Karen Cvornyek,

B+H亞洲業(yè)務總裁，合伙人

Principal, Asia President of B+H Architects

自2002年以合伙人的身份加入B+H以來，Karen見證了亞洲經(jīng)濟的高速增長時期，并帶領B+H在亞洲的發(fā)展。過去十幾年間，B+H穩(wěn)步增長，相繼在上海、胡志明市、新加坡以及香港開設辦公室，目前B+H在亞洲擁有將近300名員工，服務于亞洲乃至全世界范圍內(nèi)一些高知名度的客戶。

問題1: 您能給我們簡單介紹一下B+H的歷史以及B+H在亞洲地區(qū)的演變和發(fā)展軌跡嗎？

KC：B+H是一家屢獲殊榮、擁有65多年歷史的國際性公司，致力于為客戶提供富有創(chuàng)意的設計解決方案。B+H提供的服務包括建筑設計、室內(nèi)設計、規(guī)劃、景觀設計及其他咨詢服務。B+H的450多名的建筑師、室內(nèi)設計師、規(guī)劃師、景觀設計師、設計專家、體驗設計顧問、品牌策略顧問分布在全球9個辦公室：多倫多，溫哥華，卡爾加里，西雅圖，迪拜，上海，香港，新加坡和胡志明市。他們緊密合作，將戰(zhàn)略思維、大膽設計和先進技術融入這個跨學科、多元化的團隊。

B+H是最早進入中國市場的外資設計公司之一。1992年我們贏得廈門高崎國際機場的設計競賽，同年，B+H上海辦公室成立，帶動了公司在亞洲的發(fā)展，為公司更好地服務區(qū)域內(nèi)的客戶發(fā)揮了積極的作用。2010年B+H在越南胡志明市、新加坡組建辦公室，2013 年我們的香港辦公室正式成立。

憑借在中國超過25年的從業(yè)經(jīng)驗，B+H對中國當?shù)匚幕徝烙^念以及項目建設流程等都有著深入的了解，并保持持續(xù)發(fā)展的勢頭。我們在開發(fā)流程以及制定城市規(guī)劃、建筑設計、項目管理以及當下建筑實踐相關標準方面扮演重要角色。我們的技術和亞洲市場高度契合，除此之外，我們對工作的執(zhí)著追求以及融合當?shù)匚幕尘暗脑O計思路也同樣為B+H建立了良好的合作關系。

多年來，B+H在中國合作過的國內(nèi)外客戶包括：微軟、阿斯利康、哥倫比亞中國、騰訊、招商局集團、萬達、綠地等。

問題2: B+H在亞洲為客戶提供哪些服務？包含哪些行業(yè)？

憑借全球、多學科的人才優(yōu)勢，B+H為客戶提供不同領域的整體設計解決方案，包括：醫(yī)療、酒店、辦公、商業(yè)綜合體、公建/教育、住宅、零售、交通、創(chuàng)新街區(qū)等。B+H提供以下服務：

建筑設計：我們結合環(huán)境制定可持續(xù)的創(chuàng)新方案，所設計的建筑可經(jīng)受時間的考驗，并呈現(xiàn)客戶及建筑所在社區(qū)的獨特價值理念。我們提供大膽的設計和精煉的建筑專業(yè)知識，制定高性能的設計方案，為人和社區(qū)帶來啟發(fā)。我們的建筑項目根據(jù)規(guī)模、行業(yè)、獨特的背景、客戶需求和功能量身打造，風格各異。

室內(nèi)設計：B+H主要為客戶提供企業(yè)辦公、酒店、醫(yī)療、商業(yè)及住宅領域的室內(nèi)設計服務。企業(yè)文化是室內(nèi)項目成敗的關鍵。B+H的設計以人為本，我們設計的辦公場所關注健康，適用于多種工作風格，并鼓勵員工互動交流，提供更多協(xié)作的機會，從而體現(xiàn)企業(yè)文化，激勵員工。了解用戶體驗是零售室內(nèi)項目競爭優(yōu)勢的關鍵所在，可借此提高績效和客戶滿意度。

