Project Overview

KTR350 is a new redevelopment project by Laws Properties, a subsidiary of LAWSGROUP.
Located in the heart of East Kowloon CBD, KTR350 is crafted with the design concept of bringing Technology, Wellness, and Geometry into one iconic building, while conserving the heritage and cultural elements of the vibrant and historical neighbourhood.
The 29-storey cylindrical building represents a new beacon integrated with smart building management, smart parking system, full indoor coverage of 5G connectivity and security, together with approx. 35,000 sq.ft. of retail area and over approx. 10,000 sq.ft. of wellness and green spaces, to complete a dynamic ecosystem for businesses to excel.

Organisation

LAWSGROUP

Team

In the role of developer, LAWSGROUP emphasizes the ethical principles of integrity, responsibility, and honesty in redeveloping KTR350 as always, so as to create a sustainable environment and tackle various challenges in a construction project. In execution, we take every small step seriously in the hope of assuring the project can be executed in line with our ethical principles, especially documentation - the formal and official communication and instruction channel as well as a record of works which forming and support the whole basis of all and any works. Professionals from every aspect of the industry offer their expertise to KTR350, like branding concept design by banding designer, building design and statutory fulfillment by Architect and building surveyor, demolition work & construction work by the registered contractor, engineering and E&M (E.g., MVAC, Lift, Electricity, 5G, utilities, etc.) by a qualified engineer, safety, and supervision by surveyor and expert, planning, management and contract administration by the project manager, quantity assessment by a quantity surveyor, landscape, environmental issue, and sustainability by an expert, legal advice by lawyer and so on.

Being the project owner, LAWSGROUP plays a significant role in coordination and project management when it comes to a variety of parties involved in a redevelopment project. Needless to say, liaising with different teams is a must for project progress as the work involves lots of stakeholders. Thus, effective coordination and communication skillsets and tools among stakeholders are vital. We make good use of every possible means to ensure good teamwork, for instance, email, phone calls a 24-hour hotline on site, E-communication like WhatsApp and WeCom, regular site and online meetings, etc.
The architect and surveyor are also critical in assisting and verifying all the opinions. A ton of opinions and options appear accordingly when the works involve multi-stakeholders, most commonly in the conflict between design concept, construction-wise execution, contractual implication, regulation fulfillment, management consideration, etc. We must manage to deliver inclusion and respect between teams and strike a balance in all possibilities to achieve a satisfying outcome for the project.

Project Brief

The design of KTR350 centred around three core conceptual cornerstones: Technology, Wellness, and Geometry – pursuing excellence across smart infrastructure, environmental provisions, and architectural design towards a highly balanced and efficient ecosystem that boasts contemporary aesthetic, comfort, values of sustainability, and innovation.
The management and performance of KTR350 are streamlined and optimized via state-of-the-art 5G, IoT, Smart Parking System, and Data Visualisation technology integration; connecting, responding, and informing in real-time.

The Tower is equipped with different green and open spaces to promote wellness, such as a 360 running track with a sweeping panoramic view at the Sky Garden on the 17/F, bright and contemporary interiors devoted to urban planting, and the relaxing and spectacular Rooftop Garden. Different historical and cultural elements have also been conserved within KTR350, including two custom resin tables created from the former “MAXWELL” facade signage before the redevelopment, as well as a giant perforated panel silkscreened with a collage of buildings from different eras — showing the evolution of the neighborhood.

Project Innovation/Need

KTR350’s distinct cylindrical architectural silhouette maximizes the environmental performance of the tower – increases wind resistance, natural lighting and solar, energy efficiency, material efficiency, and ventilation, as well as grants panoramic skyline views
LAWSGROUP integrated state-of-the-art “5G + IoT+ Data Visualization” technologies into KTR350 for seamless and automated management, including Smart Building Management, Smart Parking System, Smart Washroom, Full Indoor Coverage of 5G connectivity, and Dedicated 5G bandwidth for enhanced convenience, speed, reliability, and security. The integration of smart technologies encourages building tenants to prioritize a healthy, balanced, and sustainable lifestyle.

Design Challenge

the outstanding elliptical building form and modern interior design always follow with some unique and challenging tasks to be overcome. A combination of the curvy design of artificial lighting at the ceiling of the lobby and the outlet of the air-conditioning system is a big challenge and noteworthy to be shared. The building surveyor and architect have to fulfill both functions of the air-conditioning system to regulation standards and the designer’s satisfaction. For example, the location and shape of the AC outlet to suit the lighting design and building concept and size of the outlet and engineering collaboration to fulfill certain Air Change Rates and other functions in the AC system as stipulated in the regulation.
Fortunately, we overcame such a challenge after lots of attempts and afterward obtained an Occupation Permit successfully.
Master programs and working schedules are always introduced and used as essential tools for achieving targeted goals in construction projects, including KTR350. It facilitates the monitoring of the progress of work at the management level in a targeted timeframe, and further, helps in contract administration like an assessment of Extension of Time and Liquidated damage to achieve cost-effectiveness. Our professional QS team executes cautiously on the contract and cost matter, as well as the approval of variation order, in conjunction with the professional judgment and effort of the architect and surveyor.

Sustainability

Sustainability has been always LAWSGROUP’s core value and KTR350 was designed and built with the mission to comply with the Group’s “1.5°Campaign”. The Tower’s cylindrical form and elliptical layout not only convey a timeless and iconic architecture, but also facilitate a series of technical as well as environmental benefits and performances, including Higher Energy and Material Efficiency, Optimized Natural Lighting, Better Ventilation, and Reduced Wind Resistance.
Further, as aforesaid, the unique building shape of KTR350 maximizes the environmental performance:
- Energy efficiency: With less exterior wall area, heating and cooling bills are lower. Cool winds flow smoothly around the building instead of leaking in and causing drafts.
- Material efficiency: For the same amount of interior floor space, a circular building has about 15-20 percent less exterior wall area compared to a rectangular design. This reduces the material requirement, reducing wastage and labor
- Natural lighting and solar: optimal exposure to daylight and solar energy throughout the day; as at all times the sun's rays are perpendicular to the exterior wall. View of the city is uninterrupted all around without obvious corners.
- Ventilation: A circular building will capture breezes from all directions, and also ensure an even and constant ventilation throughout.
- Wind resistance: Circular design withstands typhoon winds better. In case of a typhoon, the wind pushes through strongly against the flat sides of the standard tower but is deflected off a round one.