Dear Members

We are thrilled to invite you to the first YAG Young Architects Group Emerging Voices event: BIG X SMALL - Design Innovation for Collaboration. Join us at the American Chamber of Commerce community hub on Duddell Street for this exciting evening of discussions and insights.

Our panel of industry experts, including Nicolas Medrano, AIA, of SOM, Evelyn Ting, AIA, of New Office Works, Steve Trstenjak of Gensler, and Douglas Wu of Fairland Holdings, will explore opportunities for collaboration across architecture, urban design and property development. Together, we'll dive into topics like sustainability, ESG and tech, and uncover the many ways BIG and SMALL firms can work together to create synergies and opportunities for designing a better environment across different sectors.

During this event, our speakers will share case studies, past experiences, and future aspirations for design innovation through collaboration. The discussion will be moderated by Eric Ho, AIA, co-founder of Architecture Commons and Neighbourhood Innovation Lab.

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and gain valuable insights into the future of design innovation. Register now to secure your spot at this must-attend event.

Event Details

Date April 18, 2023 (Tuesday)

Time 6:00 – 8:00 PM (HKT)

Location

The American Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong Community Hub

22/F, Hong Kong Diamond Exchange Building

8-10 Duddell Street, Central

CES 1.5 LUs

Fee $300 (includes access for two)

Networking Session

Join us for an exciting networking session after the event, when you can enjoy drinks and snacks as you connect with other like-minded professionals.

We're excited to offer a special 'BYOB - Bring Your Own Bestie' - Buy one bring one discount! When you purchase one general admission ticket, you can bring a friend, colleague, teammate, partner, or anyone who you feel would enjoy this event - for free. Simply share your guest's details via the registration form.

This joint event by AIA Hong Kong and AmCham Hong Kong is the perfect opportunity to connect with others in the industry and build valuable relationships.

Please Note

• The charge for this event is as stated ($300) whether you register for just one person or if you intend to bring a guest.

• The event will be postponed if the Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above is hoisted, or if the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force for 3 hours before the start of the event.

The Speakers

Nicolas Medrano, AIA - Design Principal, SOM

Nic begins the design process with a deep exploration of the local context and culture for each project and site. He is inspired by the density of the cities he works in across Asia, and by the challenge of designing large-scale, mixed-use developments that enhance both the environment and the human experience. Many of his projects, such as 8 Shenton Way and Guoco Tower in Singapore, and Nihonbashi 2-Chome in Tokyo, include tall buildings that remake city centers by bringing public spaces, nature, and transit connections to some of the world’s densest neighbourhoods. In 2022, after spending 15 years in SOM’s New York studio, Nic transitioned to the Hong Kong office to spearhead the firm’s growth in the Asia-Pacific Region.

“We want our work to reflect its place and identity. Many of the cities in the Asia-Pacific region are hyper-dense and interconnected, and we try to find ways to enrich and complement those urban fabrics with sustainable, intelligent, nature-based solutions.”

As the design leader for SOM’s Hong Kong studio, Nic is responsible for transformative projects across Asia, including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Hong Kong. He is advancing SOM’s climate action goals in the region by applying cutting-edge sustainability strategies—from advocating for smart density and “15-minute city” designs, to reducing carbon footprints through new construction technologies and the use of regenerative materials.

Evelyn Ting, AIA - Managing Director, New Office Works

Evelyn is Co-founder and Managing Director of New Office Works (NOW) and is a registered architect in the State of Massachusetts. With experience in both architecture and editorial works, Evelyn oversees building projects, and research initiatives and publications. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and her Master of Architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was a teaching assistant for the MIT Graduate Core Design Studio and was part of the curatorial team for the U.S pavilion at the 14th Venice Biennale. She is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong.

Steve Trstenjak - Design Director, Gensler

Steve is an accomplished architect who focuses on the design and delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary architectural projects.

In his 30 years of international experience, he has worked with several global practices on many award-winning projects covering a variety of sectors and typologies. In his current role as Design Director, Steve facilitates creative leadership and design direction, implementing initiatives to achieve efficiency, quality and design excellence.

Steve is dedicated to humanistic architecture, sustainability and impactful design. He drives rigorous research, deep understanding and innovation to ensure optimal solutions and outcomes. He brings strong leadership to projects and strategic development to the business, while also motivating and mentoring his team members. He is frequently asked to speak at conferences and has served as a juror for Architect MasterPrize Awards, Architizer A+Awards and Dezeen Awards.

Douglas Wu - Executive Director, Fairland Holdings

Douglas is based in Hong Kong and has a background in real estate investment and architecture. He is currently Executive Director of Fairland Holdings, a private real estate developer focused on value-add projects that refurbish and reposition older buildings in Hong Kong and overseas. Recent projects include refurbishment of the Fairview Park Town Centre neighborhood mall and a new series of lifestyle buildings Spark City in Cheung Sha Wan and Mongkok. Upcoming projects include renovation of a 40,000 SF neighborhood mall in To Kwa Wan.

Douglas obtained a Master of Architecture at Harvard University. He is the Co-chair of ULI NEXT and a member of the Executive Committee of ULI Hong Kong, and ULI UrbanPlan. Douglas also serves on the Board of Governors at the ISF Academy in Hong Kong, and is a Founding Patron of the M+ Museum.

The Moderator

Eric Ho, AIA - Co-founder, Architecture Commons and Neighbourhood Innovation Lab

Architect, entrepreneur, and urban thinker passionate about architecture and urban environments that have a lasting impact on society, Eric Ho is the co-founder and Director of Architecture Commons, a design agency for urban innovation. He also founded Neighbourhood Innovation Lab (NIL) in 2019, which concentrates on systemic change through strategic innovation options and experiments for city and regional governments, property developers, industry leaders, community organizations and policymakers.

Eric was the recipient of the Faculty Design Award at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. He teaches architecture at Chinese University of Hong Kong and design strategy at Parsons School of Design. His work has been published in the New York Times, the Huffington Post, Fast Company, Good Magazine and PSFK, and NIL was selected among hundreds of companies as a start-up in residence by Urban-X, a start-up accelerator built by BMW MINI. Spending most of his time in Asia, Eric is most passionate about finding new ways to disrupt the real estate industry and pursue human-centered design processes for the built environment.

YAG Emerging Voices: BIG X SMALL - Design Innovation for Collaboration