規(guī)劃和景觀設計：富有凝聚力的規(guī)劃和景觀設計能夠創(chuàng)造富有靈感的空間、建立連通性，并提高適應性，打造出健康的社區(qū)。通過定制化的系統(tǒng)、規(guī)劃和設計方法，B+H積極響應當?shù)匚幕铜h(huán)境，以支持當?shù)厣鐓^(qū)和經(jīng)濟發(fā)展。綜合性的規(guī)劃和景觀設計通過富有靈感的空間和可持續(xù)的建筑拉近人與人之間的距離，為后續(xù)建設打造靈活的框架，并憑借公共空間設計和場所打造策略提升可及性和互動性。

推進式戰(zhàn)略：這是一項十分獨特的服務，讓我們有機會和客戶共同參與到設計前期的工作。我們幫助客戶決定如何最大限度地利用每一筆投資，并為客戶提供投資組合優(yōu)化、開發(fā)解決方案，以及與客戶商業(yè)目標相契合的辦公場所戰(zhàn)略服務。B+H隨后將這些成果轉化為具有變革性的規(guī)劃、設計解決方案，為客戶的財政增長和可持續(xù)發(fā)展目標提供有力支持。

CHIL：CHIL是B+H旗下的精品酒店設計品牌，為全球客戶設計出屢獲殊榮的酒店項目。香港辦公室是CHIL在亞洲的總部。CHIL將獨特的品牌故事轉化為令人難忘的體驗，CHIL的服務過的酒店品牌包括香格里拉、希爾頓、費爾蒙、悅榕莊等。作為一個國際性的精品酒店品牌，CHIL的設計既體現(xiàn)宏觀的畫面感，也關注每個細節(jié)處理，為客戶創(chuàng)造出無與倫比的住店體驗。B+H和CHIL緊密的合作關系讓我們能夠為客戶提供定制化的酒店、住宅室內(nèi)設計以及酒店整體設計服務。最終的設計成果讓每位客人均親身感受到與品牌息息相關的獨特而又難忘體驗。

翻新：舊建筑的翻新改造工程，是讓城市更新的巨大機遇。隨著全球范圍內(nèi)主要城區(qū)的老化，翻修工程對于恢復城市活力越發(fā)顯得不可或缺。標志性的建筑、系統(tǒng)以及空間的修復，賦予建筑和空間新的意義，同時為其融入現(xiàn)代化的設施。老化的系統(tǒng)、利用率低下的城市空間、高能耗、室內(nèi)環(huán)境健康以及競爭激烈的房地產(chǎn)市場都是城市更新的強大催化劑。

合規(guī)：規(guī)劃、設計和合規(guī)審查工作需要對項目采購方法、相應的流程以及復雜系統(tǒng)的管理擁有全面綜合的理解。合規(guī)審查可以確保項目的價值和客戶長期投資的需求得以滿足，對于客戶來說是很好的解決方案。在項目規(guī)劃階段，對多個利益相關方以及終端用戶的需求進行高效且行之有效的統(tǒng)籌，有助于為項目勾勒出清晰的愿景、實施步驟以及功能性規(guī)劃，這些都是設計的基礎。多數(shù)情況下，我們需要根據(jù)預算、工期要求，為客戶交付大體量、高復雜度的項目，嚴謹?shù)念A測方法有助于實現(xiàn)客戶需求，并保證項目高質(zhì)量的交付。

問題3: 在如今這么激烈的競爭環(huán)境下，B+H成功的秘訣是什么？

我們相信，B+H的優(yōu)勢是大膽的思考和執(zhí)行力的傳承。在B+H成立初期，作為一家相對年輕的設計公司，我們通過與明星建筑師的合作在業(yè)內(nèi)站穩(wěn)了腳跟。如今，我們的設計能力以及深化并實現(xiàn)概念設計的能力皆得到了廣泛認可。早期的發(fā)展經(jīng)歷為B+H注入了協(xié)作的精神內(nèi)核，B+H如今依舊把協(xié)作視為重心。放眼未來，我們依舊會珍視協(xié)作，因為正是協(xié)作讓我們有能力共同創(chuàng)造出鼓舞人心的設計。B+H重視團隊合作以及持續(xù)溝通，不論是和客戶、設計團隊、施工方還是各類顧問方，合作與對話是我們成功的奠基石。

