Benoy’s commercial turning point came in 1999 with the successful completion of Bluewater in Kent. Recognised throughout the industry as a benchmark in retail design, this landmark shopping centre has more than doubled in value since opening.
Sited among the white cliffs of a former chalk quarry, Bluewater provides 150,000m2 of retail, 12,500m2 of leisure space and parking for 13,000 cars. Home to a wide range of flagship British stores, Bluewater has consistently welcomed over 80,000 visitors a day, making it one of the UK’s most popular retail centres.
A string of successful UK developments followed, including Brindleyplace in Birmingham and the Cornerhouse, Nottingham (voted Nottingham’s favourite new build by city residents). Bluewater also provided the springboard for Benoy’s first foray into Hong Kong, helping us to secure the prestigious Elements retail complex in Kowloon. This 85,000m2 mall, which sits atop Kowloon’s MTR station, is a triumph of creative, unconventional design. As well as setting benchmarks for international retail projects, Elements provided a valuable foothold in the region. Benoy Hong Kong opened in 2002 to oversee the delivery of Elements and the nine storey APM Millennium Plaza retail project, a raft of high-end international developments soon followed.
Benoy continues to thrive in the UK, branching out into other architectural sectors including mixeduse, airports, commercial, hospitality, leisure, residential, transportation and urban regeneration. Birmingham’s Bullring - which opened in 2003, is one of Benoy’s greatest achievements. The £500m redevelopment of Birmingham’s City Centre provided the catalyst for the city’s renaissance.
Enjoying 100% occupancy levels from day one, Bullring includes two department stores, 146 shops, cafés, restaurants, public spaces and performance areas. In the last five years Benoy has continued its global expansion, with schemes across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. This expansion saw the opening of studios in Abu Dhabi, Shanghai and Singapore, which oversees projects including Yas Island, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious mixed-use destinations and ION Orchard, the iconic mixed-use development in the heart of Singapore.
Along the way Benoy has won a string of major awards, including the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise and International Trade. Looking towards the future, Benoy is still driven by the same values that defined the Company six decades ago, creativity, intelligence, professional integrity and personal service.
No comments:
Post a Comment