In The News : 2005

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I-City Selangor - the making of an icon

October 24, 2005
This article also appears on another site: The Star (Malaysia)

STARBIZ: What is I-Bhd's vision for I-City Selangor?

Eu Hong Chew: There are two aspects to our vision. From the property development perspective, the vision for I-City is an urban centre where the infrastructure and services are information and communications technology (ICT)-based.

It is also a place with a high concentration of knowledge-based workers. From the corporate perspective, I-City is a means for us to extend our ICT business, as well as to diversify into property services.

StarBiz: What is its expected contribution to group earnings and revenue over the next few years?

Eu: We will be reporting revenue and earnings for two sectors – ICT and property. For the ICT sector, contribution will come from the current digital convergent product business, as well as the new system integration (SI) business. While I-City will provide SI work during the duration of the project, we intend to take this time to market this service to other townships.

For the property sector, we differentiate between contribution from property and facilities management and those from rental and property development. We expect the revenue and earnings from the current digital convergent product business to continue to grow. At the same time, the new business areas will enable group revenue and earnings to grow very significantly higher than what they are today.

StarBiz: In terms of architecture plans, will it become another landmark in the Klang Valley?

Eu: We want I-City to be an icon. At this stage, it is still early to say what the icon will be, but we are confident that with Jerde's involvement, it will be different from what we have in Malaysia today.

We don't think it is a question of surpassing other landmarks in the country, but it’s more about I-City being another milestone in Malaysia’s journey to becoming a developed nation.

StarBiz: Is I-Bhd looking to replicate the project in other parts of the country or the region if the project proved to be a success?

Eu: It is still early to talk about developing similar projects elsewhere. However, we plan to offer our system integration and property services to other developers and municipalities, and in this sense, we are assisting other urban centres to be more intelligent.

StarBiz: What do you hope to achieve or showcase in I-City Selangor in terms of design architecture and industry benchmark?

Jon Jerde: With I-City, we hope to redefine the Malaysian concept of a town centre. Our objective is to create a community centre with a full mix of uses that will create 24-hour activity within I-City.

StarBiz: With Malaysia's humid weather, what would be some of the salient features of your design plans and use of materials for I-City?

Jerde: As in all of our projects, we would combine water, generous landscape elements, and architectural structures that provide shade, such as canopies, in an experiential environment that blends indoor and outdoor settings.

StarBiz: I understand that you have been offered other jobs in Malaysia, but chose the offer from I-Bhd. What are your reasons for accepting this job over the rest?

Jerde: Our firm is being sought after by many clients, so we assess each prospective client to make sure they have a vision that will result in the best collaboration. We felt I-Bhd would be a forward-thinking client that would embrace the idea of doing something different in Malaysia, and we have had a great working relationship with I-City.

StarBiz: What are the challenges that you expect to face while working on the project?

Jerde: We expect the new concept for this type of development in Malaysia to be met with scepticism from conventional real estate market consultants.

However, we have confronted this challenge in other parts of the world. We have found that the scepticism fades away once the project is built, and the real estate consultants can see how the community embraces it, and once they can measure its strong results.

StarBiz: Do you look forward to undertake more jobs in Malaysia and what type of projects would they be?

Jerde: Right now, we are focusing on the I-City opportunity, which we feel represents a move in Malaysia away from suburban development into a more urban type of development.

StarBiz: What are the major highlights in your career?

Jerde: There have been many high points – from working with great clients and other partners to receiving countless awards. But, for me, what I remember most are the comments, unsolicited I may add, that I get from people who love my projects. This is what truly inspires me to keep doing what I do.

Grosvenor Acquires the River Retail Center
Nov 17, 2005
Grosvenor, the UK-based international property developer...has acquired the River, a 227,550-sf outdoor lifestyle center By Bob Howard

A Would-Be Las Vegas Rolls the Dice
Nov 4, 2005
The 1,100-member Morongo tribe, which had already built a spacious casino, envisioned something even grander...the tribal leaders hired the Jerde Partnership By DENNY LEE

Las Vegas Central Final Plans Approved By Clark County
Nov 2, 2005
This is a press release issued by Las Vegas Central developer Langson Development.

I-City Selangor - the making of an icon
Oct 24, 2005
This article contains excerpts from an interview with I-Berhad's CEO Eu Hong Chew and American architect Jon A. Jerde on the I-City Selangor.

