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The Accolades
Nelson Chen Architects Head office: 23/F Lippo Leighton Tower, 103 Leighton Road, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2882 8086 Fax: +852 2882 8038 Email: architects@nca.com.hk Website: www.nca.com.hk
Key staff:
Lie Ning-Gung HKIA AP (Architect) LEED AP Associate Principal Prof Nelson Chen FAIA FRIBA FHKIA AP (Architect) Principal Architect
Ariel Santana UAP Assoc. AIA Associate Principal
Have the events of 2020 affected or influenced the firm’s design philosophy?
Will design awards will continue to be important?
Since 1987, Professor Nelson Chen has faithfully maintained a studio-sized practice to ensure the highest level of design quality, attention to detail and personalised client service to each design commission. The firm’s principals have collaborated together for over 20-30 years, and the average tenure of all full-time staff is approaching 20 years. Throughout this period of nearly 35 years, the firm’s has been fortunate to weather several economic downturns (1998 Asian financial crisis, 2003 SARS, 2008 global financial crisis, 2020 pandemic) by remaining steadfast to its founding design philosophy and practice principles.
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The firm has received over 40 international design awards from the AIA, HKIA, UNESCO and others, including the Architecture Firm Award from both the AIA Hong Kong Chapter (1999) and AIA International Region (2020) for “overall design achievement that exemplifies the highest standards of the architectural profession.” These awards are not primarily valued to benefit business but to define excellence and standards for our profession, while acknowledging the collective efforts of our design team, as well as clients, consultants and contractors. Amid a culture preoccupied with fads and fashions, Nelson Chen Architects have less concern for “what’s first?” and a profound commitment to “what lasts”. The Source 2021 | Edition 1
