Opportunities Aplenty at Two Hong Kong Lighting Shows

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The 2016 launch of HKTDC Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo demonstrated the need for a fair with a tight focus on outdoor lighting for industrial/commercial use as more than 11,000 buyers came from 116 countries and regions. The second edition, Outdoor and Tech Light Expo 2017, is expected to feature around 400 quality exhibitors of specialist products.

Outdoor and Tech Light Expo 2017 will be held at AsiaWorld-Expo while the concurrent HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) takes place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from October 27 to 30, 2017, with more than 2,660 exhibitors expected to show a great variety of lighting products.

Zoned for Convenience
To facilitate sourcing, exhibits are presented in sectors. The Outdoor Lighting zone will feature for lighting for outdoor spaces including landscape lighting for gardens, floodlights, halogen lamps and solar lighting. Professional and Industrial Lighting covers lights for workshops, event venues and exterior lights for warehouses, while Advertising Lighting displays lighting for marketing, promotion and advertising purposes. New in 2017 is Lighting Solutions and Systems, which brings together multiple lighting technologies in systems and solutions that can help maximise performance, energy efficiency and cost savings.

Extra Sourcing Opportunities
Visitors will be able to derive additional benefits by attending seminars and forums, which impart useful information. The Networking Reception and other social activities are equally valuable for expanding contacts. VIP buyers have access to the VIP Lounge with complimentary snacks and beverages, Internet access, newspapers and magazines, with private meeting rooms.

Exhibition Tracing DP Architects’ 50 Years Design Journey Opens to Public

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This exhibition is part of the line-up of events celebrating DP Architects’ 50th anniversary. Image courtesy of DP Architects.

DP Architects’ exhibition tracing the firm’s 50 years architecture journey is now open at The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Centre this evening. The exhibition was officially opened by guest-of-honour Minister of National Development Lawrence Wong.

The firm was founded as Design Partnership in 1967, and incorporated as DP Architects in 1975. DP has evolved in tandem with Singapore’s nation building, becoming an important contributor to the country’s public projects and urban development. The firm’s work in Singapore has played a critical role in shaping the urban landscape: beginning with early projects like People’s Park Complex and Golden Mile Complex, early architectural anchors that helped introduce Singapore to new styles of modernist architecture; to some 20 projects on and around Orchard Road that redeveloped the retail corridor; to more recent projects like Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Singapore Sports Hub that have become integral components of the urban fabric.

A Common Line | One Global Studio curates DP Architects’ portfolio of works within the context of Singapore’s architectural history as well as the firm’s global projects. The works are presented through over 2,000 never-before-seen architectural drawings, in chronological order, showcasing the breadth of DP’s portfolio; 37 reconstructed models, some larger than typical building models, investigating the practice’s design methodology by typology; a specially commissioned wall-sized illustration, titled Building Blocks by local illustrator, Lee Xin Li; and an interactive visual display that customises Augmented Reality technology to allow visitors to reimagine the future through an immersive visual experience of two key urbanscapes, Orchard Road and Marina Bay.

The works are presented through over 2,000 never-before-seen architectural drawings, in chronological order. Image courtesy of DP Architects.

On the exhibition, DP Architects’ senior associate director and head of exhibition Ng San Son said, “This exhibition was over a year in the making and it is a retrospective of our design journey over the past five decades. We hope that visitors to the exhibition will not only query the function of architecture and urbanism, rethink conventions, but also encourage conversations as they relate their memories of the spaces they have interacted with, in one way or another.

The exhibition opens from August 12 to September 29, 2017, 9 AM to 5 PM (closed on Sundays) at The URA Centre. A half-hour architect-guided tour is offered on selected Saturdays at 11 AM. This exhibition is part of the line-up of events celebrating DP Architects’ 50th anniversary.

Paya Lebar Quarter Achieves Highest Rating for New Green Mark Standards

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PLQ Commercial Towers

Paya Lebar Quarter by Lendlease, a $3.2 billion mixed-use development, is the first in Singapore to achieve a Platinum rating under the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) latest version of its Green Mark scheme for new non-residential buildings, Green Mark for Non-Residential Buildings NRB: 2015.

Currently benchmarked as the highest sustainability standard for non-residential buildings in Singapore, the GM NRB: 2015 Platinum has been awarded to Paya Lebar Quarter’s three office towers and retail mall. The development’s residential component, Park Place Residences at PLQ has also been awarded the BCA Green Mark Platinum for Residential Buildings.

