Icon To Open Office In S'pore

Source : TODAY, Monday, October 1, 2007

Moshe Safdie aims to hire mid-level and senior architects too

HE HAS worked on projects in Singapore since the 1980s, but it is one of the world's costliest casino-resorts to date — the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort (IR) — that prompted famed architect Moshe Safdie to set up an office here.

"We're responsible for an estimated US$4 billion ($5.9-billion) project and that requires a lot of presence here. The incentive for setting up this office is definitely this project," he told Today in a phone interview last week.

Mr Safdie has some 60 people working on the IR in Boston who communicate through "every technological means available".

"You can't do this long-distance. We're building mark-up samples, meeting with the engineers and Government agencies. You have to do all this on location," said the 69-year-old.

Las Vegas Sands president and chief executive officer William Weidner remarked in August that development costs for the IR could go up by "20 to 40 per cent" of its original US$3.6-billion tab — or by as much as US$1.44 billion.

Moshe Safdie and Associates (MSA) currently has offices in Boston, Jerusalem and Toronto. The new Singapore office will have between 15 and 20 people, Mr Safdie revealed, including "half a dozen" of people who have made the move here from the Boston office.

"Even I have an employment permit," he quipped.

Mr Safdie, who did not reveal the location of his office, said that MSA is currently on the lookout for mid- and senior-level architects with a minimum of eight years' experience.

The company placed a job advertisement in the local papers about two weeks ago, asking for resumes to be sent to an architectural firm based here.

Prior to the Marina Bay Sands, Mr Safdie's local portfolio includes two condominium projects, the Ardmore Habitat and The Edge on Cairnhill, and the Simpang new town.

Asked how his new office would impact the local architectural scene, the Israeli-Canadian — who has a slew of international accolades under his belt — pointed out that Singapore already has "very sophisticated architectural firms".

"We hope that we will be good neighbours," he said.

Welcoming the news of his local practice was Ms Rita Soh, the immediate past president of the Singapore Institute of Architects.

"Moshe has been working with many of us here for many years. We welcome all who do good architecture to participate in the making of Singapore's new skyline."