HONG KONG, Aug. 21 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Aedas Hong Kong -- the Asia-Pacific headquarters of the global Aedas Group - today offers an overview of its ongoing expansion and growing strength in terms of both market position and expertise across a broad spectrum of architecture and design sectors.
The mainland China market has contributed substantially to Aedas Asia’s overall growth. New commissions in the region include a major mixed-use development in Pa Zhou, Wuxi Times Square, and the Shenyang IFC. With both the tempo and quantity of major new mainland commissions increasing, Aedas China’s five offices (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shenyang and Chengdu) have been further strengthened by the arrival of Managing Director (China) Fanny Lee and Design Director Andy Wen. Both are outstanding professionals with years of experience in high-profile mainland and international projects.
In Hong Kong itself, Aedas has added a number of infrastructure projects to its portfolio of new and ongoing commissions. At least 100 Aedas personnel will be working in close collaboration with the MTRC for these projects, about which additional information will be released in the coming months. In line with this influx, the firm has refreshed its recruitment drive for new professional staff. From January to July this year alone the Hong Kong office’s head-count has climbed by 23 percent. Notably, the Hong Kong office also recently relocated to three floors of One Island East. The move has allowed Aedas Hong Kong to consolidate its 800-plus staff into a single, spacious, state-of-the-art environment whose 68,000 sq-ft affords ample room for near- and long-term expansion.
Aedas has continued to enjoy a prominent role in the rapid transformation of Macau. Facilitated through the Aedas Macau office, projects in the enclave include extensive work on the famed Cotai Strip. Notable among them are a number of commissions for The Venetian, including the much-anticipated Four Seasons Hotel which is scheduled to open in late August. Already well into the construction phase, progress on the St Regis, Shangri-La, Sheraton and Traders hotel complex is also smoothly in line with the expectations of The Venetian.
Complementing Aedas’ record of success in Hong Kong, Macau and China is its expanding presence in Asia’s emerging architecture markets. An increasing volume of commissions has led Aedas to open vital new offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Mumbai and Dubai over the past 24 months. To service a rapidly expanding portfolio of integrated resort projects in the Middle East, Aedas envisions expanding its human resource base in the region by some 200 professional staff.
Overall, Aedas Asia staff numbers increased by 20 percent, with further increases already planned. Further afield, the Group’s newly launched offices in Los Angeles (led by Managing Director Dan Meis) and Seattle are making excellent inroads in the American market. Another new Aedas office - Belgrade - has considerably boosted the firm’s ability to respond to demand in southeastern Europe.
Key to Aedas’ appeal to major regional and international clients is the unparalleled scope of capability it offers. In line with its vision of offering ‘total architectural solutions’, Aedas is currently the world’s fourth-largest architectural concern with 39 offices and over 2,500 staff around the globe. The firm has earned a reputation for delivering innovative, efficient, cost-effective, award-winning solutions in everything from urban masterplanning to commercial, residential, infrastructural, institutional and mixed-use development, to individual homes and interior designs.
Overall, the Aedas Group’s astounding geographical reach, diverse expertise and proven excellence contributed to a global turnover of US$205 million in 2007. Aedas Asia’s 2008 turnover is projected to be US$112 million.
"Globally, Aedas has been growing at a rate of about 15-20 percent per year, and in Asia specifically, the company’s business has grown at a very vigorous 50 percent annually," remarked Keith Griffiths, Chairman of Aedas Asia and the Middle East. "With demand from China still increasing and the emergence of rich new markets elsewhere in Asia, our outlook is for that pace of growth to continue for the foreseeable future."
About Aedas Asia
With over 800 employees, Hong Kong is Aedas’ largest operational centre and the lead office for the practice’s 1,400-plus staff in the Asia-Pacific region. Contributing significant expertise in masterplanning and mixed-use architecture to the global Aedas Group network, Aedas Asia is also notable for sector-specific capabilities in integrated retail centre, luxury hotel and resort, and cultural and leisure facility projects. Some of the most prominent of the practice’s achievements in recent years have been found in the Middle East, where Aedas has been responsible for such award-winning prestige projects as the Empire Tower in Abu Dhabi. In Macau, Aedas Asia led the team creating the landmark Venetian Cotai Strip - a development comprising an area approaching 50 million square-feet. Transport and infrastructural design is another area of particular strength. Over the past few years Aedas Asia has designed over 35 rail stations and six transport depots around Asia, as well as 15 buildings at Hong Kong International Airport, and six seaport terminals for the world’s busiest container port in Hong Kong.
Award-winning projects in 2008
Empire Tower -- Best High-rise category of 2008 CNBC Arabian Property
Awards
MTR Sunny Bay Station -- China award 2008 of Business Week/ Architectural
Record
Enquiries:
Regina Chan
Communications Manager Asia, Aedas Ltd
Tel: +852-2821-6446
Mobile: +852-9857-9320
