The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Hong Kong opened last month with 141 students from 18 countries enrolled. Approximately 40 percent of the SCAD Hong Kong enrolled students are Hong Kong residents, 40 percent are U.S. residents and 20 percent are residents of other countries.

SCAD is the first organization to complete revitalization and open for use one of the historic buildings awarded by the Hong Kong government under the "Revitalizing Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme," a program aimed at conserving and transforming historic buildings for innovative new uses. The university invested more than HKD $250 million of its own capital in the revitalization and start-up of SCAD Hong Kong without further investment from the Hong Kong government.

"SCAD loves Hong Kong. The new campus is electric with the energy of our first class of SCAD students, and they love it," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "Hong Kong is an expansive collage of daring architecture, vibrant people, and rich traditions. At SCAD, just as in Hong Kong, history meets innovation at every turn, and we are so deeply happy to bring SCAD and our comprehensive art and design degree programs to this stunning city."

SCAD's vision for the former North Kowloon Magistracy was to honor the structure's historic and cultural significance while updating it with leading-edge technology.

Since its founding in 1978, the university has revitalised more than 100 buildings around the world, and has been recognized by the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects, and the International Downtown Association, among others, for excellence in historic conservation and urban revitalisation.