I-Berhad Looks West To Make I-City Come Alive In Shah Alam
Oct 10, 2005
I-Berhad is looking west to bring the best in developing its 21st century urban centre known as "I-City" in Shah Alam, Selangor. by Umi Hani Sharani

Developers bet $4b on Macau projects
Oct 4, 2005
Hong Kong-listed Cheuk Nang (Holdings) and Macau Success, together with their business partners, will invest a combined HK$4 billion in property and tourism projects in Macau, hoping to gain from the city's fast- growing economy. by Vanson SooandWong Ka-chun

I-Berhad to build ICT township in Shah Alam
Oct 3, 2005
The Selangor Government has endorsed I-Berhad’s ambitious plan to build an information and communications technology (ICT) township in Shah Alam, the state capital. by Rupinder Singh

Jerde input in ICT hub set to draw attention from afar
Sep 26, 2005
I-BHD has engaged world renowned architect Jon A. Jerde of the Jerde Partnership to plan and design its 72-acre freehold development site in Section 7, Shah Alam, into a state-of-the-art information and communications technology (ICT) urban centre. by Angie Ng

World-renowned architect to design I-Berhad project
Sep 20, 2005
I-BERHAD has appointed world-renowned The Jerde Partnership to plan and design its 29.2ha freehold development site in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Harvey Nichols to open store in Istanbul
Sep 17, 2005
English lifestyle store Harvey Nichols CEO Joseph Wan: We will change the concept of shopping in Turkey

Morongo Casino Resort becomes a bright desert oasis...
Aug 18, 2005
Morongo Casino Resort and Spa rises from the California desert like a rock formation stretching skyward... By William Weathersby, Jr.

Jerde's Horton Plaza Turns 20 yrs. old - Destination: Downtown
Aug 14, 2005
20 years later, architect Jon Jerde explains his vision that became Horton Plaza by Ann Jarmusch

20 years of Horton Plaza
Aug 8, 2005
Tomorrow marks 20 years since the opening of Horton Plaza, an experiment aimed at revitalizing downtown San Diego.

Rebellious center celebrates two decades...
Aug 8, 2005
Its open-air, lopsided design (four stories on one side, three on the other), crazy catwalks and 48-color paint scheme broke every rule about what a shopping mall should be... By Molly Wofford

Farewell Comrade, Greetings Consumer
Aug 1, 2005
Outside investors help Poland erase bleak Soviet retail model with latest shopping center concepts - Jerde's Zlote Tarasy featured By Curt Hazlett

The Pain and Pleasure of Creating Horton Plaza
Aug 1, 2005
A look back on the creation of Horton Plaza as the project celebrates its 20th anniversary cover story by Timothy J. McClain

Wynn-ovation
Jul 1, 2005
Theming is out; residential style is in. Wynn Las Vegas introduces city chic to the neon jungle. By Mary Scoviak, Features Editor

Market Makes Itself the Center of Attention
Jun 20, 2005
World Market Center's opening statement is a bold one in a city where outside the Strip - the architecture has too often been driven by developers and their bottom lines.

Dubai Festival City on Target to Open 'Retail Resort'
Jun 19, 2005
To help create this distinct urban retail resort, Dubai Festival City has rekindled its relationship with original masterplan architects, Jerde Partnership...

Wrestling Star Hulk Hogan Purchases Penthouse at Palms Place
Jun 9, 2005
Hogan claims of Palms Casino Resort, "I fell in love with the place...there's no other place like it in Vegas." from Palms press release

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa Receives Engineering Award
May 16, 2005
Morongo's Port Cochere initial concept and geometry of Desert Bloom structure developed by The Jerde Partnership as series of overlapping, truncated double-curved surfaces that…spiral outward

ULI Gives Hangzhou 2005 Awards for Excellence: Asia-Pacific
May 16, 2005
Urban Land Institute Announces Five Winners for the 2005 Awards for Excellence: Asia Pacific Competition in Shanghai during ULI Study Tour of China source: ULI press release

ULI Announces 9 Finalists for the 2005 Awards for Excellence
May 5, 2005
Jerde's La Cittadella selected in 'Asia Pacific' competition - Winners to be announced during ceremony in May in Shanghai, China

Nick Lachey & Jessica Simpson Purchase Condo at Palms
Apr 27, 2005
Palms press release announces that the stars of MTV's "Newlyweds" reality show have purchased a luxury condo at Palms Place, which is scheduled to open in 2007.

