The Civil Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering & Development Department (CEDD) has launched “Connection”, a new community liaison centre that stands as Hong Kong’s first structure built using a circular design concept.

Located at the Ma Liu Shui promenade, the facility opened its doors to the public on July 28 to showcase sustainable infrastructure and promote the civil engineering profession through interactive exhibits.

Designed to eliminate carbon emission and to keep resources in use for as long as possible, the building serves as a live demonstration of low-carbon architecture. It incorporates innovative materials, including CarbonCure concrete, biochar concrete and engineered bamboo.

Sustainable infrastructure

CEDD Senior Engineer Cathy Cheng explained that the circular building design is mainly reflected in two fundamental cycles.

“The first is the biological loop. It pursues the principle that building materials should be taken from and returned to nature. For example, we used renewable and biodegradable engineered bamboo to replace conventional building materials as the building’s structural framework,” Miss Cheng said.

She said that once the building serves its purpose, the bamboo framework will safely decompose back into nature. 

“The second cycle is the technical loop, which leaves the possibility of giving each primary structural component a second life. This allows the building's life cycle to extend beyond a single location, enabling resources to circulate continuously.”

Miss Cheng added that the department hopes the project will serve as a model for scaling innovative materials and technologies across other local and regional  developments.

Interactive exhibits

Since its official opening, “Connection” has drawn visitors to explore four distinct exhibition zones: the Interactive Corridor, the Immersive Cinema, the Interactive Area and the Souvenir Area.

CEDD Project Co-ordinator Sam Chu highlighted the Interactive Area as the facility’s hallmark experience. Featuring large screens in front and underfoot, the space uses interactive storytelling to make civil engineering concepts accessible.

“‘Connection’ aims to help the public learn more about the Civil Engineering Office in a more engaging, relaxed and simple way. It also seeks to promote the civil engineering profession to the public,” Mr Chu said.

Community liaison

Building on that public engagement focus, Miss Cheng noted that this accessible approach ties directly into the centre’s broader mission: fostering community connection, driving industry innovation and supporting eco-tourism.

“We hope to strengthen our connection with the public and promote engineering development through innovative thinking,” she explained. 

“The Civil Engineering Office has always been committed to improving and maintaining public piers so that the public can access Hong Kong's various natural attractions more safely and comfortably to enjoy eco-tourism.” 

She added that the facility’s location near two public piers serves a principal purpose as a gathering point for local eco-tourism. This aligns with the department’s ongoing efforts to upgrade public pier infrastructure, ensuring safer, more comfortable access to Hong Kong’s natural attractions.

Visitor information

“Connection” is open six days a week, closing only on Mondays for regular maintenance. The centre offers extended operating hours on Fridays, weekends and public holidays. Admission is free to all members of the public.