GM 2015 addresses sustainability in a balanced and holistic manner which rewards overall performance of buildings that are climate responsive, energy effective, resource efficient, smarter and have healthier indoor environments.1 The assessment criteria also reflects a strong recognition of sustainable design features that boost the health and well-being of building occupants.

Paya Lebar Quarter’s sustainability vision focuses on creating an active, green and engaged environment by putting people at the centre of its design. The development offers more than 100,000 square feet of green public spaces, seamlessly linked with the Park Connector Network. Its public space design which fuses retail, entertainment and leisure experiences allows the community to engage in a diverse range of activities and the vast, open spaces where they can relax and mingle makes Paya Lebar Quarter a vibrant, evolving place.

Mr. Richard Paine, Managing Director of Paya Lebar Quarter by Lendlease, commented: “Lendlease places people at the heart of our vision to create the best places. We are deeply honoured and encouraged by this award, recognising our holistic approach towards sustainability which is aligned to BCA’s Green Mark evolvement placing greater focus on the health and well-being of building occupants, energy effectiveness, climatically contextual design, smart buildings and resource use. We will continue to create inclusive urban living spaces that redefine the way people work, live and lead truly connected lives.”

PLQ Public Realm

Paya Lebar Quarter recognises that an efficient performing building will also result in operational savings enhancing property valuation on top of conserving the environment. As such, the precinct has incorporated various features to efficiently use resources throughout the building’s life cycle.

With the implementation of high efficiency water fittings along with monitoring and leak detection systems, the development expects to save over 40 percent of water annually during operations. The development will also achieve over 30 percent in energy savings, in comparison to a reference building designed for code compliance. The energy savings stem from a variety of design solutions, from high performance facades to the use of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and more efficient air-conditioning systems.

Future retail and office tenants will also benefit from Lendlease’s Green Lease program, which encourages tenants to adopt sustainable fittings, equipment and mindsets for operational savings and providing a healthier environment for their employees in their tenancies.

The project’s focus on health and wellbeing on top of energy efficiency is also evident from other progressive initiatives throughout Paya Lebar Quarter. The lush landscaping resulted in a precinct-wide Green Plot Ratio of 6.93 and the precinct wide tree-positive strategy means there will be three times more trees as compared to the original site. Paya Lebar Quarter will also introduce some of the best active mobility provisions in Singapore, including end-of-trip facilities for office and retail tenants, ample bicycle parking spaces, and almost one kilometre of dedicated mobility routes seamlessly connected to the wider Park Connector Network.

PLQ Promenade

Paya Lebar Quarter’s Green Mark achievements are the latest in a series of sustainability milestones, testament to Lendlease’s commitment to creating liveable cities that positively contribute to the social, economic and environmental fabrics across urban landscapes. In addition to Green Mark, Paya Lebar Quarter is also the first private mixed-use development to be designed and certified under the Public Utilities Board (PUB)’s Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme through the incorporation of water sensitive urban design principles.

Lendlease’s mixed-use development in Jurong, Jem®, one of the first mixed-use developments to achieve Green Mark Platinum Version 4.0 in 2012; its 313@somerset mall along Orchard Road is the first shopping mall in Singapore to be recertified under the Green Mark Platinum Award (Existing Building Version 3.0) in 2014; Parkway Parade is one of the first mixed use developments in Singapore to have achieved the BCA Green Mark Platinum Existing Building (Non-Residential) criteria in 2010. Lendlease has also won 50 Sustainability awards to date for other projects in Singapore.

Cleantech Solar Enters Into Clean Energy Supply Agreement with Tata Steel Thailand

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Cleantech Solar (Thailand) Limited (CST) and Siam Construction Steel Company Limited (SCSC), a subsidiary of Tata Steel Thailand, have entered into a long-term energy supply agreement.

As part of the agreement, CST will deploy, monitor and maintain a 1.4 MWp Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) system on the roof of SCSC factory in Rayong. SCSC will enjoy clean renewable solar electricity generated from a Solar PV system over the duration of the agreement. Ingenero (Thailand) Corporation Limited, a local Solar PV integrator, worked closely with Cleantech Solar to develop the project and will be installing the Solar PV system. The Solar PV system is expected to generate over 32 GWh of clean solar electricity over its lifetime.

Mr. Rajiv Mangal, President and CEO of Tata Steel (Thailand) said, “Tata Group places high importance on sustainability and the deployment of solar photovoltaic systems is a testimony to this drive. The Rayong plant will host our first solar PV project in Thailand and this initiative will noticeably reduce our carbon footprint.”

