AIA unveils new eco-friendly headquarters in Hong Kong

AIA unveils new eco-friendly headquarters in Hong Kong | Insurance Business Asia

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Building boasts indoor running track, workspaces for nearly 2,000 employees, and more

Insurance News

By
Roxanne Libatique

AIA Group Limited (AIA) has officially opened its newly redeveloped headquarters at 1 Stubbs Road, Wan Chai.

This new AIA Building, wholly owned, operated, and occupied by AIA, is Hong Kong’s first urban campus.

AIA Building opening ceremony in Hong Kong

The opening ceremony featured remarks from AIA Group chairman Edmund Tse, AIA Group chief executive and president Lee Yuan Siong, and acting financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Michael Wong.

Tse said: “I am enormously proud to commemorate the reopening of the AIA Building. The original building was inaugurated in 1969 and marked the first expansion of commercial office buildings outside of the Central Business District. The opening of the new AIA Building represents the start of another exceptional chapter in our history and is a testament to our enduring heritage, achievements in, and commitment to Hong Kong.”

Yuan Siong added: “The reopening of our headquarters is a significant milestone for AIA in our over 90-year history in Hong Kong. Our state-of-the-art urban campus provides an engaging workplace environment to nurture the best talent in the industry. From the AIA Building, we will continue to drive AIA’s long-term growth and fulfil our purpose to help people in Asia live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.”

AIA said sustainability and environmental considerations were integral to the building’s redevelopment. The newly redeveloped building has received major green building credentials, including platinum ratings in LEED, WELL, and BEAM+ pre-certifications. Notable sustainability features include electric vehicle chargers, rooftop solar panels, and a biodiesel generator with a self-sustaining power supply.

The redevelopment of the building began in 2019 following 50 years of operation, and the new headquarters was officially opened on May 27, 2024.

The original AIA building, completed in 1969, played a pivotal role in the commercialisation of Wan Chai and the eastward expansion of the Central Business District. It was the first commercial skyscraper outside of Central, establishing a new landmark in Wan Chai.

The project was designed by Arquitectonica, with Hip Hing serving as the building contractor and WSP as the project manager and engineering team.

Hong Kong and mainland China were AIA’s largest contributors to new business and policy sales for the first quarter of 2024 (Q1 2024). In Hong Kong, the group benefited from the recovery of mainland Chinese visitor arrivals, which hit 71% of 2018 levels, following years hurt by COVID-19 disruptions.