DP Architects

DP Architects Pte Ltd

Type	Private Limited
Industry	Architecture, Planning, Interior Design, Project Management, Development Feasibility Study, Due Diligence Study, Environmental Sustainability Design
Founded	1967
Headquarters	Singapore, with offices in 12 cities across Southeast Asia, China and the Middle East
Key people	Koh Seow Chuan, Founder Gan Eng Oon, Honorary Chairman Chan Sui Him, Chairman Francis Lee Seng Wee, CEO Directors Ti Lian Seng Wu Tzu Chiang Vikas M Gore Teoh Hai Pin Chin Thoe Chong Angelene Chan Lesley Lim
Revenue	US$60-69 Million
Employees	over 1,000 worldwide[1]
Website	www.dpa.com.sg

DP Architects Pte Ltd is one of the largest architectural practices in Singapore.

Corporate Profile

DP Architects started as Design Partnership in 1967, incorporated as a private limited company in 1993, and evolved to the present as the heart of the DP group of companies – a multi-disciplinary design consultancy.^[2]

The firm was founded with a deep concern for the built environment and the need to create architecture of excellence that enriches the human experience and spirit. Established as one of the seminal firms responsible for the urban landscape of Singapore, DP Architects has made its mark as one of the leading architectural firms in Asia, winning international recognition for completing mega-scale multi-billion dollar projects such as The Dubai Mall.^[3][4][2]

The firm has a long and esteemed history as the architect of Singapore’s most notable landmarks - the People’s Park Complex^[5] in the 1960s, Suntec City in the 1980s, and, more recently, the multiple award-winning Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay,^[6] Republic Polytechnic^[7] and Resorts World Sentosa.^[8][9] Instrumental in the master planning and transformation of the Orchard Road shopping belt, the development of Marina Centre, as well as residential projects such as The Trillium^[10] and Southbank,^[11] DP Architects continues to play a key role in transforming Singapore into a world-class cityscape.^[2]

DP Architects’ success is firmly tied to a well-managed process that engages the right creative minds. The firm’s holistic approach pairs design-consciousness with sensitive, innovative solutions to climate, site and context. Constantly evolving and aware, DP Architects has made ‘green-thinking’ and ‘sustainability’ integral parts of its design efforts. DP Architects is committed to constantly pursuing architectural excellence and, in doing so, shape a inhabitable and sustainable world for future generations.^[2]

DP Architects’ diverse portfolio spans a wide variety of project types: retail, hotel, resort, commercial office, residential, convention centre, technology parks, medical, religious, educational and civic institutions, and airport and aviation-related support facilities.^[2]

The DP group - comprising DP Architects, DP Consultants, DP Design, DP Engineers and DP Green - provides a comprehensive range of services from architecture, urban planning, interior design, project management, sustainable design, landscape architecture, to engineering. It has over 1000 staff with 12 offices worldwide.^[12][2]

History

The firm was started in 1967 with William Lim Siew Wai, Tay Kheng Soon,^[13] and Koh Seow Chuan^[14] when they left the Malayan Architects Co-Partnership^[15] and founded Design Partnership after its dissolution to start their own firm with an initial staff strength of 18.^[16] In 1972, Gan Eng Oon joined and became a partner^[16] followed by Chan Sui Him in 1973 and became a partner subsequently in 1974.^[16] In 1974, Tay Kheng Soon retired and establish his own practice^[16] and a year later in 1975, Design Partnership was dissolved and reformed as DP Architects Pte (DPA).^[13] William Lim retired in 1981 and established his own practice.^[16][17][18]

The company expanded in 1982 with the establishment of subsidiary companies, 2 DP Design and DP Consultants.^[19] DP Architects was registered formerly as a privated limited with the strenght of 200 people in Singapore.^[20] Leading the firm since its inception, Chan Sui Him was succeeded by Francis Lee Seng Wee in 2004 as the CEO while he was promoted to Chairman of the firm.^[16]

