Wood In Architecture Issue 1, 2022

NEWS
AURECON APPOINTS
NEW MANAGING
DIRECTOR TO DRIVE
GROWTH IN GREATER
CHINA
Alton Chow, new managing
director of Aurecon, Greater
China (Image: Aurecon)
International design, engineering and advisory
company Aurecon has appointed Alton Chow
as its new managing director of Greater China.
With this new appointment, Chow will take the
lead to grow Aurecon’s business in Greater
China and work with the team to deliver
innovative and sustainable solutions to clients.
This move is part of Aurecon’s strategy
to further strengthen its position in the
infrastructure and engineering sector in
Greater China. Recent years have seen the
company bolster its leadership team and grow
its presence steadily in the region. The team
has been winning and working on noteworthy
projects such as the recent MTR Hung Shui Kiu
Station, Tuen Ma Line extension, the Hong Kong
West Kowloon Terminus, The Mills, and Tseung
Kwan O – Lam Tin Tunnel.
Approximately HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion)
is expected to be invested annually in Hong
Kong’s infrastructure over the next decade,
in addition to the $120bn stimulus package
announced earlier this year. Infrastructure
development is also a key highlight in this
year’s Chief Executive’s Policy Address
2021 where there is a focus on Smart Cities,
developing a new Northern Metropolis,
establishing transport infrastructureled
developments and building an ecoenvironment,
among other initiatives.
Commenting on his new role, Chow said: “It is
refreshing to see an innovative company like
Aurecon pivot towards growth and expanding its
operations with purposeful and deliberate intent.
I also appreciate that Aurecon is committed to
quality and has grown a culture that focuses on
talent. This is crucial to any consulting business,
especially in the design, engineering and advisory
sectors.
“Along with that, I see immense potential in
the region, and I am confident that together as
a team, we can and will collectively advance
our growth and maximise this region’s market
opportunities.”
Prior to this appointment, Alton was with AECOM
for over seven years. He served as vice-president
and global head of commercial development as
well as Asia head of architecture. In these roles,
he expanded the company’s market share in
the US, Middle East and Asia through strategic
alignments with key global clients. Earlier in
his career with the organisation, Alton was the
managing director for Mainland China where he
was responsible for the business’ restructure,
driving record growth during his tenure. WIA
NATURAL RESOURCES CANADA SUPPORTING SUSTAINABLE AND
INNOVATIVE WOOD CONSTRUCTION
Jonathan Wilkinson, the Canadian Minister
of Natural Resources, has announced a
CA$887,000 investment to support the
replacement of the Duchesnay Creek
Bridge that connects the City of North Bay,
Ontario, Canada, and the Nipissing First
Nation, Ontario. The Government of Ontario
contributed $17m.
This is in line with Canada’s goal of investing in
the increased use of wood in the construction
industry, to achieve their climate change
goals while increasing the demand for
Canadian wood products and creating jobs for
Canadians. The goal is supported by Natural
Resources Canada, a department of the
Federal Government of Canada that researches
and develops policies on natural resources,
energy, minerals and metals, forests, earth
sciences, mapping, and remote sensing.
Wilkinson said: “There is no solution to climate
change that does not involve our forests.
Creating new markets for Canadian timber
supports our forestry workers, creates jobs
and gets us to net-zero. By supporting the
use of wood in construction, we are taking
action to protect our planet and support our
communities.”
Funding for this project is provided through
Natural Resources Canada’s Green
Construction through Wood programme, which
encourages the use of wood in non-traditional
construction projects, such as tall and lowrise
non-residential buildings and bridges.
The programme aims to position Canada as a
world leader in innovative timber construction
systems and technologies and in the lowcarbon
economy, and also help Canada achieve
its 2030 climate change goals.
The funding supported the design and
construction of the new replacement bridge
and was made to maintain the original timber
aesthetic of the old bridge. By building with
wood, this project will result in a total carbon
benefit of 991 tonnes of CO2, which is
equivalent to taking over 190 cars off the road
for a full year. The bridge was built through a
limited partnership of Nipissing First Nation and
Miller Paving, which provided employment and
training opportunities for the community.
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services,
concluded: “Using green construction materials
and including employment and training
opportunities with the local community, this
project shows others how to make sure what
we build as a country can help with our goals
of a cleaner and more inclusive country. A big
congratulations to all involved.” WIA
WOOD IN ARCHITECTURE • ISSUE 1 – 2022 13