B+H作為一家跨行業(yè)的綜合性設計公司，在全球范圍內(nèi)都設有辦公室，在如今日新月異、競爭激烈的全球商業(yè)環(huán)境中，B+H意識到自身具有的優(yōu)勢。隨著建筑形態(tài)的界限日漸模糊、彼此交融，更具活力和包容性的城市和社區(qū)不斷涌現(xiàn)，我們能夠憑借多年來在各個行業(yè)積累的知識來創(chuàng)造空間和社區(qū)，以滿足人們?nèi)轿坏男枨?。與之相似，憑借著全球視野以及對當?shù)匚幕尘暗拿翡J洞悉，B+H交付的設計傳遞出創(chuàng)新的能量，在一個地方實現(xiàn)創(chuàng)新之后，又能影響另一個地方邁出創(chuàng)新的腳步。

27年前，B+H剛剛進入中國市場，當時的中國已經(jīng)呈現(xiàn)出發(fā)展的態(tài)勢。通過前所未有的經(jīng)濟增長和創(chuàng)新精神，中國在現(xiàn)代化的進程中實現(xiàn)了翻天覆地的變化。B+H有幸能夠參與到中國的變革之中，在中國飛速的城市化進程推動作用下，我們參與了許多開創(chuàng)先河、象征著該時代進取精神的項目中。B+H親眼見證了中國在全球發(fā)展中的領跑地位；在過去的25年中，我們同樣還見證了中國快速接受新科技、新體系和實踐，逐漸成為全球可持續(xù)發(fā)展的驅動力量，形成了東方引領西方的趨勢。

我們相信，要想持續(xù)為客戶提供最新、最具創(chuàng)意的想法和解決方案，我們就必須要想方設法“自我解構”，并不斷挑戰(zhàn)我們已有的知識和做法。

最近，我們組織了一場以“醫(yī)療產(chǎn)業(yè)的未來”為主題的研討會，旨在引導我們面向未來，改變我們的思維方式。我們在這場研討會中邀請了行業(yè)領袖、醫(yī)療運營者、開發(fā)商以及合作伙伴的高層人士，深入探討了中國的醫(yī)療行業(yè)的現(xiàn)狀和未來。如今，醫(yī)療行業(yè)的設計師、開發(fā)商以及運營者都在努力追趕著快速變革的步伐，適應著不斷重塑行業(yè)面貌的創(chuàng)新科技。此次研討會成為了行業(yè)領袖聚會探討的難得機會，幫助我們自我解構，挑戰(zhàn)固化思維，激發(fā)未來醫(yī)療設計的靈感。

除此之外，我們也在探索科技如何為當下全球城市和經(jīng)濟體帶來變革，如何創(chuàng)造出巨大的創(chuàng)新機遇并重塑未來城市樣貌。為了使我們的探索更具有意義，我們與行業(yè)領袖合作，圍繞著創(chuàng)新街區(qū)以及這一城市現(xiàn)象如何促進城市發(fā)展、催生新業(yè)態(tài)、新的基礎設施和建筑形式等主題開展戰(zhàn)略對話。

問題4: 如今，各家公司都在全力網(wǎng)羅人才，在亞洲，B+H是采取怎樣的策略來留住以及吸引人才的呢？

在B+H，我們認為鼓舞人心的設計來源于富有靈感的人。我們的團隊包括跨學科、不同年齡段，以及來自不同文化背景的創(chuàng)意人士，融匯了不同的專業(yè)知識和多元化的觀點。B+H的辦公空間和企業(yè)文化都鼓勵對話和交流，支持創(chuàng)意和協(xié)作；我們傾聽每個人的聲音，重視每個人的創(chuàng)意。為了培養(yǎng)人才，B+H提供成長和進步的機會。我們?yōu)閱T工提供科技、培訓、指導和支持，幫助員工達成目標并在職業(yè)道路上更進一步。我們的許多團隊成員都持有各類資質(zhì)，包括工程、建筑學、商務、藝術和科技，共同構成了公司獨特的的價值觀和定位。

最近，B+H啟動了首個“人才孵化項目”，這也是公司兌現(xiàn)持續(xù)培養(yǎng)和發(fā)展人才承諾的重要部分。該項目每年舉辦一期，為B+H的員工提供一個平臺，來實現(xiàn)公司的戰(zhàn)略目標，推進設計領導力，激發(fā)創(chuàng)新，為空間、社區(qū)和經(jīng)濟打造具有變革性的解決方案。每一年，B+H都會為人才孵化項目挑選出一批學員，參與到基層研究中，支持公司的戰(zhàn)略導向和長期愿景。這一批學員將會有機會通過“文化交流之旅”聚集在B+H的某個辦公室，和來自全球不同辦公室的同事一起合作，共同完成研究項目，并有機會體驗當?shù)匚幕?/p>