L.A.'s Jerde Partnership Names CEO
Apr 26, 2005
Los Angeles architect Jon Jerde has appointed a chief executive for his firm, Jerde Partnership. by Roger Vincent

Iconic architecture anticipated
Apr 19, 2005
Singapore has recently announced the approval for two Integrated Resorts, which will house the country’s first casinos, amongst other entertainment venues. Several investors have roped in some of the world’s most renowned architects, in the hope that their proposal would generate more enthusiasm and excitement. Radio interview with Rita Soh, President of the Singapore Institute of Architects by Jack Yong

Snapshot of 12-acre urban village at SDSU
Apr 19, 2005
Project EIR provides a snapshot of 12-acre urban village at SDSU by Kirsten Green

Big SDSU project one step closer
Apr 17, 2005
The SDSU Foundation is proposing to bulldoze the hodgepodge of restaurants and stores on campus and build an urban village with 280,000 square feet of commercial space By Lisa Petrillo

Gaylord, landlord-developer go global
Apr 17, 2005
Resort wants $105M incentive deal to triple meeting space, add 500 rooms. by Bob Mervine

Iconic Design Required
Apr 16, 2005
Jerde among top architects vying to design Sentosa Island resort for Harrah's By Glenys Sim

Namba Parks ULI Development Case Study
Apr 8, 2005
Namba Parks offers green space atop an eight-level assemblage of 108 shops and restaurants arranged to form an indoor-outdoor urban retail and entertainment complex visually anchored by a 30-floor office tower. David Takesuye, report author Jason Scully, editor, Development Case Studies David James Rose, copy editor Joanne Nanez, online production manager

Top architects gear up for resort battle
Apr 3, 2005
World-renowned names in the running to design project by Alexandra Ho

$2.5B Dubai Festival City a 'city within a city'
Apr 1, 2005
Dubai Festival City comprises so many elements it is hard to know where to begin describing it. The $2.5 billion, 1,600-acre project, located on the Arabian Gulf, will contain about 2 million square feet of retail, 19,000 residences, office and hotel space, and a marina, all of it along the northeast bank of the man-made Dubai Creek. by Debra Hazel

World Market Center - Las Vegas - To Expand By 60 Percent
Apr 1, 2005
World Market Center announced plans for an expanded campus comprising 12 million square feet of permanent and temporary showrooms, dedicated to all segments of the home furnishings and hospitality contract industries.

Palms joins vertical condo crowd
Mar 7, 2005
The Palms Casino Resort is joining the rapidly-growing high-rise condominium crowd. by Tony Illia

Entryway experience
Mar 4, 2005
For the Morongo complex, geometric forms serve vital functions. by Richard K. De

Palms casino in Las Vegas announces plans for condo tower
Mar 3, 2005
A vertical trend in southern Nevada casino development is getting another boost, with the Palms hotel-casino announcing plans to build a 50-story condominium tower. (Associated Press)

Palms plans condo-hotel tower
Mar 3, 2005
Not satisfied with expanding hotel rooms at the Palms resort, owner George Maloof has announced plans to build a 520-foot hotel-condominium tower behind the property to capitalize on the recent popularity of high-rise residences in Las Vegas. by Liz Benston

Tribe's new Palm Springs casino aims to be hipster magnet
Mar 2, 2005
The casino's ultramodern design - the hotel rooms have a silhouette-revealing opaque glass window between the shower and the bedroom - sets it apart from other tribal casinos in California, which are growing faster than anywhere else in the nation. by Christine Binkley

Golden Terraces
Mar 1, 2005
A mixed-use development incorporating numerous unique and innovative features, Zlote Tarasy is set to transform the centre of Warsaw.

Developers in Las Vegas Put Money on Furniture
Feb 23, 2005
World Market Center is an attempt to establish Las Vegas as a leading national center of furniture wholesaling to merchants and developers. by Morris Newman

Builder sees condo as 'destiny'
Feb 5, 2005
Langson believes project near convention center will `make difference' by Hubble Smith

Casino-related uses are cited as being vital for the city
Feb 2, 2005
Experts say nongambling entertainment is needed to attract large numbers and bring in more money. by Nathan Gorenstein

Experts say Philly must include other development with casinos
Feb 2, 2005
Architects, business and tourism experts discuss gaming options for Philadelphia at a forum organized by the Central Philadelphia Development Corp. by Associated Press

Indian Casinos Up the Ante on Vegas
Jan 31, 2005
Southland facilities are adding luxury hotel rooms and upgrading facilities to snag gambling dollars headed to Nevada. by Seema Mehta

A Young Taipei Finds its Groove
Jan 23, 2005
Change is a constant in the city [Taipei], the capital of Taiwan, which has been transformed significantly... by Andrew Yang

Winning Namba
Jan 10, 2005
Read what else Hing Magazine has to say about Namba's curves...

Architecture: China's Great Leap Forward
Jan 2, 2005
Hurtling forward, the nation reimagines itself by importing design from around the world by Mark Magnier

Profile: Gold Medal Winner Jon A. Jerde, FAIA
Jan 1, 2005
Profile: Gold Medal Winner Jon A. Jerde, FAIA, LA Architect, January/February 2005.