Mr. Raju Shukla, Chairman and CEO of Cleantech Solar said, “We are excited to work with Tata Steel on this project in Thailand. Tata Steel’s adoption of clean energy is a reflection of their leadership in reducing carbon emissions. We look forward to working together over the lifetime of the project.”

The top view of the proposed 1.4 MWp Solar PV system.

In addition, Mr. Pornchai Thangworakulchai, Vice President – Rayong Plant at SCSC mentioned, “We were interested in solar photovoltaic technology for some time but until recently we found that the project was not financially attractive. The proposal offered by Cleantech Solar for an attractive tariff structure made the Solar PV system attractive and we look forward to working with Cleantech Solar and Ingenero towards the successful deployment of this project.”

The Rayong Solar PV project will use 4,320 modules installed over the north and south facing sides of the roof. The layout is optimised to allow easy maintenance of the roof and the Solar PV system, avoiding any obstructions. In addition to the economic savings, the panels will shade the roof and this is expected to reduce the ambient temperature of the plant.

Laguarda.Low Architects Awarded for Oct Bao’an Waterfront Development

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New York City-based Laguarda.Low Architects has been awarded first prize in an international competition conducted by OCT Group for the design of OCT Bao‘an, a new large-scale planned waterfront development in Shenzhen’s Bao‘an district in China. With stunning views of Qianhai Bay, Laguarda.Low’s master plan and design encompasses a 128-acre site and creates dynamic spaces for business, retail and entertainment.

As both Master Planner and Master Architect for the project, and in collaboration with renowned landscape design firm SWA, the Laguarda.Low Architects’ design integrates nature, recreation and culture into a new urban setting. The site is divided into four primary zones, connected by pedestrian paths, integrated waterscapes, and landscaped promenades. The four zones include a new Urban Business District, a multi-level Retail Park, a Culture Heritage Park and a Book Market.

“We are very proud to have been selected to design such a dynamic development that will incorporate the Laguarda.Low vision for this location,” states John Low, Principal of Laguarda.Low. “OCT Bao’an is an outstanding development and we’re confident that this project will complement the evolving neighbourhood in one of China’s most important cities.”

Laguarda.Low’s plan positions a multi-level retail village at the centre of the site, surrounded by four residential towers to the northeast; three office towers to the southeast; a hotel to the south; an indoor mall to the west; and a new performance hall and an exhibition facility to the north, across from the city’s green belt. A central loop connects the various zones and provides access to parking below.

At the south end of the site, the Urban Business District includes seven 13-storey office buildings and a 13-storey hotel. The tiered glass structures feature landscaped terraces and green roofs that collect rainwater and limit solar heat gain. The office buildings serve as a captivating backdrop to the waterfront development and frame the sloping, landscaped-formed retail park to the east, providing direct access to the waterfront. Large domed skylights merge the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. The four-story design elevates the traditional shopping experience with expansive natural light, dynamic circulation and expansive green spaces.

At the north end of the site, the Cultural Heritage Park provides numerous options for leisure and entertainment, including a retail centre and pedestrian paths leading to an open-air plaza and a performing arts centre next door. Water serves as a key element of the design by separating the various aquatic activities and creating a sense of discovery among spaces where visitors can explore the waterfront promenade and excursion boats, as well as a new Cultural Heritage Centre, X Sports Park, playground, food and beverage garden, and performance amphitheatre.

The Book Market is situated on the eastern parcel of the site, adjacent to a new library and youth centre. The subterranean space houses a multi-level bookstore and food hall with direct connections to the subway and the neighbouring youth facilities. Above the structure is a landscaped park that surrounds a dramatic skylight and space to appreciate the natural beauty and tranquillity of the outdoors.

“Our firm is honoured to again be working with OCT Group, and add to their impressive roster of 21st century developments,” said Pablo Laguarda, Principal of Laguarda.Low. “We are dedicated to contributing the highest quality design to Shenzhen’s growing business and entertainment districts, and OCT Bao’an will showcase our shared passion for design that does the utmost to enhance the surrounding environment.”

The spectacular waterfront site sits 13 miles west of Shenzhen’s city center and is less than an hour drive from Hong Kong. The development also includes two subway stations on Shenzhen’s Huangzhong Line (Line 5), making the area prime for development.

Philips Lighting Illuminates Nhat Tan Bridge

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Vietnam’s Nhat Tan bridge

Philips Lighting recently announced the completion of Hanoi’s latest luminous landmark, the Nhat Tan Bridge.

