HOK：整合与协作将是建筑领域未来的发展趋势

大型企业的之间的兼并、收购一直是业界关注的焦点，因为这不仅事关并购方与被并购方的发展规划与前景，也会影响到整个行业的格局变动，同时对行业内产生示范作用。

近期，全球最具影响力的建筑设计企业之一HOK建筑设计公司对美国360建筑事务所的收购动作正在有条不紊的进行。建筑畅言网记者专程采访了HOK全球总裁Bill Hellmuth和HOK亚太区董事总经理Riccardo Mascia，希望能够进一步了解收购细节，以及这次收购事件可能为建筑设计业界带来的影响。

The merging and acquisition among big enterprises is always the focus of the industry, as it relates not only to the parties directly involved, but also to the pattern of the whole industry. 

HOK, one of the most influential architectural design firm is recently undertaking acquisition of 360 Architecture. Archcy.com has exclusively interviewed Bill Hellmuth,president of HOK, as well as Riccardo Mascia, managing director of HOK’s Asia Pacific practice, who have introduced acquisition details and expected impact on the architectural design world.

HOK全球总裁Bill Hellmuth

建筑畅言网：HOK在半个多世纪的发展过程中，经历过几次大的变动或者转型？契机是什么？

Over the past half century of development, how many big changes or transitions has HOK experienced? What was the opportunity behind each? 

Bill Hellmuth：在过去的60年里，HOK一方面靠自身的有机生长，一方面通过在全球兼并数家事务所获得了长足的发展。历史而言，与其他公司结成伙伴关系或通过进入新兴市场促成了公司的规模壮大。

在计划宣布收购360建筑事务所之前，我们于2013年12月收购了酒店建筑与室内设计巨头BBG-BBGM的上海与纽约团队，这极大提高了我们在高端酒店设计方面的实力。

HOK战略性遍布全球的强健办公网络，结合我们全球知名的行业专家，确保了我们的成功。我们长期以来对设计品质和服务多样性的坚持让我们即使在个别区域和市场经济萎缩时也能获得整体的持续成功。

Over the past 60 years, HOK has grown both organically and by acquiring several firms across the world. Partnerships with other firms and movement into emerging markets have historically driven the firm’s expansion. 

Prior to announcing our plans to acquire 360 Architecture, we greatly enhanced our hospitality design practice in December 2013, when architecture and interior design firm BBG-BBGM’s Shanghai and New York employees joined HOK. 

HOK’s strong, strategically located network of offices across the world, combined with our internationally recognized market experts, position us for success. Our focus on quality and diversity has enabled our practice to thrive during economic downturns in specific markets or regions.

建筑畅言网：HOK的经营理念是什么？

What is HOK’s management philosophy? 

Bill Hellmuth：为了向所有客户提供卓越的设计方案和思想领导力，HOK不仅从全球各地多个重点区域、同时从像体育+娱乐、战略客户、航空+交通、医疗、酒店、司法、市政+文化、教育和科学+技术等特定的战略市场调配公司范围内的专家人才，为客户提供多专业的一体化设计服务。这种矩阵型的组织方式使我们能将在某一特定建筑类型方面的全球专业经验，结合本地文化和施工领域的具体知识呈现给每一位客户。通过在全球范围内分享最佳实践经验、工具和技术，我们的实体团队不受地域边界上的任何限制。

同时，这种架构也为员工的职业成长与发展提供了众多机会。HOK的所有员工可以不受限制地选择多种职业发展方向。

To serve all clients with design excellence and thought leadership, HOK offers multidisciplinary design services from offices in key regional markets and specialist firm-wide practices in strategic markets including Sports + Entertainment, Strategic Accounts, Aviation + Transportation, Healthcare, Hospitality, Justice, Civic + Cultural, Education and Science + Technology. This matrix organization enables us to bring global expertise in specific building types and services as well as detailed knowledge of local cultures and construction markets to each client. Linked by shared best practices, tools and technology, our virtual teams have no geographic boundaries.

This structure supports a wide range of opportunities for professional growth and advancement. Multiple career paths are open to all of HOK’s people, with no limit to their development.

HOK亚太区董事总经理Riccardo Mascia

建筑畅言网：您认为现在全球的建筑业发展格局是怎样的？

How do you look at the current development pattern of global architecture industry?

