Kai Tak Sports Park project: Design development & findings of the Urban Design Study

The recently published ‘Task Force on Kai Tak Harbourfront Development’ paper provides an update on the latest developments in regards to the Kai Tak Sports Park (the Sports Park) and seeks Members’ views on the proposed planning application for increasing the height limit of the main stadium, developing a 300-bedroom hotel, revising the disposition of the deck connection and including an eating place.

The most recent project progressions include updated drawings, including indicative master layout plan and plans showing connectivity to the Sports Park; and the report on the public engagement exercise has been published.

The Sports Park (formerly known as the Kai Tak Multi-purpose Sports Complex) is located at the North Apron of the former Kai Tak Airport and occupies an area of over 28 hectares. It is the largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong with an array of high-quality multi-purpose sports venues, community sports facilities, open space, park features, office and hotel accommodation, retail space, and food and beverage outlets.

The major sports venues in the Sports Park will include a 50,000-seat main stadium with acoustic retractable roof, a 5,000-seat public sports ground and a 7,000-seat indoor sports centre.

Subject to funding approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in the 2016-17 legislative session, the team plan to invite tenders for the construction of the Sports Park in the third quarter of 2017, with a view to commencing and completing construction in mid-2018 and end-2022 respectively.

Background on the Kai Tak Sports Park project

In January 2014, the team briefed the Task Force on Kai Tak Harbourfront Development (the Task Force) on the general scope of the project. In November 2015, they then briefed the Task Force on the indicative master layout plan of the Sports Park and the study findings on the following aspects in support of a planning application to the Town Planning Board (TPB):

(a) the need to increase the height limit of the main stadium from +55 metres above principal datum (mPD), as stipulated in the approved Kai Tak Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) to allow flexibility in stadium design
(b) the need for a 300-bedroom hotel within the site to support the hosting of major events in the Sports Park
(c) the need for a revised disposition of the deck connection to improve the connectivity between the northern and southern sections of the Sports Park site

At its meeting in November 2015, while the Task Force generally had no objection to the proposed increase in building height and the proposed hotel development, they requested for an urban design study to further examine the connectivity of the Sports Park with its neighbourhood. The Task Force found that, in addition to the three planning proposals, the inclusion of an eating place (not exceeding 300sqm gross floor area) in the public open space at the north-eastern portion of the Sports Park (hereinafter referred to as the neighbourhood park) for which planning application would also be required.

The latest design development is shown in the concept master plan of the Sports Park at Annex C, while the detailed design will be developed under the procurement contract of the project, the key elements are summarised in paragraphs 7-17 of the PDF; all of which can be viewed in full by clicking here.

About the Kai Tak Sports Park

Situated by the harbourfront within the Kai Tak Development area and occupying a site area of over 28 hectares, the Kai Tak Sports Park will provide various international standard sports facilities to uplift the city’s sports development by attracting more international events to be held in Hong Kong, providing our athletes more opportunities to compete in high-level competitions on home ground, and providing more community sports facilities in support of “Sports for All”.

In the future, no matter what, people will be able to go cheer for their favourite teams, head to live concerts and shows, jog after work, or even just spend a laid-back weekend with family members and kids at the green-filled landscaped playground, the Kai Tak Sports Park will welcome everyone with its superb connectivity. It will be linked to To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Kok and Kowloon City by pedestrian walkways. The Kai Tak Station and To Kwa Wan Station of the upcoming Shatin to Central Link will be just 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from the Park, not to mention other public transportation servicing the area.

STATE-OF-THE-ART SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE
Main Stadium
With a seating capacity of around 50,000 and being made adaptable to different sports and recreational events, the main stadium will attract the world’s top players of various international tournaments, including football and rugby, and thousands of fans from every corner of the world to gather here in town. Apart from being thrilled by the amazing skills and prowess of athletes, people can also enjoy other leisure and entertainment activities like concerts, carnivals and large-scale community events at the main stadium.This multi-functional stadium will be equipped with a flexible turf system and have different configurations to meet the needs of different sports and entertainment events. The removable pitch management system can add flexibility while the retractable roof can help mitigate noise impact on nearby residents. Spectators’ experience in terms of sightlines and viewing distances are catered for without affecting the functional versatility of the stadium.

