The 2021 40 under 40 Awards presentation ceremony was held yesterday, and amongst a long list of contestants, we’re proud to announce Aedas Executive Directors Chris Chen, Yi Jun Qian, and Wei Li were rewarded winners.

Chris Chen’s 13-year experience in China has lent him expertise in high-rise towers, commercial retail, hotel complexes, urban regeneration, infrastructure, and public cultural architecture projects; he saw through the Shenzhen Futian International Sports and Culture Exchange Center, and the St. Regis Hotel at Ruiwan Tower in Qianhai, Shenzhen; and landed momentous projects such as the on-going Huanggang Port New Development project and the large-scale Shenzhen C Future City Phase 1 & 2 project.

Yi Jun Qian straddles the line between the visceral and the practical in her ideology of architecture as an avatar for representing culture, community and era. Yi Jun has 12 years of experience in large-scale commercial projects at home and abroad, and has extraordinary facility in mixed-use developments, hotels, industrial parks and shopping centers. She was involved in the design of illustrious projects including Lè Architecture in Taipei and Suzhou Hong Leong City Center, and is currently working on the Zhanjiang Yun Hai No.1 Project as well as the Chengdu Dongshuncheng Street renovation.

Wei Li is a staunch believer in a multi-disciplinary approach to achieve design excellence. Throughout his career of over 10 years, his team has led and participated in a wide variety of construction projects, including comprehensive development, commercial, hotel and office buildings. His design for Shanghai EDGE and the Nansha Kingboard Plaza in Guangzhou were honored at the Architecture MasterPrize 2021, and he is currently working on Gemdale Guangzhou North Station project, Shanghai Eastern Airline Yunjin Parcel 4 project, and more.

Launched in 2006, the 40 under 40 Awards recognise forty of the most talented young professionals in the fields of architecture, interior and product design, aged under 40. They are an important stepping-stone for up-and-coming talent, having helped grow the careers of some of the biggest names in the A&D community in Greater China and beyond.