An Urban Icon-in-Technicolour
Each night, the new lighting system bathes the bridge in a prism of colours, turning the structure into an ever-changing work of art. The new architectural lighting illuminates the five majestic spans, along with the cables that run high above the bridge.

Now, all who cross Hanoi’s Red River are met with the Nhat Tan Bridge’s five colourful spans, which symbolise the five ancient gates to this capital city. The bridge, built in 2015, is currently Vietnam’s longest “cable-stayed” bridge, a technological advance over the suspension bridge. A vital, visible link between Hanoi and its main airport, the newly illuminated Nhat Tan Bridge is already attracting tourists and locals alike.

Advanced Lighting Technology
The Nhat Tan Bridge uses the cloud-based Philips ActiveSite lighting management system to remotely monitor, maintain, and manage the lighting system. The actual light points on the bridge’s spans are Philips Color Kinetics, which can create a staggering 16.7 million different colours, enabling the bridge to be lit in special colours to commemorate events and holidays.

Keeping Lighting Sustainable
Like most of the world’s tourist-destination cities, Hanoi is in the process of becoming an even “smarter,” more sustainable city. And the bridge’s new system supports Hanoi’s sustainability goals. Compared to conventional lighting, the new long-life LED system may deliver up to 75 percent energy savings, as well as saving on operation and maintenance costs.

The Warehouse Hotel Gets New Lease on Life

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A double-volume space greets visitors at the Hotel lobby, complete with the original warehouse trusses.

A double-volume space greets visitors at the Hotel lobby, complete with the original warehouse trusses.

Located along the old Straits of Malacca trade route in Singapore, The Warehouse Hotel boasts an aesthetic that blends the air of a bygone era with modern-day Singapore – featuring exposed ceilings trusses, brickwork walls and mid-century style furniture.

Local architecture studio Zarch Collaboratives and design studio Asylum, commissioned by Singaporean hospitality firm The Lo & Behold Group, chose finishes to reference the industrial history of the building and the culture of the country.

Sited in a conserved building off Robertson Quay, the Warehouse Hotel’s roots extend far back to Singapore’s trading history as early as the late 19th century. Three warehouses have been combined and outfitted, starting a new lease of life as a 37-room boutique hotel.

The Hotel fronts the Singapore River with a distinctive, symmetrical facade and jacked roofs while original design elements like louvre windows, doors, cornices, mouldings and the Chinese characters on the leftmost gable are sensitively retained and restored. These elements have been complemented with restrained touches, including a metallic black canopy on the main entrance. The white facade stands apart from the high glass and steel constructs of the urban context, maintaining its presence and historic importance along the Singapore River.

The rooms are suffused with natural light.

The rooms are suffused with natural light.

A double-volume space greets visitors at the Hotel lobby, with the original warehouse trusses, now re-finished in black spanning the lobby. Natural light filters in through the jack roofs in the daytime, while new portal frames serving as discreet structural interventions fringe the lobby space, providing a clear access and line of sight to the waterfront.

The spatial configuration of the Hotel sets the entryway in the middle of the volumes, while the rooms are split into two wings, with high-ceilinged corridors leading to the double-volume rooms on the second storey. The rooms are suffused with natural light through a combination of the existing fenestration, skylights and the use of glass blocks; the trusses and portal frames are kept in sight throughout the circulation spaces as well as the rooms, puncturing walls and lines of sight, creating a curious spatial dialogue while accentuating the character of the warehouse’s former life.

A new extension complements the strong silhouette of the main wing, housing an elevated infinity pool as if hovering just above the Singapore River, provoking visual interest at the corner of the street. Extending the visual (and tactile) connection to the waterfront, consideration was also given to the selection of finishes surrounding the development including the pavers at street level – selected to match those along the promenade of the Singapore River, and the salmon pink tiles used in the pool – serving as a visual metaphor for the relationship between the pavement and the River.

TCC Group and Frasers Centrepoint to Build US$3.5 Billion Integrated District in Bangkok City Centre

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One Bangkok is the largest private sector property development initiative ever undertaken in Thailand.

One Bangkok is the largest private sector property development initiative ever undertaken in Thailand.

TCC Assets (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Frasers Centrepoint Limited (“FCL”) will jointly develop ‘One Bangkok’, Thailand’s first and largest fully integrated district built on people-centric principles and a focus on environmental sustainability and smart-city living. Out of the total land area of 16.7 hectares, the project has a generous allocation of 8 hectares of green and open space to the city centre. It promises to become a new global landmark when its first components open in 2021.