人才孵化項目是B+H持續(xù)打造“全球統(tǒng)一，文化多元”的企業(yè)文化的重要平臺。作為一家全球性公司，B+H位于各個地區(qū)的辦公室在文化、社會、經(jīng)濟上都有各具特色。我們意識到，讓人才充分理解B+H每個區(qū)域的獨特之處具有重要意義。這也包括了對當?shù)卦O計流程、建筑實踐的深入理解以及面對當?shù)靥魬?zhàn)、限制、機遇的執(zhí)行經(jīng)驗。B+H根據(jù)全球業(yè)務構成為不同項目、專業(yè)、辦公室和地區(qū)匹配不同的人才，得益于此，我們能夠充分動用全公司范圍內(nèi)的人才。B+H擁有全面的人才、技能和經(jīng)驗，我們積極培養(yǎng)、招募、培訓并留住杰出人才，幫助公司保持品牌活力，通過全新咨詢模式，實現(xiàn)公司打造具有變革性空間、社區(qū)和經(jīng)濟的目標。

問題 5: B+H在企業(yè)社會責任（CSR）方面參與度如何？在亞洲有怎樣的案例？

要打造對公眾和社區(qū)提供支持的空間，我們的設計需要對客戶和終端用戶負責任。我們認為，設計師的重要角色就在于持續(xù)關注如何設計出健康、恢復力強、可持續(xù)性的城市和社區(qū)。憑借對于可持續(xù)發(fā)展和增長不斷加深的理解，我們能夠掌握更好實踐方法，打造靈活且具有適應性的空間以支持人們的需求。自90年代起，可持續(xù)的設計就已經(jīng)融入到B+H的整體設計實踐當中。在加拿大，從多倫多會議中心南樓，到莫霍克學院Joyce合作和創(chuàng)新中心“零能耗”教學樓，再到最近的漢博理工學院NX大樓翻新項目，B+H一直在不斷推動和探索可持續(xù)性設計和建設的外沿。在新加坡，我們的幾個醫(yī)療項目皆被新加坡建設局授予綠色建筑標志白金獎。在中國，我們也有許多項目在節(jié)水、節(jié)能以及室內(nèi)空氣質(zhì)量等指標上達到了國家二星級以及三星級綠色建筑設計標準。

在B+H，我們相信，城市、街區(qū)和社區(qū)不僅僅是建筑空間的簡單集合。建筑空間應當是適宜居住、功能完備、恢復力強而且是可持續(xù)的。通過循證設計，我們與客戶緊密合作，為客戶定制出可實現(xiàn)的、且能隨著需求變化而不斷演化的可持續(xù)發(fā)展解決方案。我們?nèi)蚋鱾€辦公室都致力實現(xiàn)可持續(xù)性，并且積極倡導并設計出健康的社區(qū)、建筑和空間。我們致力于打造適應性強的解決方案和高性能的建筑，為其所屬社區(qū)帶來積極影響：提升健康水平和幸福感、促進生產(chǎn)力發(fā)展以及尊重有限的自然資源。我們期望建筑能夠回饋社區(qū)，而不是索取自然資源。

問題6: B+H是如何將技術融入到設計當中的？

在B+H，我們通過設計與新技術的融合來實現(xiàn)設計性能和創(chuàng)新，為客戶帶來更多價值。瞬息萬變的世界，顛覆性的創(chuàng)新層出不窮，我們所需要的解決方案愈發(fā)復雜，并且面臨著未來巨大的不確定性。盡管我們無法準確地預測未來，但是我們可以優(yōu)化設計流程和借助工具，幫助我們提高效率，為人們打造美好的體驗。B+H對增強現(xiàn)實（AR）和虛擬現(xiàn)實（VR）技術進行投資，在設計階段為客戶提供新的感官方式來感受空間。為了讓客戶更直觀地參與到我們的設計過程中，我們使用VR Sandbox。通過這一沉浸式技術，在項目還沒建成之間，我們就能夠帶領客戶身臨其境地體驗我們?yōu)橹O計的空間?？蛻趔w驗后給出的反饋也將及時幫助我們調(diào)整設計細節(jié)。這類技術為我們帶來了無限探索空間的可能。除此之外，我們也緊緊跟隨最新的建筑科技，讓我們在大膽嘗試新設計的同時能夠利用定量和定性的數(shù)據(jù)幫助客戶作出明智的商業(yè)決策，從而為人們的生活帶來積極影響。

