DP Architects

DP Architects Pte Ltd is a Singaporean multinational architectural and industrial design firm.[2][3] Originally founded as Design Partnership in 1967, it became a private limited company in 1993 and now operates as a multi-disciplinary design consultancy.[4] It is recognized as one of the largest architectural practices globally.[2][3]

DP Architects Pte Ltd
TypePrivate Limited
IndustryArchitecture and Urban Planning
Founded1967
HeadquartersSingapore
Number of locations
18 Offices
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Angelene Chan (Chairman)
  • Seah Chee Huang (Chief Executive Officer)
  • Lee Shee Koeng (Chief Operating Officer)
ServicesArchitecture, Planning, Interior design, Project management, Development feasibility study, Due diligence study, Environmental sustainability design, Engineering, Infrastructure design, Master planning, Architectural lighting design, Facade design
Number of employees
Over 900 worldwide[1]
Websitewww.dpa.com.sg

The DP group encompasses various entities, including DP Architects, DP Consultants, DP Design, DP Engineers, DP Façade, DP Green, DP Lighting, DP Sustainable Design, and DP Urban. With a workforce of over 900 employees, it operates from 18 offices worldwide.[4][5]

DP Architects has been involved in numerous notable projects, such as The Dubai Mall,[4][6] and it has contributed to the design and construction of significant landmarks in Singapore, like the People's Park Complex[7] and Golden Mile Complex,[8][9] both built in the 1960s. Additionally, the firm has participated in master planning endeavors for the Orchard Road shopping belt and the development of Marina Centre. Its extensive portfolio spans across various sectors, including retail, hotel, resort, commercial office, residential, convention center, technology parks, medical, religious, educational, civic institutions, and airport and aviation-related support facilities.[4]

History

The firm was started in 1967 with William Lim Siew Wai, Tay Kheng Soon,[10] and Koh Seow Chuan[11] when they left the Malayan Architects Co-Partnership[12] and founded Design Partnership after its dissolution to start their own firm with an initial staff strength of 18.[13] In 1972, Gan Eng Oon joined and became a partner[13] followed by Chan Sui Him in 1973 and became a partner subsequently in 1974.[13] In 1974, Tay Kheng Soon, who graduated from Singapore Polytechnic in 1963, retired and establish his own practice, Akitek Tenggara.[13] A year later in 1975, Design Partnership was dissolved and reformed as DP Architects Pte (DPA).[10] William Lim retired in 1981 and established his own practice.[13][14][15]

The company expanded in 1982 with the establishment of two subsidiary companies, DP Design and DP Consultants.[16] DP Architects was registered formally as a private limited with 200 employees in Singapore.[17] Leading the firm since its inception, Chan was succeeded by Francis Lee Seng Wee in 2004 as the CEO while he was promoted to chairman of the firm.[13] In 2016, Francis Lee Seng Wee became chairman, while Chan assumed a mentorship role as Senior Director.[18] Angelene Chan was promoted to CEO.[19][20][21]

In 2021, as part of the firm's leadership renewal and continuity plan, Seah Chee Huang has been appointed its chief executive officer. Angelene Chan became the Chairman of the board while Francis Lee became a Senior Director and advisor.[22]

Sustainable design

DP Architects is considered a leader in sustainable design. The Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) has recognized DP Architects as one of the top three architecture firms in Singapore with the highest number of Green Mark Platinum and GoldPlus projects, with 25 or more projects rated Green Mark Gold+ or Platinum.[23] The BCA Green Mark system is a green building rating system to evaluate a building for its environmental impact and performance, with Gold+ and Platinum being the highest two ratings for efficiency.[24] DP Architects has also scored many firsts for sustainably designed architecture, winning the first two Green Mark District awards for Resorts World Sentosa and NUS University Town, both achieving the second highest rating of GoldPlus.[25]

In 2015, DP Architects was awarded the Built Environment Leadership (BEL) Gold Class Award by BCA.[26] DP Architects and its group of companies received a total of four BCA-SGBC Green Building Individual Commendation Awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Notable projects

DPA is best known in Singapore for several 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.’ [27]

The firm is also known for its work on the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay,[28] The Dubai Mall,[6] Resorts World Sentosa,[29][30] and Singapore Sports Hub.[31]

References
  1. "DP Architects Official Website - The Firm". Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  2. "Singapore's 20 largest architecture firms 2015". Singapore Business Review. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  3. "WA100 2016: The big list". Building Design. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "DP Architects". www.dpa.com.sg. Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. "Business Real Estate News | Technology | Travel Guide". AMEInfo. Archived from the original on 25 November 2009.
  7. "People's Park Complex | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  8. Singapore, National Library Board. "Golden Mile Complex | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  9. Zaccheus, Melody (8 October 2015). "Veteran architects of urban think-tank Spur reunite after 50 years". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 22 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  10. "Tay Kheng Soon / Akitek Tenggara". Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  11. Koh Seow Chuan | Infopedia Archived 7 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Ng, Erin., et al. (2007). DP Architects: The Works Since 1967. Singapore: DP Architects Pte. Ltd. (Call no.: RSING English 720.95957 DP)
  14. "Cities on the Move". www.rama9art.org. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  15. "NUS - National University of Singapore". www.arch.nus.edu.sg. Archived from the original on 9 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  16. "DP Architects - DP Group". Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  17. "Build SG - BCA" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  18. Lee, Meixian (12 January 2016). "DP Architects names new chairman, CEO". The Business Times. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  19. Zachariah, Natasha Ann (18 January 2016). "Angelene Chan, new CEO of DP Architects, is the only woman CEO out of the top 5 architecture firms here". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  20. "New Appointment: Angelene Chan Is Named CEO of DP Architects | INDESIGNLIVE SINGAPORE | Daily Connection to Architecture and Design". www.indesignlive.sg. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  21. "10 Questions With... Angelene Chan". 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  22. "DP Architects". www.dpa.com.sg. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  23. "Leading Firms in Green Mark Awards". Building and Construction Authority. Building and Construction Authority. 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015.
  24. "BCA Green Mark Scheme: What It Is All About? - STProperty". www.stproperty.sg. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  25. "New Green Mark Award for Districts - NUS and Resorts World Sentosa bag new BCA Green Mark awards for integrated environmental friendly development" (PDF). Building and Construction Authority. 29 October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 September 2013.
  26. "BCA Awards 2015 - Recognising Excellence in the Built Environment" (PDF). Building and Construction Authority. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  27. Tay Suan Chiang (5 August 2007). "Goodbye Famous 5?: "Slum" becomes landmark". The Sunday Times.
  28. "ArchNewsNow". www.archnewsnow.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  29. Welch, Adrian (20 July 2010). "Resorts World Sentosa: Singapore Buildings". e-architect. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  30. "Resorts World at Sentosa: Changing The Family Experience for Ever - Made in Singapore - 103 Meridian East, Singapore". meridian103.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  31. "Sports Hub, Editorial, world architecture news, architecture jobs". Archived from the original on 23 December 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
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