The project, called One Bangkok, is the largest private sector property development initiative ever undertaken in Thailand with an estimated investment value of approximately US$3.5 billion. The project promises to become a new global landmark when its first components open in 2021. Mr Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Chairman of TCC Group and FCL, said, “The fundamental aim in the planning and design of One Bangkok is to enhance Bangkok’s stature as a key gateway city in Asia.”

One Bangkok is a fully integrated “city-within-a-city” district. When all components are completed in 2025, it will have a gross floor area of 1.83 million square metres, comprising five Grade A office towers built to LEED and WELL standards, five luxury and lifestyle hotels, three ultra-luxury residential towers, a comprehensive array of retail offerings within differentiated retail precincts, as well as a rich variety of civic areas, and art and culture facilities.

Eight hectares of its total land area of 16.7 hectares is dedicated to greenery and open spaces. The land is leased from the Crown Property Bureau and enjoys a prime location right next to Bangkok’s largest central park – Lumphini Park – with direct linkages to the city’s mass transit systems, as well as easy access to the expressway network.

An estimated 60,000 people will live and work in the district when complete. Image courtesy of Atchain.

An estimated 60,000 people will live and work in the district when complete. Image courtesy of Atchain.

Mr Charoen said, “We are honoured to be entrusted by the Crown Property Bureau to turn this important plot of land in the heart of the city into a showpiece district. It is a responsibility that I am privileged to carry and I affirm my commitment to ensure the creation of something exceptional and transformational.”

He added, “With One Bangkok, I hope to enhance global confidence in Thailand as the epicentre of ASEAN and a key gateway and lifestyle city in Asia, as well as bring prosperity to all associated with the project, whether as tenants, owners, or business partners.”

“To accomplish this game-changing endeavour, I have placed my confidence in two TCC Group companies that perfectly complement each other, combining the financial strength and local knowhow of TCC Assets with the enormous international property development expertise of Frasers Property,” Mr Charoen noted. He added that One Bangkok ‘s design will be sensitive to its social and cultural context, incorporating Thailand’s heritage, and make the district an integral part of the city. TCC Assets holds 80.1 percent, and Frasers Property Holdings holds 19.9 percent.

One Bangkok is the first project in Thailand to target LEED Platinum certification. for Neighborhood Development. Image courtesy of Atchain.

One Bangkok is the first project in Thailand to target LEED Platinum certification. for Neighborhood Development. Image courtesy of Atchain.

Ms Su Lin Soon, a real estate professional and Chief Executive Officer of One Bangkok, said, “Accessibility, connectivity, and sustainability are top priorities in our urban planning. New quality standards, international best practices and diversity in the mix of uses and architecture are fundamental features of the master plan, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Supported by local expertise from Plan Associates, and A49, the master plan combines both international and local experiences from the most influential architectural and urban planning firms.”

She added, “One Bangkok will also be the first district in Thailand to be built entirely around sustainability principles and to LEED for Neighbourhood Development Platinum standards.

Laguarda.Low Architects Unveils Designs for Tokyo’s Grandberry Lifestyle Centre

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Laguarda.Low’s design removes an existing street to unify Grandberry Centre with nature.

Laguarda.Low’s design removes an existing street to unify Grandberry Centre with nature.

New York City-based architecture and urban planning firm, Laguarda.Low Architects, recently unveiled the design for Grandberry Centre, a new 750,000-square-foot transit-oriented development in Machida, Tokyo. Set on the city’s Tokyu Denen-tonshi train line, Laguarda.Low designed Grandberry Centre to be the centre of commerce and activity for Machida – a city in the west section of the Tokyo Metropolis.

The new Grandberry Centre development replaces an existing mall and train station and creates a modern, landscaped shopping village with a direct connection to the newly-designed Tsuruma Park. The new train depot, with its undulating roof, tiered gardens, and waterfall, creates a dramatic sense of arrival. From the platform, a grand stair leads visitors to the multi-level shopping Centre experience, inclusive of a local food market, retail stores and a cinema. The retail village is organised as a simple loop, referencing a European town typology, with parking positioned in the Centre. Throughout the loop, visitors traverse a series of open and covered plazas that provide dynamic spaces for socialising, leisure and entertainment.

The buildings are composed of a mix of stone, steel, wood, glass and green walls. The form, scale, and materiality of the buildings were designed to create variation within the development and to blend with the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

The main promenade features lush cherry blossom trees, and a designed new landscape plan with designated spaces for a skate park, urban farm, a sculpture garden and more.