問題7: B+H與其他設計公司的最大不同在哪里？

我們意識到，要解決客戶當前面臨的挑戰(zhàn)，就必須要在思維方式和設計方法上做出重大轉變。在這個瞬息萬變的時代，遵循過去的慣例已經(jīng)不足以適應未來。設計師通常在遇到問題時習慣于立刻著手進行設計并解決問題，這在過去是行之有效的，但在今天這樣的環(huán)境中卻相當有風險。我們正致力于尋找方法解構自我、解構客戶，以避免無意的重復和錯誤。為了讓我們自身和客戶都能更上一層樓，我們需要愈加多元、跨代、跨學科的觀點，我們積極尋找能夠與B+H相得益彰的合作伙伴，同時有效地運用B+H全球各個辦公室不同的文化背景和經(jīng)驗。不過，對于經(jīng)驗，我們也保持謹慎態(tài)度，我們尊重經(jīng)驗但不過度夸大經(jīng)驗的價值，因為我們立足行業(yè)的關鍵是提出正確的問題，而不是自認為已經(jīng)無所不知。

問題8: 展望未來時，B+H如何制定下一個五年的計劃？

我們的愿景是運用全新的咨詢模式打造具有變革性的空間、社區(qū)和經(jīng)濟。為了實現(xiàn)這一目標，我們將戰(zhàn)略思維、大膽設計和先進技術融入這個跨學科、多元化、跨代際的團隊，并在碰撞間激發(fā)更多創(chuàng)新能量。與傳統(tǒng)意義上的建筑和設計公司不同，我們提供全套、綜合性的服務，用全新咨詢模式為客戶提供整體解決方案，創(chuàng)造建筑空間之外更多的價值。我們的設計工具和“解決方案創(chuàng)意”包括了戰(zhàn)略、規(guī)劃、可持續(xù)建筑、景觀設計、室內(nèi)設計以及品牌開發(fā)等。

B+H最近與亞洲最大的城市與基礎設施咨詢公司之一的盛?？毓杉瘓F成為合作伙伴，這一新的合作伙伴關系為B+H邁入世界一流的戰(zhàn)略咨詢與設計巨頭行列的下階段目標奠定了基礎。與全球行業(yè)領導者的結盟，為B+H提供了前所未有的契機，使得公司能夠在一個更廣闊的平臺上，加速實現(xiàn)愿景、成為設計業(yè)領袖并持續(xù)得到發(fā)展。

Having joined B+H as a Partner in 2002, Karen has overseen an unprecedented period of growth in Asia and led the charge in expanding B+H’s footprint across the region. Over the years, the fi rm has grown to include studios in Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, and Hong Kong, with a team of nearly 300 staff working with some of the region’s, and the world’s, most high-pro fi le clients.

Q1: Can you please give us an overview of the history of the company and its evolution/growth in the region?

KC: B+H Architects is a global, award-winning firm with a 65+ year legacy of building creative solutions for clients through the delivery of architecture, interior design, planning, landscape, and other consulting services. Collaborating across nine studios in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Seattle, Dubai, Shanghai, Hong Kong,Singapore & Ho Chi Minh City, B+H’s 450+ architects, interior designers, planners,landscape architects, organizational design specialists, experience designers and brand strategists combine strategic thinking, bold design and advanced technology with the creative human energy of an interdisciplinary, multigenerational team.

B+H was one of the fi rst foreign architecture fi rms to establish a presence in China.We opened an office in Shanghai in 1992 after winning a competition to design the Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and this office played a signi fi cant role in building the base from which to support clients in the region. Shanghai anchored our growth throughout Asia and fuelled our expansion into Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore in 2010, and Hong Kong in 2013.

More than a quarter of a century of experience in China has equipped us with a comprehensive understanding of local culture, aesthetics, and construction methods to maintain our momentum and build upon our success. We’ve played a signi fi cant role in developing processes and standards pertaining to successful urban planning, architectural design, project management, and construction practices that are currently in-place. In addition to the technical aspects of our work that resonate with the Asian market, we also share similar values for building strong relationships through a commitment to our work and a contextual approach to design.

