MEDIA RELEASE PR35846
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects to Design Vietcombank Tower
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects has been selected to design the Ho Chi Minh City headquarters of Vietcombank.
The client is Vietcombank-Bonday-Benthanh Joint Venture Company Limited.
Vietcombank, also known as the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam, is the
flagship bank of Vietnam. The new tower will herald Vietcombank's major
presence in the country's fastest growing city and largest commercial center.
In addition to the branch headquarters, the 35-story Grade A building will
contain multi-tenant offices, ancillary facilities, retail, restaurants, and
parking.
The project will be the first in Vietnam for Pelli Clarke Pelli
Architects.
"Pelli Clarke Pelli is honored to have been chosen for this very
important and highly visible project," said Fred Clarke, FAIA, Senior
Principal of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. "The site is one of the most
prominent in Ho Chi Minh City, with views to the Saigon River and overlooking
an important city square. The Vietcombank and its development partners are
among the most respected companies in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City
headquarters will be a building that represents stability, vision and
progress."
The new tower will face Me Linh Square, one of downtown Ho Chi Minh
City's prime locations. Located on the west bank of the Saigon River, the
Square is a focal point of the city's Beaux-Arts plan, marking the
convergence of several important thoroughfares. Vietcombank Tower will be the
tallest building on the square, visible on all sides from across the city.
At street level, the new tower will welcome the public with a generous
retail component, including a branch of Vietcombank. The new bank will be
designed in the tradition of great urban banks around the world -- as a civic
space that celebrates its country's growing economic status. The tower will
use elegant forms and timeless materials to express the bank's and the
nation's aspirations.
As a symbol of the growth and development of both Ho Chi Minh City and
Vietcombank, the project is of great importance to both Vietcombank and the
Joint Venture. The client intends the building to be responsive to its
surroundings and a spectacular presence in Ho Chi Minh City.
Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2010 and end in 2012.
The preliminary construction cost is estimated at $67 million.
About Vietcombank-Bonday-Benthanh Joint Venture Company Limited
Vietcombank-Bonday-Benthanh Joint Venture Company Limited was formed by
Vietcombank, the flagship bank of Vietnam; Bonday Investments Limited, a Hong
Kong-based real estate company; and Benthanh Tourist Service Company, a
leading tourism and travel services business.
About Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
Founded in 1977 by Cesar Pelli and Fred Clarke, Pelli Clarke Pelli
Architects has designed some of the world's most recognizable buildings,
including the World Financial Center in New York, the Petronas Towers in
Kuala Lumpur, and the International Finance Centre in Hong Kong. The firm's
broad portfolio includes academic buildings, libraries, performing art
centers, museums, research centers, residences, and master plans. The work of
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects reflects the belief that a firm must not be
constrained by a signature style, but that great design arises from
collaboration with clients and a respect for each project's environmental,
economic, and social contexts. The firm has been honored with critical
acclaim and hundreds of design awards.
The firm has designed headquarters for financial institutions around the
world including Citigroup (London), BankBoston (Buenos Aires), Wachovia
(Winston-Salem, North Carolina), Bank of America (Charlotte, North Carolina),
Lehman Brothers (London), and Wells Fargo (Minneapolis, Minnesota). For more
SOURCE: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
CONTACT: Janet Yoder,
Director of Communications,
+1-203-777-2515,
jyoder@pcparch.com
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