Indoor Sports Centre
Imagine about 7,000 spectators cheering at the same time for a competition, everyone will be overwhelmed with excitement. With a playing surface equivalent to around 40 standard badminton courts when all retractable seats are retracted, the indoor sports centre can also become an ideal venue for community badminton, basketball, volleyball and other indoor sports activities during non-event days.

Public Sports Ground
The public sports ground, with a seating capacity of about 5,000, will be a place where people can go to cheer on children competing at their school sports day. It will be also a place for hosting local football matches, and open to the public for jogging and exercising at leisure time.

Ancillary Facilities
The Kai Tak Sports Park will take up the role of more than just providing high quality sports venues. The over-7-hectare-large open space will offer a landscaped park with extensive greening, fun-filled playgrounds, fitness stations, jogging and cycling tracks and more. It is a place for children to have fun, to be active, and for the health-conscious to work out.

More supporting facilities including a health and wellness centre for treatments on sports injuries and health improvement, retail outlets and restaurants are also proposed for the Park.

The Hong Kong Government hopes to commence construction of the Sports Park in 2018, with completion slated for 2022.

For further information on the project, go to: www.kaitaksportspark.hk

To view the full PDF document, please visit: https://www.kaitaksportspark.hk/en/index.html

Task Force under the Sports Commission

Expert Consultants

Operations Consultant

The joint venture of KPMG and Advisian is the operations consultant.  It is tasked to formulate user requirements, business plan, financial projections and performance measurements for the operation of the Kai Tak Sports Park. It also reviews the procurement approach of the project, carries out economic cost-benefit analysis, conducts turf studies and formulates management solutions, and collects views from stakeholders (including sports sector and other potential users) on the design and operation of the Sports Park.

 

Sub-Consultants:
Major Stadium Operations Consultant	Major Stadium Operations Consultant	Indoor Arena and Community Facilities Consultant	Turf Consultant
Facilities Management Consultant	Retail Sub Consultant	Hotel Consultant	Employer’s Requirements Consultant

Technical Services Consultant

Leigh & Orange Limited (architectural lead consultant), WSP (HK) Limited (building services and structural sub-consultants) and Urbis Limited (landscape sub-consultant) are the technical services consultant. The team prepares conceptual drawings and technical specifications, assists in tender assessment for the main works and supervise the design and construction of the project.

 

Sub-Consultants:
• Civil, Structural & Geotechnical Engineering Services Consultant • Building Services Consultant • Traffic & Crowd Movement Consultant • Sustainability & Environmental Consultant	Fire Engineering Consultant	Stadium, Sports & Arena Design Consultant	Retractable Roof Specialist Consultant
Facade Design Consultant	Universal Design Accessibility Consultant	Landscape & Turf Specialist Consultant	Safety and Security Strategy Consultant
Systematic Risk Management and Construction Design Management (Health and Safety Design Management) Consultant	Way Finding & Signage Consultant	Specialist, Architectural & Decorative Lighting Consultant	ICT & Acoustics Consultant
Catering Equipment Specialist Consultant

Quantity Surveying Consultant

Rider Levett Bucknall Limited is the quantity surveying consultant. It reviews the project cost, prepares tender documents and assists in tender assessment for the main works. It also helps in reviewing the procurement approach.

 

Planning Consultant

Urban Design & Planning Consultants Limited is the planning consultant. It studies the need to relax the building height restriction on the main stadium for greater design flexibility and the need to include a hotel of suitable size to provide accommodation for participants of sports and other events. It will assist to obtain the necessary planning permission from the Town Planning Board.

 

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