Over the years, B+H has collaborated with high-profile international clients and regional developers including Microsoft, Astra Zeneca, Columbia China, Tencent,China Merchants, Wanda, Greenland etc.

Q2：What services and sectors does B+H provide for clients in Asia?

We leverage our global, multi-disciplinary talent to provide holistic design solutions across a broad spectrum of sectors including: Healthcare, Hospitality, Corporate Workplace, Commercial/Mixed-Use, Institutional/Education, Residential, Retail,Transportation, Innovation Districts, and others. B+H provides services in:

Architecture:Through an innovative, sustainable, and contextual approach, we design buildings that withstand the test of time and communicate unique value propositions for our clients and the neighbourhoods within which they’re built. We deliver bold design and streamlined construction expertise to create innovative and high-performance design solutions that last and inspire. Our architectural developments vary considerably in scale, by sector, and according to their unique contexts, needs and functions.

lnterior Design:At B+H, we engage with clients in the corporate workplace,hospitality, retail and residential sectors for our interior design services. Culture is the most important factor in determining an interior project's success. Focusing on people, we design healthy workplaces that facilitate a diverse range of work styles and preferences, encourage movement throughout the day, provide opportunities for collaboration, re fl ect the desired culture, and empower users so they feel inspired.Understanding the user experience is the key to a retail interior's competitive advantage - translating into increased performance and customer satisfaction.

Planning & Landscape:Cohesive planning and landscape design creates healthy communities through inspiring spaces, connectivity, and adaptability. Through a tailored approach to systems, planning and design respond to local cultures and physical contexts to support communities and economies. Connecting people through inspiring spaces and sustainable development, comprehensive planning and landscape programming create fl exible frameworks that encourage movement and accessibility through strategic public realm design and place making.

Advance Strategy:A unique offering that allows us to engage with our clients further upstream of the design work. We help clients determine highest and best use for their investment dollars and provide portfolio optimization, development solutions, and workplace strategy services tied to our clients’ business objectives.We then translate these findings and insights into transformative planning,architecture, and design solutions that support financial growth and sustained business success.

CHlL:As B+H’s boutique hospitality design studio, CHIL creates award-winning hospitality experiences for clients around the globe. Hong Kong is the headquarters for CHIL in Asia.CHIL translates unique brand stories into unforgettable spaces for clients including Shangri-La, Hilton, Fairmont, Accor and Banyan Tree. A global practice with the heart and soul of a boutique fi rm, CHIL marries big picture vision with exacting execution to create unparalleled hospitality and residential experiences. This partnership allows B+H and CHIL to deliver tailored hospitality and residential interiors and full-service architecture and design services. The result is an unparalleled experience that guests will distinctively associate with a client’s brand.

Renewal:The renewal of aging structures presents a tremendous opportunity to reinvigorate the urban fabric. As major urban areas across the globe begin to age, renewal initiatives become necessary to rejuvenate our cities. By restoring iconic facilities, systems, and spaces to their original lustre, we can breathe new purpose into them and accommodate modern needs and requirements. Aging building systems, underutilized urban spaces, skyrocketing energy costs, indoor environment health, and hyper-competitive real estate markets are powerful catalysts for urban renewal.

Compliance:A Planning, Design and Compliance assignment requires a comprehensive understanding of diverse methods of project procurement, their corresponding processes, and the management of complex methodologies.A compliance assignment is the right solution for clients pursuing a build-tosuit project - to ensure that they secure value and their requirements are met for this long-term investment.During the planning phase, efficient and effective organization of the needs of multiple stakeholders and end-users will map a clear project vision, path, and functional plan as the basis of design. Mostly involving the delivery of complex large-scale facilities and institutions, which demand to budget,and schedule performance, a disciplined and anticipatory methodology provides the quality assurance required by our clients.

Q3: What's the secret behind B+H's success in today's highly competitive market?

We believe that our legacy is the direct result of bold thinking and action. Our history of collaboration with starchitects (celebrity architects) in our early days helped establish our footing as a fi rm relatively new on the scene. Today we’re recognized equally for both our roles as design architects and our ability to execute fully realized concepts. Our early experience infused our approach with a spirit of collaboration that remains at the heart of what we do to this day. As we look to the future, we appreciate how important collaboration is in the co-creation of inspiring design. We value teamwork and continuous dialogue with everyone,from our clients, to internal teams, contractors, and consultants as a way to pave our path to success.

