Woods Bagot CEO Sarah Kay recently concluded a two-week visit across the Greater China region – spanning Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, and Shanghai – a trip that was as much about people as it was about place.
At each studio, Sarah immersed herself in the energy of our China teams, walking through project spaces, listening to ideas, and celebrating the creativity that defines Woods Bagot’s culture. “I loved seeing the passion and personality of our people come through in those short bursts. It’s a reminder that design is as much about people as it is about buildings,” Sarah reflected on PechaKucha sharing sessions.
The trip also provided opportunities to reconnect with clients and partners while visiting some of Woods Bagot’s most iconic projects. In Hong Kong and Macau, accompanied by Principal Christopher Lye, Principal Billy Ip, Associate Principal Winnie Kwok, Designer Herry Yuen, Sarah toured Hysan Place, the Macau Galaxy Apple Store, and NBA Macau at the The Londoner. “Walking through these spaces, you feel how design can shape culture, they’re not just projects, they’re part of the city’s identity,” she noted.
From cultural destinations in Macau to innovation towers in Shenzhen, each stop revealed how design shapes identity in different ways. At the Meiyuan Cloud of Innovation Center, Sarah remarked: “Shenzhen moves at extraordinary speed, and standing at Meiyuan you feel that energy. It’s exciting to see Woods Bagot contributing to this skyline.”
Continuing her time in Shenzhen, Sarah also met with the leadership of Shenzhen Special Zone Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (SZCG), one of the city’s leading state‑owned enterprises driving urban development. Together with Hub Executive Chair – Shenzhen & Hong Kong & Singapore Christopher Lye, Associate Principals Ben Ke and Katsuhiro Ozawa, and Shenzhen Studio Leader Sunny Sun, the delegation was warmly received by SZCG’s senior management, who showcased the group’s extensive portfolio of landmark projects and its role in shaping the Greater Bay Area. “What impressed me at SZCG was their scale and ambition. It’s clear our global expertise can complement their vision,” Sarah emphasized. SZCG leaders echoed this sentiment, praising Woods Bagot’s international perspective and design innovation, and expressing strong interest in deepening cooperation.
That theme carried into Shanghai, where Sarah met with client Golden Bridge to advance the ongoing collaboration on the Biyun Mixed Use Project, as well as visit the newly completed Shanghai One Center, joined by Hub Executive Chair – Shanghai & Beijing Pearl Huang, Senior Associate Haihua Feng, and Project Leader Sky Wei. She was impressed by the spirit of cooperation from shaping large‑scale mixed‑use communities to redefining office space experiences. “Biyun has the potential to be more than a development, it can become a catalyst where innovation, daily life, and ecology converge into a true community,” Sarah emphasized.
When it came to One Center, she described it as a thoughtfully crafted space. “It’s remarkable how a corporate space can be transformed into something warm and inviting – proof that design changes how people feel in everyday environments.”.
What stood out most throughout the journey was the spirit of collaboration. Whether in a studio workshop, a PechaKucha session, or a client roundtable, the trip highlighted how Woods Bagot’s global network thrives when it is grounded in local relationships. “Our strength lies not only in design excellence, but in the bonds we build with people who share our vision,” Sarah emphasized.
As Greater China continues to evolve at remarkable speed, Woods Bagot is proud to be part of its story, working alongside our teams and partners to create places that inspire, connect, and endure.
Media enquiries Shirley Hao Content and Communications Leader (China)
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