K Chan, Atkins' director for structure in Asia Pacific, said: "There are several hurdles including making sure the centre's foundations are clear of the metro and the structure spreads its load in a way that does not add additional load to the MTR tunnel. The construction phase is also critical due to the vibration risk and the changes in surcharge loadings on the MTR structures as soil is removed and then the basement constructed above. It is complex but we have the expertise from having worked on the MTR system development and the recent Li Chi Kok drainage tunnel, also in West Kowloon, on which we had similar challenges."
     The Xiqu Centre will host some of the finest examples of new and historic Cantonese and other Chinese opera, occupying a prime site at the eastern edge of the new cultural district. It is comprised of a 1,100-seat main theatre, a 400-seat theatre, and a Tea House for small audience performances for up to 200 people. There will also be ancillary training and education facilities.
     Atkins' scope of work includes detailed design for the substructure including foundations, basement and ground floor, and excavation and lateral support for construction, associated road works and external drainage adjacent to the building as well as site supervision over a period of 10 months.
     The Xiqu Centre is scheduled for completion around the end of 2016 and will be the first of 17 core arts and cultural venues to be opened within the district.