Being a multi-sector firm with offices around the world, we recognize the advantages we have in a highly evolving and competitive global business environment. As building typologies blur and merge to create more dynamic and inclusive cities and communities, we can apply the insights we’ve gathered from multiple sectors to create spaces and communities that respond to people’s needs in a holistic way. In much the same way, we fuse our strengths in local acumen with a global attitude to uncover design that speaks to the ways in which innovations realized in one geographic area can inspire the forward movement of another.

When we began our work in China 27 years ago, we encountered a nation poised for development. Through unprecedented economic growth and an innovative spirit, China has transformed rapidly through a strong focus on modernization. B+H is fortunate to have participated in China’s growth through our collaboration on so many of the ground-breaking developments that symbolize the aspirations of the time, catalyzed by China’s rapid urbanization. We’ve seen fi rst-hand how the nation has demonstrated a global leadership and over the last quarter of a century, we’ve seen how China has become a global driver for sustainability with the East leading the West in embracing new tools, processes, and practices.

We believe that, in order to continue to offer our clients the freshest, most innovative insight and solutions, we must find ways to “disrupt ourselves” and constantly challenge what we think we know.

Most recently, we organized an event called “The Future of Healthcare”, as a future exercise designed to shift our way of thinking. We invited experts from highlevel industry leaders, operators, developers and partners for a thought-provoking deep dive into China’s healthcare context. As healthcare designers, developers and operators grapple with the rapid pace of change and technological innovation reshaping the industry. This rare opportunity for a meeting of today’s leading minds helped us to disrupt ourselves and challenge our assumptions to inspire and inform the ways in which we approach healthcare design for the future.

We are also currently exploring the ways in which the technology industry is transforming cities and economies around the world, creating unprecedented opportunities to drive innovation and shape the future of our urban landscapes. To explore this in a meaningful way, we have been partnering with industry leaders to convene strategic conversations around the topic of innovation districts and how this urban phenomenon is catalysing the growth of cities, influencing new development, infrastructure and built form.

Q4: With every company fishing for talents in the same pool nowadays,what's B+H's strategy to retain/attract talents in the region?

At B+H, we believe that inspired design comes from inspired people. Our talent pool is composed of a diverse group of multi-generational, multi-cultural experts that bridge various disciplines and offer different and unique points of view. We create a physical and cultural workspace that encourages dialogue, creativity,and collaboration； where every voice is heard, and ideas are celebrated. We provide opportunities for growth and advancement to cultivate talent. By providing our talent with technology, training, mentoring, and support, we can help them achieve their goals and advance their careers. Many of our team members have a combination of accreditations that contribute to the fi rm’s unique value proposition including engineering, building science, business, the arts, and technology.

Recently, B+H launched its inaugural Catalyst Talent Program as part of the fi rm’s ongoing commitment to nurturing and developing its talent. The program is an annual forum for B+H’s talent to meaningfully contribute to the realization of the fi rm’s strategic goals, propelling design leadership, innovation and the creation of transformational solutions for spaces, communities and economies. Each year,B+H will select a Catalyst Talent Program cohort to engage in grassroots research in support of the firm’s strategic priorities and long-term vision. The cohort will have the opportunity to collaborate with their colleagues globally in support of the research while also having the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture of one of our studios through a Cultural Exchange Trip.

The Catalyst Talent Program is a platform from which the fi rm continues to build its ‘globally unified, culturally diverse’ culture. As a global firm with offices in regions that differ greatly in terms of cultural, social, and economic nuances,we recognize the importance of having talent well-versed in the very things that make each location unique. This also includes an in-depth knowledge of local building processes, practices, and experience with implementation within local challenges, constraints, and opportunities. We leverage local talent within our global composition to staff projects across disciplines, studios, and regions so that we can utilize the talent we have fi rm-wide. A fi rm well-rounded in talent, skill,and experience, we cultivate diversity to hire, train, and retain the type of people that will help us live our brand and contribute to our goals to transform spaces,communities, and economies through a new model of consulting.

Lucina Women and Children’s Hospital, Xiamen (Interior Design, Completed in 2019)廈門如心婦嬰醫(yī)院（室內(nèi)設計，2019年竣工）

Q5: To what extent does B+H Architects involve itself in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and what examples do you have in this area?

