SINGAPORE, Aug. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- JERDE (The Jerde Partnership), an iconic and internationally renowned architecture and urban planning firm, announced today that it has formally established a presence in Southeast Asia, and has hired James Chew as Director of Business Development for the region. Chew -- who will be based in Singapore in a new office to be opened by JERDE later this year -- will spearhead the firm's new business efforts in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other neighboring countries in the region. This is in addition to JERDE's already established offices in Shanghai and Hong Kong, which serve the Chinese and Asia Pacific markets, respectively.
To support this endeavor, JERDE Design Principal and shareholder, Ken Ho, will transfer from Los Angeles to Singapore early next year. Ho, himself Singaporean, will bring vast international experience to the regional office and will further lend the firm ownership presence there. Ho will help to drive growth across Southeast Asia.
With the mission of expanding JERDE's special brand of placemaking, the establishment of a permanent presence in Singapore will strengthen the firm's presence in Southeast Asia, coinciding with a growing demand for Transportation Oriented Developments (TODs) and mixed-use projects in the region. The move also allows JERDE to enhance its client services through the city-state's close proximity to the region and comprehensive travel option. JERDE's globally proven expertise in this area has seen the launch of successful projects that act as catalysts in their communities and help generate economic benefit, especially in emerging markets.
"Our firm has had great success designing transformative projects throughout Asia. At this point, we see Southeast Asia as a region holding great potential to expand our brand of architecture," said Paul Martinkovic, JERDE Chief Executive Officer. "James has an excellent understanding of socio-economic issues, real estate markets and investments in Southeast Asia."
Chew has more than 30 years of real estate industry experience in planning and design, management, marketing, and business development. Working throughout Southeast Asia, his public and private sector experience includes the development of resorts, hospitality, residential, retail, office, mixed-use, new towns, golf courses, and medical parks.
Commenting on his appointment, Chew said, "It's an honor to join JERDE -- one of the world's most respected international architectural firms -- and open their Singapore office. I hope to expand JERDE's business in the region, and in the process, help the firm expand its special brand of placemaking to generate significant economic benefits to a host of new communities in Southeast Asia."
Background Information
About James Chew
Prior to JERDE, James Chew founded and owned VinaPlanners Co Ltd and TPO Vietnam -- Singapore. He also worked for Nagecco as Business Development Director, Vingroup JSC as Product Development Director, BRG Group as Director of Project Management, Vung Ro Petroleum JSC as Development Director, VinaProjects as Director of Planning, VinaCapital Real Estate as Deputy Managing Director, Real Estate and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore as Head of Local Planning. Chew holds a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Planning and Master's Degree in Town Planning from the University of Westminster.
About Ken Ho
Since joining JERDE in 2000, Ken Ho has brought a high level of design and detail development to a range of projects that include Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, Waikiki Outrigger Retail Plaza in Honolulu, Palms Place in Las Vegas, and a new mixed-use TOD project in Kawagoe, Japan. Prior to JERDE, Ho worked for DeJarnett + Biro Architects in Los Angeles and Chan Sau Yan Architects and URBAN-3 Architects in Singapore. His work is featured in the book Hypersurface Architecture published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. His work has been awarded by Far Eastern International Digital Architectural Design's 2000 Top 40, HANSSEM International Design Competition for Housing and the Association for Computer-Aided Design in Architecture.
About JERDE
JERDE is a visionary urban design studio creating signature places that deliver memorable experiences and attract more than a billion people each year. For 40 years, JERDE has pioneered the concept of "Placemaking" with more than 120 major projects on six continents. Headquartered in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, each JERDE client works closely with an equity partner to take a boutique, collaborative approach to the creative process of design and architecture. JERDE places attract people providing lasting social, cultural and economic value, spurring further investment and revitalization. JERDE is one of only a few architectural firms awarded six ULI Global Awards for Excellence in addition to many of the industry's other highest honors and recognitions.
JERDE has designed mixed-use, hospitality, and retail destinations throughout the world including Langham Place in Hong Kong, Roppongi Hills in Tokyo, D-Cube City in Seoul, and more recently the Grand Hyatt Sanya Haitang Bay in Hainan, China, a MIPIM Asia Gold Award winner for Best Hotel & Tourism Development. In its home country of the United States, JERDE has designed well known sites such as Bellagio in Las Vegas, Pacific City in Huntington Beach, as well as the makeovers of the world famous Santa Monica Place and Fashion Island Malls.
Flagship Regional JERDE Projects
JERDE's new developments in Singapore and across the Southeast Asia region further complement the firm's strong ties and repeated successes in greater Asia, including:
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