The main promenade features lush cherry blossom trees, and a designed new landscape plan with designated spaces for a skate park, urban farm, a sculpture garden and more.

“Grandberry Centre provides a warm and modern ambience with sophisticated design that enlivens the surrounding neighbourhood for local residents and visitors,” said Pablo Laguarda, Principal of Laguarda.Low. “Its location as an entertainment and lifestyle destination is unique and we look forward to showcasing this development to the Machida community.”

Situated amidst Tsuruma Park, Laguarda.Low’s design removes an existing street to unify Grandberry Centre with nature. To combine the two parcels, a new park entrance transforms the natural slope in grade into a dramatic stair, with the ground rising to create a green roof for a new restaurant at the threshold of the park. The firm also designed the main promenade, which features lush Cherry Blossom trees, and a designed new landscape plan with designated spaces for a skate park, urban farm, sculpture garden, children’s playground, expansive lawn and library.

. Set on the city’s Tokyu Denen-tonshi train line, Grandberry Centre will be the centre of commerce and activity for Machida.

. Set on the city’s Tokyu Denen-tonshi train line, Grandberry Centre will be the centre of commerce and activity for Machida.

Construction of Grandberry Centre will begin in May 2017, with an estimated completion of September 2019. Grandberry Centre is expected to officially open in November 2019. Granberry is one of seven Laguarda.Low-designed developments in Japan. Most recently, the firm was the silver award winner of International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) New Development category for their design of AEON Mall Okinawa Rycom, the largest multi-story commercial facility in Western Japan.

AECOM and Asia Society Announce Imagine 2060

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The Manila launch will be followed by waterfront-focused events in Sydney , Los Angeles , and New York

The Manila launch will be followed by waterfront-focused events in Sydney , Los Angeles , and New York

AECOM, a fully integrated infrastructure firm, and Asia Society, a global non-profit institution, today announced a three-year partnership in the form of Imagine 2060: Delivering Tomorrow’s Cities Together.

Each forum is an opportunity for leaders in urban design, infrastructure and public policy to connect with a common goal – imagining a long-term vision for each city supported by innovative ways to achieve it. The first year of the partnership launched on 30 March, 2017 in Manila before moving to Sydney, Los Angeles, New York and culminating in Hong Kong.

“These are some of the most exciting and vibrant cities on our planet but they share common stresses caused by growth, urbanisation and densification which are only going to intensify with the predicted level of population growth,” says AECOM Asia Pacific President, Sean Chiao. “If we want future generations to flourish in these cities, it is up to those in positions of influence today to lead the way and create a legacy they can be proud of.”

The initiative will cultivate a connected global community of “city shapers” who are committed to sharing their experience and best practices, all aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Manila, Sydney, Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong.

“This is the start of a new conversation between the brightest minds in urban design, business, economics, infrastructure design and public policy,” continued Sean Chiao. “The series will explore cities through five key lenses of wellbeing, economic development, culture, mobility and innovation in project delivery. It is our belief that the right balance of these elements leads to the best outcomes for cities and their citisens.”

Asia Society’s Executive Vice President, Tom Nagorski says, “What we are asking, essentially, is ‘Where do the great cities of our world need to be, a half century from now?’ And then ‘What must we do now to be sure that those dreams are realised?’ There are few more pressing questions for the planet’s future. Ultimately Imagine 2060 will be a guide not only for the five cities involved, but for any major metropolis interested in creating a roadmap for the future.”

2017: At The Water’s Edge
In its inaugural year, Imagine 2060 will examine issues involving the urban waterfront under the heading “2017: At The Water’s Edge” is a wide-ranging examination of how the diverse approaches to their proximity to water have shaped the quality of life for citizens of these five cities in radically different ways.

The world premiere of the five-city series took place on Thursday, 30 March, 2017 at The Manila House in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Manila. It explored how citizens of the Philippines’ capital city can reimagine the original ideas of a “City Beautiful”, created by renowned urban planner Daniel Burnham back in 1905.

Throughout the Imagine 2060 series AECOM and Asia Society will compile the main findings from each city, build upon the discussions and publish the key insights on their website so they are available for further input and development.

The Manila launch will be followed by waterfront-focused events in Sydney, Los Angeles , and New York before the first year of the program is brought to a conclusion in Hong Kong.

Next year, AECOM and Asia Society will explore creative and resourceful strategies for land use by cities. The third and final year of Imagine 2060 will look at the futuristic-sounding, but all too real, prospects or use of aerial space and air quality.