The project, renovation works for the West Wing of the former Central Government Offices, Hong Kong, for office use by the Department of Justice and law related organizations, is one of the adaptive reuse projects under the Hong Kong Government’s “Conserving Central” initiative, aiming at recognizing the importance of Central’s cultural and historical heritage.

The West Wing of the former Central Government Office (West Wing) is an existing 14-storey, L- shaped building occupying a footprint of approximately 2,371m². It was completed in 1959 and was accorded as Grade 1 historic building in 2012. The former Central Government Offices had been the principal government office since the colonial times. Many important policies and decisions contributing to the development of Hong Kong were made therein. The building was one of the best preserved examples of 1950s ‘Functionalist’ architecture in Hong Kong. The West Wing was designed in modern utilitarian style on a form-follows-function basis. The exposed concrete frame design and the slim profile universal Crittall style steel frame windows avoid unnecessary decorations and allows maximum natural sunlight and ventilation into the internal space.

The scope of the project includes conservation works to preserve, repair and reinstate the character defining elements of the building with minimum intervention, restoration works include demolition of obsolete facilities that are inconsistent with the project objectives/reinstatement of the original design intent of the building, and conversion works to comply with prevailing statutory requirements, meet the operational needs of the users, while ensuring high level of safety and sustainability in designed solutions and adopting environmental initiatives consistent with green government buildings. The project commenced in October 2016 and was substantially completed in April 2019 for operation.