As designers of built spaces that support people and communities, we have a great responsibility to our clients and the future users of their spaces. We believe that a large part of our role as designers is to pursue developments with a strong focus on how we can continue to push ourselves in the pursuit of designing cities and communities that are healthy, resilient, and sustainable. By focusing on advancing our own understanding of sustainable development and growth, we’re better equipped to support people through spaces that can fl ex and adapt as required.Since the 1990’s, sustainable design practices have become a de fi nitive component of our integrated approach. Beginning with the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building and advancing with our current net zero collaboration on The Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation at Mohawk College, and most recently the Humber College’s retrofitted NX building - all located in Canada - we push the boundaries on sustainable design and construction. Our healthcare projects in Singapore have been awarded BCA Green Mark Platinum. Many of our projects in China also achieve water reduction, energy savings, and indoor air quality requirements that exceed China’s two-star and three-star sustainable standards.

At B+H, we believe that cities, districts, and communities exist as more than simply collections of constructed spaces. Built environments are meant to be livable, functional, resilient, and sustainable. Using evidence-based design, we work closely with our clients to uncover customized sustainable solutions that are achievable for them and can evolve with their changing needs. Our global sustainability experience is represented across studios and we’re actively engaged in advocating for and designing healthy communities, buildings, and spaces. We’re committed to creating adaptive solutions and high-performance buildings that make positive contributions to their communities: promoting health and well-being,stimulating productivity, and respecting our fi nite natural resources. We aspire to deliver buildings that give back more than they take.

Q6: How does B+H integrate technology into design?

At B+H, we pursue design performance and innovation by fusing design with innovative technology to provide added value for our clients. With today’s accelerated change and disruptive innovation, solutions are far more complex and are coupled with uncertain futures. While we can’t possibly predict the future, we can equip ourselves with processes and tools to help us outperform requirements and create engaging experiences for people. Through investments in Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR & VR) technologies, we create exciting new opportunities for our clients to experience new spaces, as they exist in the design stage. As part of our initiative to engage our clients in the design process, we use a VR Sandbox. Through this immersive technology, we take our clients through the spaces we've designed for them to experience how they would work, firsthand, before they’re even built. This set up also allows us to tweak design details from our clients’ feedback as they experience the space, in real time. This type of technology allows us to play in the space of possibilities. We’re also up-to-speed with the latest in building technology, which allows us to experiment with bold designs while using quantitative and qualitative data to help our clients make smart business decisions that make a positive impact on people.

Q7: What differentiates B+H from other design fi rms?

We’ve started to see a big shift in our thinking and approach to addressing the challenges our clients currently face. In times of such rapid change, the past is no longer predictive of the future. Designers are typically wired to jump into design and start solving problems, but in today’s environment doing what’s worked in the past is a potentially risky proposition. We’re fi nding ways to disrupt our clients and ourselves to avoid unintentionally creating more of what we already have. To take our clients and ourselves to better places, we’re engaging a broader range of intergenerational and interdisciplinary perspectives, looking for partners who complement our expertise and leveraging the culturally varied experiences in our studios around the world. We’re careful not to overvalue our experience, realizing that we arrive at game-changing insights by asking the right questions and not assuming we know everything.

Q8: Looking forward, how is B+H's plan the next fi ve years determined?

Our vision is to transform spaces, communities, and economies through an entirely new model of consulting. We’ll do this by combining strategic thinking, bold design,and advanced technology with the creative, human energy of an interdisciplinary and multigenerational team. Through a full-spectrum and integrated array of services not traditionally associated with an architecture and design firm, we approach clients with a new way of consultation featuring holistic solutions that extend well beyond the built environment. Our vehicles of design and “solution creation” include strategy, planning, sustainable architecture, landscape, interiors and brand development.

Through B+H’s recent partnership with Surbana Jurong Private Limited (Surbana Jurong), one of Asia’s largest urban and infrastructure consulting firms, we are poised for the next phase of the fi rm’s transformation into a world-class strategic consulting and design powerhouse. The new partnership has aligned B+H with a global industry leader and provides unprecedented access to a deeper and broader platform from which to dramatically accelerate our ability to realize our strategic vision, design leadership and growth ambitions.

Columbia Jiaxing Hospital (in construction)哥倫比亞嘉興凱宜醫(yī)院（施工中）