Notable Awards

• 1999 FIABCI Prix d'Excellence in Architecture Awards Commercial/Retail Category & Overall Winner for Suntec City^[21]
• 2005 Royal Institute of British Architects(RIBA) Worldwide Award for Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay^[21]
• 2006 URA Architectural Heritage Award for St Andrew's Village^[22]
• 2006 URA Architectural Heritage Award for New Majestic Hotel^[23]
• 2006 President's Design Award for New Majestic Hotel^[24]
• 2006 President's Design Award for Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay^[25]
• 2006 Schindler Design Award for Mobility in Buildings for Square 2^[26]
• 2008 URA Architectural Heritage Award for 82 Jellicoe Road(Citylights)^[27]
• 2008 SIA-NParks Skyrise Greenery Award for Vivocity^[28]
• 2008 Land Transport Excellence Award - Best Design (Project) (Land Transport Integration) for The Central^[29]
• 2009 Singapore Green Mark Platinum award for Republic Polytechnic^[7]
• 2009 BCA Universal Design Silver Award for Vivocity^[30]
• 2009 URA Architectural Heritage Award for 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island(Capella Singapore)^[31]
• 2009 President's Design Award for Republic Polytechnic^[32]
• 2009 SIA-NParks Skyrise Greenery Awards First Prize for Orchard Central^[33]
• 2009 BCI-Asia Top 10 Green Design Award for Republic Polytechnic^[34]
• 2010 FIABCI Prix d'Excellence Award Winner for Central^[35]
• 2010 International Council of Shopping Centres - Asia Shopping Centre Awards Gold for The Dubai Mall^[36]
• 2011 International Council of Shopping Centres 2011 - Best of the Best - VIVA Award Honoree for The Dubai Mall^[37]
• 2011 URA Architectural Heritage Award for The Fullerton Bay Heritage^[38]
• 2011 URA Architectural Heritage Award for Hotel Fort Canning^[38]
• 2011 URA Architectural Heritage Award for WanderLust^[38]
• 2011 SIA-NParks Skyrise Greenery Awards Third Prize MyVillage^[39]
• 2011 SIA-NParks Skyrise Greenery Awards Merit for Universal Studios Singapore^[39]
• DP Architects has been listed in the BCI Asia Top Ten Awards since 2006.^[40]

Notable projects

DPA is best known in Singapore for several iconic architectural works of the late 1960s and early 1970s such as People's Park Complex, and Golden Mile Complex.

Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas said at a press conference when he visited Singapore in 2005: ‘These buildings (Golden Mile Complex and People’s Park Complex) were not intended to be landmarks, but became landmarks.’ ^[41]

The firm is also known for its work on the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay ,^[6] Mumbai Airport

The Dubai Mall ,^[3][4] Resorts World Sentosa ,^[8][9] and Singapore Sports Hub .^[42]

Singapore

A view of Marina Centre. All the buildings visible are DPA's contributions to the Singapore skyline.

• People's Park Complex
• Golden Mile Complex
• Marina Centre (in collaboration with John Portman & Associates) which comprises Marina Square, Marina Mandarin Singapore, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, and The Pan Pacific Singapore
• Millenia Singapore (in collaboration with Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates, and Johnson/Burgee Architects) comprising Millenia Tower, Centennial Tower, Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, and Millenia Walk
• Suntec City (in collaboration with Tsao & McKown (Singapore) Pte Ltd)
• Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay (initial concept was designed in collaboration with Michael Wilford & Partners but MWP left the project in May 1995) ^[43][44][45]
• Vivocity (in collaboration with Toyo Ito Associates & Architects)
• Resorts World Sentosa (in collaboration with Michael Graves & Associates)^[8][46]
• Republic Polytechnic (in collaboration with Maki and Associates)^[7]
• The Singapore Flyer (in collaboration with Kisho Kurokawa Architects & Associates)^[47]
• Singapore Sports Hub (in collaboration with Arup Sport)

Malaysia

• Berjaya Times Square^[48][49]

India

• Mumbai Airport
• Crossroads Mall and CR2 (in collaboration with Kapadia & Associates

^[50][51])

Indonesia

• Senayan City
• Wisma 46
• The Peak

Hong Kong

• The Centrium

Middle East

• The Dubai Mall^[4][52]

References

1. ^ http://www.bciasia.com/top10/index.cfm?lang=english&fid=54&countryid=6#detail
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} http://www.yellowpages.com.sg/listing/DP-Architects-Pte-Ltd/newiyp/yp/newypdetailsearch2009.do?applicationInd=yp&&CompanyName=DP+Architects+Pte+Ltd&idsNo=_pzH%3CuC%29%3C%7B%3Ek9pf4rB%5C*W%3C%25R%7B+%60zZuCp%3Ek9f4
3. ^ ^{a b} http://www.ameinfo.com/60808.html
4. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.albawaba.com/en/main/183773
5. ^ http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1597_2009-10-31.html
6. ^ ^{a b} http://www.archnewsnow.com/features/Feature101.htm
7. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=11165
8. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.e-architect.co.uk/singapore/sentosa_resort.htm
9. ^ ^{a b} http://meridian103.com/issue-4/made-in-singapore/
10. ^ http://openbuildings.com/buildings/the-trillium-profile-40206
11. ^ http://www.powerdrivesystems.com.sg/page04.html
12. ^ http://www.dpa.com.sg
13. ^ ^{a b} http://www.akitektenggara.com/processofun/process.htm
14. ^ http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1608_2009-11-06.html
15. ^ http://www.fab.utm.my/download/ConferenceSemiar/ICCI2006S5PP22.pdf
16. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Ng, Erin., et al. (2007). DP Architects: The Works Since 1967. Singapore: DP Architects Pte. Ltd. (Call no.: RSING English 720.95957 DP)
17. ^ http://www.rama9art.org/citiesonthemove/body315.html
18. ^ http://www.arch.nus.edu.sg/guest-lectures/vod/wlim.html
19. ^ http://www.dpdesign.com.sg
20. ^ http://www.bca.gov.sg/newsroom/others/pr030903.pdf
21. ^ ^{a b} http://www.sia.org.sg/new/riba_awards.htm
22. ^ http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline07/skyline07-04/text/02.html
23. ^ http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/newmajestic.htm
24. ^ www.designsingapore.org/pda/pdf/pda_09/2009_chapt3.pdf
25. ^ http://www.mica.gov.sg/creative2006/press/7486885.pdf
26. ^ http://www.bciasia.com/news/news_view.cfm?news_id=100408558284067
27. ^ http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/2008/pr08-99.html
28. ^ http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_news&task=view&id=135&Itemid=50
29. ^ http://www.lta.gov.sg/images/Appendix%201_LTEA%20Winners.pdf
30. ^ http://www.bca.gov.sg/newsroom/others/pr050509.pdf
31. ^ http://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/hotels-spas/hotels/amara-santuary-resort-sentosa/
32. ^ http://www.designsingapore.org/pda_public/gallery.aspx?sid=50
33. ^ http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_news&task=view&id=172&Itemid=50
34. ^ www.ura.gov.sg/pr/graphics/2010/pr10-91a.pdf
35. ^ http://www.thecentral.com.sg/home/index.aspx?key=about
36. ^ http://www.icsc.org/asiaawards/
37. ^ http://www.icsc.org/bestofbestawards/VIVA_2011_WINNERS_BROCHURE.pdf
38. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/2011/pr11-120.html
39. ^ ^{a b} http://www.skyrisegreenery.com/index.php/home/awards/skyrise_greenery_awards_2011/
40. ^ http://www.bciasia.com/top10/
41. ^ Tay Suan Chiang (5 August 2007). "Goodbye Famous 5?: "Slum" becomes landmark". The Sunday Times.
42. ^ http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=1877
43. ^ http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Singapore/Singapore/Esplanade%20Singapore
44. ^ http://www.singaporearchitect.com.sg/archive/issue214_02/feature.html
45. ^ http://www.esplanadesing.com/Downloads/DPA%20PDFs/The%20Esplanade%20Statement.pdf
46. ^ http://meridian103.com/issue-4/made-in-singapore/
47. ^ http://www.singaporeflyer.com/en/about-us/design-concepts.html
48. ^ Arkipraktis (13 May 2006). "BCI Asia's top Malaysian architects". New Straits Times
49. ^ http://www.pam.org.my/colouraward.asp
50. ^ http://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/speeches/speeches_snd2002_071002_DP.htm
51. ^ http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2007/sp20070522.htm
52. ^ http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/mar2006/id20060302_615308.htm

External links

• DP Architects Pte Ltd Official website
• DP Architects Sdn Bhd's official website