2024.04.25

The C. L. Liu Building officially opens today. From left: Former President Wen-Tsuen Chen (陳文村), Former President Lih-Juann Chen (陳力俊), Former President Hong Hocheng (賀陳弘), UMC Chairman Chia-Tsung Hung (洪嘉聰), NTHU President W. John Kao (高為元), Dr. Jane W. S. Liu (張韻詩), wife of late President Chung-Laung Liu (劉炯朗), Former Minister of Science and Technology Jyuo-Min Shyu (徐爵民), and Dean Shuo-Hung Hsu (徐碩鴻) of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan remembers late former president Chung-Laung Liu (劉炯朗) with the completion and inauguration of the renovated EECS Building, now known as the C. L. Liu Building, thanks to sponsorship from United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC). This renovation will give NTHU students a better study environment in the spirit of late President Liu.
 
The exterior of the new building has been restored, with public art highlighting Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. The archive room showcases Liu's personal life and works, recognizing his legacy as an international pioneer in information science and education.
 
Former President Liu was praised by colleagues for his jovial nature, according to President W. John Kao (高為元) who noted that, "Humor and positivity are crucial for a president." Kao intends to learn from Liu by visiting the C. L. Liu Building archives. He thanked UMC for their donation and envisioned future collaboration to nurture talent and drive progress.
 
Chung-Laung Liu had Deep Ties with UMC
 
Chung-Laung Liu was an independent director and board member at UMC for 15 years, contributing significantly to the company's governance.
 
UMC Chairman Chia-Tsung Hung (洪嘉聰) stated that out of the current nine members of the UMC board, two are NTHU professors, and five senior executives are NTHU alumni. Over the years, more than 2000 NTHU alumni have joined UMC, becoming a primary driver of research and development at the company.
 
UMC and NTHU faculty have a long history of industry-academia collaboration, fostering a strong bond between the two institutions.
 
Hung stated that in addition to donating money for the building renovations UMC has funded the "UMC Dr. Chung-Laung Liu Doctoral Scholarship" at NTHU since last year. This project supports outstanding doctoral students and innovative research, enhancing Taiwan's semiconductor sector competitiveness.
 
Chung-Laung Liu: An Exemplar of Integrity
 
Dr. Jane W. S. Liu (張韻詩), wife of former President Liu and an honorary professor at NTHU, expressed sincere gratitude on his behalf to the participants from NTHU and UMC during the unveiling of the C. L. Liu Building, stating: "Thank you for remembering me." Dr. Liu dramatically recited "He is Gone," a poem by the British poet David Hawkins, imploring everyone to live as Liu did: with laughter, love, and fellowship.
 
President Kao presented Dr. Jane W.S. Liu with a limited-edition whiskey bottle etched with former President Liu's calligraphy, "To Oneself Be True, Give Nature Its Due." This special bottle was created to support the NTHU Renaissance Endowment Fund.
 
Former NTHU President Hong Hocheng (賀陳弘) was instrumental in the reconstruction of the C.L. Liu Building. He lauded Liu's extensive expertise in both science and the humanities, comparing his accomplishments, especially his important work in discrete mathematics, to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata: eternal and profound. "He epitomized the virtues of a true gentleman and university president, unmatched by any other," Hocheng said.
 
Sustainable Renovation: The Focus of the C. L. Liu Building
 
Shuo-Hung Hsu (徐碩鴻), Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at NTHU, emphasized the renovation's sustainability and practicality. It involved rebuilding the structure's exterior walls and implementing a cooling system with expansion nets. The water and electrical infrastructure were upgraded, new air conditioning systems were installed, and restrooms were rebuilt. Outside the building, seating areas were constructed on the plaza, allowing students to hold group discussions and participate in other activities.
 
The ground level of the C. L. Liu Building houses an archive room with exhibits of former President Liu's works, which students and faculty can freely access. Inside, a display shelf highlights Liu's prestigious academic awards, including the Gustav Robert Kirchhoff Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the Golden Tripod Award for radio broadcasting, which inspired Liu's research spirit and pedagogical demeanor.
 
Liu often introduced himself as the "Laughter President" and cracked jokes at the start of his remarks, a display of wit and comedy that inevitably pleased the audience.
 
The archive room provides tablets and headphones which students and faculty can use to listen to Liu's radio show "I Love Chatting, You Love Laughing" on IC Radio. In the show, he shared humorous anecdotes and his opinions on a variety of subjects such as the ten-year law of success, how to win friendships with wisdom, and what is love.
 