Riccardo Mascia：作为一家世界领先的设计、建筑、工程和规划公司，我们未来的成长发展愿景是持续不断地加强HOK跨专业、跨区域、跨市场之间的协作能力。整合与协作将是全球建筑领域未来的发展趋势，而HOK已领先一步。

随着体育场、体育馆越来越多地举办各种娱乐演出，他们正成为一种振兴城市区域、吸引人流聚集的催化剂。通过兼并360事务所，我们可以为客户带来世界级的体育与娱乐设计团队，与HOK其他建筑领域的专家一起，为全亚太各个城市带来真正高度整合的、创新的设计解决方案。

Our vision for future growth as one of the world’s leading design, architecture, engineering and planning firms is to continuously improve HOK’s ability to collaborate across all of our design specialties, locations and markets. This trend for integration and collaboration in the global architecture industry is already a strength at HOK. 

With stadia and arenas hosting more entertainment events, they can act as catalysts to invigorate urban districts and attract people to a specific region. By merging with 360, we can offer clients world-class sports and entertainment design teams that, together with HOK’s specialized design leaders in other building types, will bring truly integrated and innovative design solutions to cities across Asia.

建筑畅言网：HOK决定收购360建筑事务所是出于什么样的考虑？

It was out of what concern that HOK decides to acquire 360 Architecture?

Bill Hellmuth：作为全球设计领袖，体育与娱乐设施是我们非常重要的一个市场。这些设施已逐步演变成与周边城市肌理充分融合的人流聚集地 ，成为活力、健康城市的重要组成部分。体育场馆正变得越来越复杂，许多客户要求设计方案中考虑进商业综合开发的元素。

我们一直知道我们希望通过找到一家志同道合的公司来重返体育建筑领域。通过收购360事务所，我们为全球新增了一家体育与娱乐设计的顶尖公司。体育设施设计是一个具有挑战性的高端市场，像HOK这种全球性的、全专业的设计公司理应在其中承担行业领导的角色，而360事务所正好赋予我们直接影响这个全球市场所需要的设计质量和规模。

我们的合并创造了世界顶尖体育与娱乐设计公司之一，同时极大增强了HOK在美国中西部的市场地位。

As a global design leader, sports and entertainment is an important market for our firm. These facilities have evolved into true destinations that are integrated into the urban fabric and key components of vibrant, healthy cities. Sports projects are becoming more demanding, with many clients asking for schemes that have mixed-use elements.

We’ve always known that we wanted to get back into sports architecture with a firm that was a good fit—one that shared our collaborative culture and goals for great design. By acquiring 360 Architecture, we’re adding one of the top sports and entertainment design practices in the world. Sports facility design is a high-profile market that a global, full-service design firm like ours belongs in as an industry leader. 360 brings us the quality and scale we need to make an immediate impact on the world market. 

Our union creates one of the world’s leading sports and entertainment design firms and gives HOK a significantly stronger presence in the Midwestern US.

建筑畅言网：收购过程中是否遇到过一些困难？

Have you encountered any difficulties during the acquisition process?

Riccardo Mascia：HOK与360建筑事务拥有相似的企业文化和追求，我们之间的合作意向是很快达成的，目前的进展也非常顺利，没有任何困难。

HOK and 360 have similar cultures and goals, the agreement happened very quickly. It is proceeding smoothly, without any difficulties.

建筑畅言网：目前收购进行到了什么阶段？

What is the current stage of the acquisition?

Riccardo Mascia：我们目前在进行尽职调查，预计2014年10月底会完成收购。

We are doing due diligence but expect to close the deal by the end of October 2014.

建筑畅言网：能否透漏一下双方现金或股权交换，以及人事变动等细节？

Is it possible to disclose any details on the cash or stock exchange between the two parties, and is there any significant personnel adjustment?

Riccardo Mascia：HOK与360建筑事务所都是私有企业，所以相关细节是保密的。我们此次收购的目的是为了日后更好的增长和发展；对我们的员工和客户都应该是非常积极而长期的影响。

HOK and 360 Architecture are privately owned firms, so the details are confidential. We are making this acquisition with goals for growth and opportunity. We expect an extremely positive long-term impact for our people and clients.

建筑畅言网：如果收购成功，将会对HOK、360建筑事务所、体育建筑设计，甚至全球格局产生什么样的影响？

If the deal is successfully closed, what influence the merging will bring to HOK, 360 Architecture, sports architecture industry and even the global architecture industry?

