Karen Cvornyek专访

Karen Cvornyek,

B+H亚洲业务总裁，合伙人

Principal, Asia President of B+H Architects

自2002年以合伙人的身份加入B+H以来，Karen见证了亚洲经济的高速增长时期，并带领B+H在亚洲的发展。过去十几年间，B+H稳步增长，相继在上海、胡志明市、新加坡以及香港开设办公室，目前B+H在亚洲拥有将近300名员工，服务于亚洲乃至全世界范围内一些高知名度的客户。

问题1: 您能给我们简单介绍一下B+H的历史以及B+H在亚洲地区的演变和发展轨迹吗？

KC：B+H是一家屡获殊荣、拥有65多年历史的国际性公司，致力于为客户提供富有创意的设计解决方案。B+H提供的服务包括建筑设计、室内设计、规划、景观设计及其他咨询服务。B+H的450多名的建筑师、室内设计师、规划师、景观设计师、设计专家、体验设计顾问、品牌策略顾问分布在全球9个办公室：多伦多，温哥华，卡尔加里，西雅图，迪拜，上海，香港，新加坡和胡志明市。他们紧密合作，将战略思维、大胆设计和先进技术融入这个跨学科、多元化的团队。

B+H是最早进入中国市场的外资设计公司之一。1992年我们赢得厦门高崎国际机场的设计竞赛，同年，B+H上海办公室成立，带动了公司在亚洲的发展，为公司更好地服务区域内的客户发挥了积极的作用。2010年B+H在越南胡志明市、新加坡组建办公室，2013 年我们的香港办公室正式成立。

凭借在中国超过25年的从业经验，B+H对中国当地文化、审美观念以及项目建设流程等都有着深入的了解，并保持持续发展的势头。我们在开发流程以及制定城市规划、建筑设计、项目管理以及当下建筑实践相关标准方面扮演重要角色。我们的技术和亚洲市场高度契合，除此之外，我们对工作的执着追求以及融合当地文化背景的设计思路也同样为B+H建立了良好的合作关系。

多年来，B+H在中国合作过的国内外客户包括：微软、阿斯利康、哥伦比亚中国、腾讯、招商局集团、万达、绿地等。

问题2: B+H在亚洲为客户提供哪些服务？包含哪些行业？

凭借全球、多学科的人才优势，B+H为客户提供不同领域的整体设计解决方案，包括：医疗、酒店、办公、商业综合体、公建/教育、住宅、零售、交通、创新街区等。B+H提供以下服务：

建筑设计：我们结合环境制定可持续的创新方案，所设计的建筑可经受时间的考验，并呈现客户及建筑所在社区的独特价值理念。我们提供大胆的设计和精炼的建筑专业知识，制定高性能的设计方案，为人和社区带来启发。我们的建筑项目根据规模、行业、独特的背景、客户需求和功能量身打造，风格各异。

室内设计：B+H主要为客户提供企业办公、酒店、医疗、商业及住宅领域的室内设计服务。企业文化是室内项目成败的关键。B+H的设计以人为本，我们设计的办公场所关注健康，适用于多种工作风格，并鼓励员工互动交流，提供更多协作的机会，从而体现企业文化，激励员工。了解用户体验是零售室内项目竞争优势的关键所在，可借此提高绩效和客户满意度。

规划和景观设计：富有凝聚力的规划和景观设计能够创造富有灵感的空间、建立连通性，并提高适应性，打造出健康的社区。通过定制化的系统、规划和设计方法，B+H积极响应当地文化和环境，以支持当地社区和经济发展。综合性的规划和景观设计通过富有灵感的空间和可持续的建筑拉近人与人之间的距离，为后续建设打造灵活的框架，并凭借公共空间设计和场所打造策略提升可及性和互动性。

推进式战略：这是一项十分独特的服务，让我们有机会和客户共同参与到设计前期的工作。我们帮助客户决定如何最大限度地利用每一笔投资，并为客户提供投资组合优化、开发解决方案，以及与客户商业目标相契合的办公场所战略服务。B+H随后将这些成果转化为具有变革性的规划、设计解决方案，为客户的财政增长和可持续发展目标提供有力支持。

CHIL：CHIL是B+H旗下的精品酒店设计品牌，为全球客户设计出屡获殊荣的酒店项目。香港办公室是CHIL在亚洲的总部。CHIL将独特的品牌故事转化为令人难忘的体验，CHIL的服务过的酒店品牌包括香格里拉、希尔顿、费尔蒙、悦榕庄等。作为一个国际性的精品酒店品牌，CHIL的设计既体现宏观的画面感，也关注每个细节处理，为客户创造出无与伦比的住店体验。B+H和CHIL紧密的合作关系让我们能够为客户提供定制化的酒店、住宅室内设计以及酒店整体设计服务。最终的设计成果让每位客人均亲身感受到与品牌息息相关的独特而又难忘体验。

翻新：旧建筑的翻新改造工程，是让城市更新的巨大机遇。随着全球范围内主要城区的老化，翻修工程对于恢复城市活力越发显得不可或缺。标志性的建筑、系统以及空间的修复，赋予建筑和空间新的意义，同时为其融入现代化的设施。老化的系统、利用率低下的城市空间、高能耗、室内环境健康以及竞争激烈的房地产市场都是城市更新的强大催化剂。

合规：规划、设计和合规审查工作需要对项目采购方法、相应的流程以及复杂系统的管理拥有全面综合的理解。合规审查可以确保项目的价值和客户长期投资的需求得以满足，对于客户来说是很好的解决方案。在项目规划阶段，对多个利益相关方以及终端用户的需求进行高效且行之有效的统筹，有助于为项目勾勒出清晰的愿景、实施步骤以及功能性规划，这些都是设计的基础。多数情况下，我们需要根据预算、工期要求，为客户交付大体量、高复杂度的项目，严谨的预测方法有助于实现客户需求，并保证项目高质量的交付。

问题3: 在如今这么激烈的竞争环境下，B+H成功的秘诀是什么？

我们相信，B+H的优势是大胆的思考和执行力的传承。在B+H成立初期，作为一家相对年轻的设计公司，我们通过与明星建筑师的合作在业内站稳了脚跟。如今，我们的设计能力以及深化并实现概念设计的能力皆得到了广泛认可。早期的发展经历为B+H注入了协作的精神内核，B+H如今依旧把协作视为重心。放眼未来，我们依旧会珍视协作，因为正是协作让我们有能力共同创造出鼓舞人心的设计。B+H重视团队合作以及持续沟通，不论是和客户、设计团队、施工方还是各类顾问方，合作与对话是我们成功的奠基石。

B+H作为一家跨行业的综合性设计公司，在全球范围内都设有办公室，在如今日新月异、竞争激烈的全球商业环境中，B+H意识到自身具有的优势。随着建筑形态的界限日渐模糊、彼此交融，更具活力和包容性的城市和社区不断涌现，我们能够凭借多年来在各个行业积累的知识来创造空间和社区，以满足人们全方位的需求。与之相似，凭借着全球视野以及对当地文化背景的敏锐洞悉，B+H交付的设计传递出创新的能量，在一个地方实现创新之后，又能影响另一个地方迈出创新的脚步。

27年前，B+H刚刚进入中国市场，当时的中国已经呈现出发展的态势。通过前所未有的经济增长和创新精神，中国在现代化的进程中实现了翻天覆地的变化。B+H有幸能够参与到中国的变革之中，在中国飞速的城市化进程推动作用下，我们参与了许多开创先河、象征着该时代进取精神的项目中。B+H亲眼见证了中国在全球发展中的领跑地位；在过去的25年中，我们同样还见证了中国快速接受新科技、新体系和实践，逐渐成为全球可持续发展的驱动力量，形成了东方引领西方的趋势。

我们相信，要想持续为客户提供最新、最具创意的想法和解决方案，我们就必须要想方设法“自我解构”，并不断挑战我们已有的知识和做法。

最近，我们组织了一场以“医疗产业的未来”为主题的研讨会，旨在引导我们面向未来，改变我们的思维方式。我们在这场研讨会中邀请了行业领袖、医疗运营者、开发商以及合作伙伴的高层人士，深入探讨了中国的医疗行业的现状和未来。如今，医疗行业的设计师、开发商以及运营者都在努力追赶着快速变革的步伐，适应着不断重塑行业面貌的创新科技。此次研讨会成为了行业领袖聚会探讨的难得机会，帮助我们自我解构，挑战固化思维，激发未来医疗设计的灵感。

除此之外，我们也在探索科技如何为当下全球城市和经济体带来变革，如何创造出巨大的创新机遇并重塑未来城市样貌。为了使我们的探索更具有意义，我们与行业领袖合作，围绕着创新街区以及这一城市现象如何促进城市发展、催生新业态、新的基础设施和建筑形式等主题开展战略对话。

问题4: 如今，各家公司都在全力网罗人才，在亚洲，B+H是采取怎样的策略来留住以及吸引人才的呢？

在B+H，我们认为鼓舞人心的设计来源于富有灵感的人。我们的团队包括跨学科、不同年龄段，以及来自不同文化背景的创意人士，融汇了不同的专业知识和多元化的观点。B+H的办公空间和企业文化都鼓励对话和交流，支持创意和协作；我们倾听每个人的声音，重视每个人的创意。为了培养人才，B+H提供成长和进步的机会。我们为员工提供科技、培训、指导和支持，帮助员工达成目标并在职业道路上更进一步。我们的许多团队成员都持有各类资质，包括工程、建筑学、商务、艺术和科技，共同构成了公司独特的的价值观和定位。

最近，B+H启动了首个“人才孵化项目”，这也是公司兑现持续培养和发展人才承诺的重要部分。该项目每年举办一期，为B+H的员工提供一个平台，来实现公司的战略目标，推进设计领导力，激发创新，为空间、社区和经济打造具有变革性的解决方案。每一年，B+H都会为人才孵化项目挑选出一批学员，参与到基层研究中，支持公司的战略导向和长期愿景。这一批学员将会有机会通过“文化交流之旅”聚集在B+H的某个办公室，和来自全球不同办公室的同事一起合作，共同完成研究项目，并有机会体验当地文化。

人才孵化项目是B+H持续打造“全球统一，文化多元”的企业文化的重要平台。作为一家全球性公司，B+H位于各个地区的办公室在文化、社会、经济上都有各具特色。我们意识到，让人才充分理解B+H每个区域的独特之处具有重要意义。这也包括了对当地设计流程、建筑实践的深入理解以及面对当地挑战、限制、机遇的执行经验。B+H根据全球业务构成为不同项目、专业、办公室和地区匹配不同的人才，得益于此，我们能够充分动用全公司范围内的人才。B+H拥有全面的人才、技能和经验，我们积极培养、招募、培训并留住杰出人才，帮助公司保持品牌活力，通过全新咨询模式，实现公司打造具有变革性空间、社区和经济的目标。

问题 5: B+H在企业社会责任（CSR）方面参与度如何？在亚洲有怎样的案例？

要打造对公众和社区提供支持的空间，我们的设计需要对客户和终端用户负责任。我们认为，设计师的重要角色就在于持续关注如何设计出健康、恢复力强、可持续性的城市和社区。凭借对于可持续发展和增长不断加深的理解，我们能够掌握更好实践方法，打造灵活且具有适应性的空间以支持人们的需求。自90年代起，可持续的设计就已经融入到B+H的整体设计实践当中。在加拿大，从多伦多会议中心南楼，到莫霍克学院Joyce合作和创新中心“零能耗”教学楼，再到最近的汉博理工学院NX大楼翻新项目，B+H一直在不断推动和探索可持续性设计和建设的外沿。在新加坡，我们的几个医疗项目皆被新加坡建设局授予绿色建筑标志白金奖。在中国，我们也有许多项目在节水、节能以及室内空气质量等指标上达到了国家二星级以及三星级绿色建筑设计标准。

在B+H，我们相信，城市、街区和社区不仅仅是建筑空间的简单集合。建筑空间应当是适宜居住、功能完备、恢复力强而且是可持续的。通过循证设计，我们与客户紧密合作，为客户定制出可实现的、且能随着需求变化而不断演化的可持续发展解决方案。我们全球各个办公室都致力实现可持续性，并且积极倡导并设计出健康的社区、建筑和空间。我们致力于打造适应性强的解决方案和高性能的建筑，为其所属社区带来积极影响：提升健康水平和幸福感、促进生产力发展以及尊重有限的自然资源。我们期望建筑能够回馈社区，而不是索取自然资源。

问题6: B+H是如何将技术融入到设计当中的？

在B+H，我们通过设计与新技术的融合来实现设计性能和创新，为客户带来更多价值。瞬息万变的世界，颠覆性的创新层出不穷，我们所需要的解决方案愈发复杂，并且面临着未来巨大的不确定性。尽管我们无法准确地预测未来，但是我们可以优化设计流程和借助工具，帮助我们提高效率，为人们打造美好的体验。B+H对增强现实（AR）和虚拟现实（VR）技术进行投资，在设计阶段为客户提供新的感官方式来感受空间。为了让客户更直观地参与到我们的设计过程中，我们使用VR Sandbox。通过这一沉浸式技术，在项目还没建成之间，我们就能够带领客户身临其境地体验我们为之设计的空间。客户体验后给出的反馈也将及时帮助我们调整设计细节。这类技术为我们带来了无限探索空间的可能。除此之外，我们也紧紧跟随最新的建筑科技，让我们在大胆尝试新设计的同时能够利用定量和定性的数据帮助客户作出明智的商业决策，从而为人们的生活带来积极影响。

问题7: B+H与其他设计公司的最大不同在哪里？

我们意识到，要解决客户当前面临的挑战，就必须要在思维方式和设计方法上做出重大转变。在这个瞬息万变的时代，遵循过去的惯例已经不足以适应未来。设计师通常在遇到问题时习惯于立刻着手进行设计并解决问题，这在过去是行之有效的，但在今天这样的环境中却相当有风险。我们正致力于寻找方法解构自我、解构客户，以避免无意的重复和错误。为了让我们自身和客户都能更上一层楼，我们需要愈加多元、跨代、跨学科的观点，我们积极寻找能够与B+H相得益彰的合作伙伴，同时有效地运用B+H全球各个办公室不同的文化背景和经验。不过，对于经验，我们也保持谨慎态度，我们尊重经验但不过度夸大经验的价值，因为我们立足行业的关键是提出正确的问题，而不是自认为已经无所不知。

问题8: 展望未来时，B+H如何制定下一个五年的计划？

我们的愿景是运用全新的咨询模式打造具有变革性的空间、社区和经济。为了实现这一目标，我们将战略思维、大胆设计和先进技术融入这个跨学科、多元化、跨代际的团队，并在碰撞间激发更多创新能量。与传统意义上的建筑和设计公司不同，我们提供全套、综合性的服务，用全新咨询模式为客户提供整体解决方案，创造建筑空间之外更多的价值。我们的设计工具和“解决方案创意”包括了战略、规划、可持续建筑、景观设计、室内设计以及品牌开发等。

B+H最近与亚洲最大的城市与基础设施咨询公司之一的盛裕控股集团成为合作伙伴，这一新的合作伙伴关系为B+H迈入世界一流的战略咨询与设计巨头行列的下阶段目标奠定了基础。与全球行业领导者的结盟，为B+H提供了前所未有的契机，使得公司能够在一个更广阔的平台上，加速实现愿景、成为设计业领袖并持续得到发展。

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)厦门如心妇婴医院（室内设计，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)哥伦比亚嘉兴凯宜医院（施工中）