When the original EECS Building was completed, Dean Hsu, an NTHU alumnus who graduated from the Department of Electrical Engineering in 1992, regretted not being able to use it. So, when he was given the go-ahead to remodel the dilapidated building twenty years later, he paid close attention to detail, even picking out paint colors for the façade and bathrooms as well as deciding how many coats of paint to apply.
 
Revealing Liu's Spirit: Design Inspirations from C. L. Liu
 
Iuan-Kai Fang (房元凱), the director of K.E.A. Creative Group and a Ph.D. candidate at NTHU, oversaw the remodeling and redesign of the C. L. Liu Building. Fang infused the design with many elements from both NTHU and the spirit of former President Liu.
 
Fang designed the white cubic structure known as the "All in One" above the entrance of the C. L. Liu Building using matrix mathematical concepts. It features the letters "EE" for electrical engineering and "CS" for computer science, which are visible from all angles. When illuminated at night, the structure draws attention to the artwork and serves as a guide for EE and CS students who study in the building at all hours.
 
Entering the C. L. Liu Building's foyer, one is welcomed by a dual-image-displayable relief laser engraving wall. To produce the illusion of dual images, this work of art—named after C. L. Liu—presented a tremendous manufacturing problem due to the need to precisely cut lines on high-intensity cement walls. Former president Liu's smiling, compassionate visage is seen from the right, and his most well-known discrete mathematical formulas are shown on the left.
 
According to Fang, computer calculations were used to design both the relief wall and the cubic structure, fusing creative expression with technology from the EE and CS departments to produce two unique works of public art.
 
Reinvigorated Charm: Students and Faculty Marvel at the New C. L. Liu Building
 
President Liu had a significant and wide-ranging impact on NTHU, according to Ting-Ting Hwang (黃婷婷), a professor in the Department of Computer Science at NTHU and a close friend of the late president. Leaving a lasting legacy that has greatly benefited the NTHU community, he pioneered the practice of universities in Taiwan attracting resources from multiple industries and fundraising from business figures, which facilitated the development of the Macronix Building.
 
The restored C.L. Liu Building has made a great impression on many students, especially after they visit the first-floor discussion room, which they compare to the atmosphere of a five-star hotel. The cleanliness and lighting of the restrooms were a high priority in UMC's restoration plan. As a result, all the building's restrooms will be completely refurbished, with the first-floor renovations already completed.
 
Cheng De-He (鄭德龢), a first-year graduate student in the Department of Communications at NTHU, described the redesigned plaza in front of the building as more spacious. He stated that after long hours in the lab, taking a rest on the benches relieves stress and boredom.

Many people attended the opening of the C. L. Liu Building, including faculty, students, and UMC executives.

The C. L. Liu Building opens today. From left: UMC Director Jason Wang (王石), Dean Shuo-Hung Hsu (徐碩鴻) of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Former Minister of Science and Technology Jyuo-Min Shyu (徐爵民), Dr. Jane W. S. Liu (張韻詩), wife of late President Chung-Laung Liu (劉炯朗), NTHU President W. John Kao (高為元), UMC Chairman Chia-Tsung Hung (洪嘉聰), Former President Hong Hocheng (賀陳弘), Former President Lih-Juann Chen (陳力俊), Former President Wen-Tsuen Chen (陳文村), and UMC Director Shan-Chieh Chien (簡山傑).

President W. John Kao (高為元) (left) presented a public art model of the C. L. Liu Building to UMC Chairman Chia-Tsung Hung (洪嘉聰).

President W. John Kao (高為元) (right) presented a limited-edition bottle of whiskey to Dr. Jane W. S. Liu (張韻詩), wife of the late Chung-Laung Liu (劉炯朗).

Former President Hong Hocheng (賀陳弘) played a key role in the renovation of the C. L. Liu Building.

Shuo-Hung Hsu (徐碩鴻), Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, emphasized the renovation's sustainability and practicality.

The renovation of the C. L. Liu Building is complete, and it opens today.

The lobby of the C. L. Liu Building features a relief laser engraving wall displaying dual images, which reveal the cheerful and benevolent visage of former President Liu from the right angle.

The artistic lighting design of the C. L. Liu Building adds to its charm, especially at night.

The entrance of the C. L. Liu Building showcases the public artwork "All in One," displaying the letter "C," representing "Computer," from a specific angle.

Students can listen to former President Liu's radio programs in the archive room of the C. L. Liu Building.

A new discussion area has been established on the first floor of the C. L. Liu Building.