Riccardo Mascia：此次并购将HOK的全球网络与360事务所在体育建筑设计方面创新的经验和专业知识整合，将极大拓展双方的发展前景，同时为整个体育设施设计领域带来激动人心的创新和发展。

360建筑在逐步发展的过程中见证并引导了体育建筑设计的转型。通过收购360，我们为全球新增了一家顶尖的体育与娱乐设计公司，将HOK重新送回到体育建筑设计行业的顶端。360事务所赋予了HOK直接影响全球体育市场所需要的设计质量和规模。

体育建筑市场很坚挺，部分原因是因为不断走强的市场经济，而有些方面确与经济周期无关：体育建筑的消费者——粉丝、东道主、赞助商，甚至运动员们，无不期望更好的比赛场地或体育场馆体验，所以今天的场馆通常会加入诸如娱乐、零售、办公和住宅等综合业态。与此同时，即使15年前才建成的场地和体育馆也正因这一相同原因而进行着翻新——以确保为各消费群体提供最与时俱进的全方位体验。

伴随这次合并带来的发展机会会让我们双方公司及我们的客户激动不已。

With HOK’s global reach and 360 Architecture’s experience and expertise as an innovator in sports facility design, the merger will expand each of our opportunities while creating exciting advances in sports facility design. 

360 Architecture is a progressive design firm that has helped lead the transformation of sports architecture. By acquiring 360, we’re adding one of the leading sports and entertainment design companies in the world. Adding 360 puts HOK back at the top of the sports architecture business. 360 brings to HOK the added quality and scale we need to make an immediate impact on the world market.

The sports architecture market is strong. That’s partly a result of the strengthening economy, but there are also some trends that are independent of the economic cycle. Sports consumers – fans, suite holders, sponsors, and even players – are all demanding more from the venue or stadium experience. So today’s venues often include mixed-use development that features entertainment, retail, office and residential. In addition, venues or stadiums built as recently as 15 years ago are being renovated for this very reason – to provide an up-to-date experience for all parties. 

The opportunities that will come from this merger are exciting for both firms and our clients. 

建筑畅言网：兼并和收购带来的有可能的双方的权利制衡与企业文化融合问题常会影响到并购效果，HOK有着比较丰富的并购经验，对这类有可能发生的问题将会如何预防和应对？

Very often the possible after-merging power struggle and corporate culture conflicts between two entities is the most challenging part , with a lot of acquisition experience, how does HOK prevent this or deal with it when it happens?

Riccardo Mascia：我们觉得不会有任何冲突。360事务所的领导团队和我们一样尊重员工的价值，并致力于打造一种非常积极的、奖励付出的工作文化。360事务所的发起人和高级董事中的两位以及10多位普通员工都是HOK之前的员工，我们了解他们，他们也了解我们。

我们将重点关注这次合并为我们日后在全球最好的体育与娱乐项目中所带来的竞争优势。

We do not expect any conflicts. Like us, 360’s leaders value people and believe in creating an extremely positive, rewarding work culture. Two of 360’s founders and senior principals, along with 10 other staff members, are past employees of HOK. We know them and they know us.

We will focus on the advantages that combining our two firms will give us in competing across the world for the best sports and entertainment projects. 

建筑畅言网：您认为未来的建筑设计产业发展趋势将会是怎样的？

How do you look at the future development trends of the architecture design industry?

Riccardo Mascia：为支撑公司的国际化发展，以及满足客户对整合的多专业设计团队的要求，我们觉得未来在建筑、工程和施工领域的兼并和收购会越来越多。

To support firms’ plans for international growth and clients’ needs for integrated design teams, we expect that there will be continued mergers and acquisitions in the architecture, engineering and construction industry.

建筑畅言网：HOK是否会继续进一步地调整全球业务布局？

Will HOK continue its adjustment in the global business strategic layout?

Riccardo Mascia：我们未来的成长发展愿景是持续不断地加强HOK跨专业、跨区域、跨市场之间的协作能力，给每位客户提供全面的整合性高效设计方案。我们将继续着手于公司本身的发展，并在机会合适的时候进行兼并、收购和建立战略合作伙伴关系。

Our vision for future growth and development is to continuously improve HOK’s ability to collaborate across all of our design specialties, regional offices and markets to provide each client with completely integrated and high-performance design solutions. We will continue to do this through growth from within the firm and, if opportunities arise, future mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships.