Quality Building Award 2024 Celebrates Excellence in Architecture and Unveils the Pinnacle of Architectural Achievement

The theme for QBA 2024 is “Empowering Innovation, Sustaining Green, Generating Wellness.” This theme is designed to inspire the industry to develop innovative and environmentally friendly solutions that will benefit the society while promoting a holistic approach to effectively serve every member of the community.

Founded in 2002, the biennial Quality Building Award (QBA), co-founded by leading institutions in the building professions, construction, facility management and real estate, celebrates excellent teamwork in the design and construction of quality buildings. Mr. Daniel Shum, Chairman of the QBA 2024 Organising Committee, extended his gratitude to the esteemed jury and congratulated all the awardees. He highlighted the Awards' role in promoting cross-regional collaboration, stating, "This year's QBA has set up a new award category to promote cross-regional collaboration and exchange among the industry."
 

As a testament to the award's significance, representatives from China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Limited remarked, “The QBA is a significant event that draws attention from construction professionals and society alike. We hope to engage in mutual exchange and learning with our outstanding peers in Hong Kong's construction sector, maintaining a high level of professionalism within our team.”

The award has swiftly become the most prestigious honor in the building development industry, recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of property developers, consultants, contractors, and other key players in creating high-quality buildings. Jointly organized by nine professional bodies in Hong Kong, the QBA is a highlight for industry professionals and stakeholders alike.

Among the highlights, the Hong Kong Palace Museum emerged as a standout, clinching the esteemed Quality Excellence Award and the Grand Award for the Hong Kong Non-Residential (New Building – Government, Institution or Community) category.

Celebrating Innovation and Sustainability

"I am grateful to the Hong Kong government for their facilitation and flexible approach, which has allowed us to bring our projects to fruition," said Shum. The QBA 2024 spotlighted projects that embody innovation and sustainability. "This year was very competitive as we've had a record-breaking number of entries, which also stamped the recognition of the award. The award has set the standard and trend for the industry, ensuring that our people can use and live comfortably in the spaces we create," he added.

The Henderson won the Innovative Project Award and representatives from Henderson Land Development felt honored to be acknowledged, “The biennial QBA is often likened to the Oscars, celebrating excellence in design and quality. It's the pinnacle of recognition in building excellence”.

While the Leung Fung Yee Building and Kunkle Student Centre at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Chung Chi Student Development Complex) received the Sustainable Development Award. "A quality building does not only create a place for its occupants to enjoy, it can also foster a strong sense of pride in our city," said Ms. Yu Po Mei, Clarice, JP, Chairlady of the Jury Panel and Director of Buildings, Buildings Department, HKSARG. "These two award-winning projects deserve accolades as they demonstrate the project teams' commitment to integrating cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices in building design and construction," said Shum.

The inclusion of BEAM Society Limited (BSL) as the 10th co-organizer also enhances the QBA's focus on environmentally friendly building design, encouraging architects and developers to prioritize environmental and social impacts.

“BSL is dedicated to promoting a green and sustainable built environment to the community, so I would say they will add value to the award as sustainability aligns with global trends, and we continuously engage in outreach initiatives to reduce environmental impact of buildings,” said Shum. Yu also remarked "In order to improve, we need to quantify our achievements. BSL is most apt to help us measure sustainability of building development as it has developed and administered the widely adopted BEAM Plus assessment tool."

Honoring a Diverse Array of Projects

This year's Awards encompassed eight categories, each scrutinized by a panel of 16 industry leaders. "We now have a well-established standard that participants could refer to. One of the memorable moments is when the contractor from the project of the Leung Fung Yee Building and Kunkle Student Centre shared how they appreciated and made efforts to protect the natural elements surrounding the site and their delight in creating spaces that were both functional and harmonious with the surroundings," said Yu .

From the Hong Kong Residential (Single Building) category, Blissful Place and KENNEDY 38 shared the Grand Award, while Grand Victoria, St. George's Mansions, and CLP Pulse triumphed in the Hong Kong Residential (Multiple Buildings) category. The revitalization efforts of the Staunton Street / Shing Wong Street Revitalization Project (H19) were also recognized with a Grand Award.

Pioneering Regional Collaboration with the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Debut

In a significant stride towards fostering regional collaboration, QBA 2024 introduced a new category, "Building in GBA (Not include Hong Kong)." “It is high time to get to know what the nearby areas are doing, and with that, we could learn from one another. Their building and housing developments are effective and rapid, whereas we share our Hong Kong experiences and practices. Through visiting the sites, talking to the contractors and builders there, we've learned so much from their side,” said Shum.

With that, Yu pointed out, "The challenges we face may not be the same, but they are always resolved with good problem-solving skills. We look forward to learning more from exceptional building projects in the GBA." This initiative underscores the commitment to enhancing cross-regional exchange and integration with GBA. The inaugural Grand Award in this category was awarded to DJI SKY CITY, marking a milestone in the Awards' history.

Looking Ahead

As the QBA looks to the future, the next edition in 2026 promises further advancements. “Success in creating a quality building requires the contributions from many dedicated professionals, reinforcing the spirit of teamwork,” Yu remarked. “We must all strive to do better, maintaining the transparency and fairness of the awards while continuing to embody the spirit of 'the Oscars' in hosting the QBA.” Shum concluded

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