Located on the ninth story of the Plaza 336 tower within the People’s Square Huangpu District—the most central out of the city’s 16—the studio boasts a sleek, pared-down aesthetic that is both unique and reminiscent of other Woods Bagot studios around the globe. Keeping transparency in mind for both designers and clients, the studio will provide flexible collaboration spaces to facilitate discourse and critiques and display ongoing projects within the studio with a fixed lightbox panel. The space will also have a designated area for technology and models that will include a 3D printing machine, model workshop, and VR technology tools. Features such as suspended shelving over an open kitchen and hanging plants throughout the space help to make it more comfortable.
To commemorate the studio’s significant growth, many leaders of the firm were on hand to offer speeches and congratulations at the event which included employees, clients, and other invited guests. Billy Ip’s talk focused on the innovation in China which has impacted the world of design, especially in retail. Sarah Kay spoke about the firm’s Global Studio culture which is manifested in our workplaces. Stephen Jones and Pearl Huang followed, giving a history of the firm and its role in the China region. Finally, CEO Nik Karalis spoke about the breakthroughs the studio has made in the past and what it is poised to achieve in the future.
To get a glimpse of the festivities, take a look at the images below.