Two China Projects Win Top Awards at ULI Event

New urban projects from both Shanghai and Chengdu were recognised as world leaders in property development today when Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu and the Jing An Kerry Centre both won top awards at an industry event in the US.

Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu, which was jointly developed by Swire Properties and China’s Sino-Ocean Group, and Kerry Properties’ Jing An Kerry Centre were the only Asian projects picked to be among ten recipients of the 2015 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Global Award for Excellence at the fall meeting of the professional organisation in San Francisco.

Taikoo Li Chengdu Builds New Retail Community Around Ancient Temple

Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu is a 100,000 sqm open-plan, lane-driven retail complex built around the city’s ancient Daci Temple. Officially opened in April 2015, the retail destination is the key component of the Daci Temple Project, which also comprises The Temple House, a boutique hotel with 100 rooms and 42 serviced apartments managed by Swire Hotels.

“We are delighted to receive this award, a testament to the successful partnership with our joint venture partner, Sino-Ocean Land,” said Alvin Kong, Director, Retail at Swire Properties. “This recognition affirms our commitment to building world-class commercial landmarks, and we are extremely proud to have this acknowledged on an international level.”

Designed by The Oval Partnership, Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu pays homage to traditional Sichuan architecture and the nearby Daci Temple, while creating a contemporary retail environment. The LEED Gold certified project combines contrasting fast and slow lanes, to intertwine the slower pace of the temple with the bustling traffic of the high street.

Kerry Centre Creates New Pedestrian Spaces on Nanjing Road

The Jing An Kerry Centre creates internal pedestrian spaces and public areas among large scale mixed use development in one of Shanghai’s best known downtown destinations. Located near Jing An Temple along the West Nanjing Road commercial strip, the Kohn Pedersen Fox designed complex includes two office towers, an event space, a retail podium, and the 508-room Shangri-La hotel.

Featuring 70,000 square metre shopping centre designed by Benoy, Shanghai’s Kerry Centre incorporates open-air walkways and a glazed galleria to recreate the shopping street environment of the traditional Nanjing Road area.

Both projects were selected from 22 finalists by a jury of 10 industry leaders, after the selectors had first considered a field of over 100 entries from around the world.

The other winners of the ULI awards this year are:

• 12th Avenue Arts, Seattle, Washington, United States (Developer: Capitol Hill Housing; Designer: SMR Architects)
• Beaugrenelle, Paris, Ile de France , France (Developers: APSYS, SemPariSeine; Designer: Valode & Pistre Architects)
• City Market at O, Washington DC, United States (Developer: Roadside Development; Designer: Shalom Baranes Associates et al)
• Denver Union Station, Denver, Colorado, United States (Developer: Union Station Neighborhood Company (an equal partnership between East West Partners and Continuum Partners), Trammell Crow Company, and Union Station Alliance; Designer: AECOM, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and Hargreaves Associates)
• Devon Energy Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States (Developer: Devon World Headquarters LLC; Designer: Pickard Chilton)
• King’s Cross Station, London, United Kingdom (Developer: Network Rail; Designers: McAslan & Partners)
• St. Joseph’s Campus, Oakland, California, United States (Developer: BRIDGE Housing Corporation; Designer: Van Meter Williams Pollack LLP)
• Swedbank Headquarters, Sundbyberg, Stockholm, Sweden (Developer: Humlegården Fastigheter AB; Designer: 3XN)
  According to the ULI, the Global Awards for Excellence are given to recognise excellence in property development, including not only architecture and design, but also contribution to the local community.

The awards, which have been running since 1979, also take into account innovation, public/private partnerships, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial viability of the projects.

And here’s a quick photo gallery of the two winners: