Architects to the World

Australian export case study

Walk into the East Hall of Chek Lap Kok Airport in Hong Kong, or Qingdao Airport in Shandong Province, China, or Sydney Airport, and you’ll find they all have one thing in common: Woodhead, the Sydney-based architectural and design firm, has designed the spaces.

This award-winning company, which has offices in Shanghai and Beijing, is also completing projects in China for Wuhan University of Technology in Hubei Province and the Panyu Olympic Recreation Centre in Guangdong Province.

Woodhead is currently undertaking many major works in Asia, including two of Singapore’s largest and most prestigious interior design projects: the Singapore National Library and the Singapore National Performing Arts Centre.

Woodhead Principal, David Holm, says that to win these jobs the firm was up against other architectural and design companies from all around the world.

“The competition is fierce and you certainly need to have both quality design and all the tender attributes in place,” Mr Holm said.

He said Woodhead was also working on two other major projects for the Singapore government.

“We are the interior architects for Changi Terminal 3, which is due to open in mid-2007, and we are the architects and interior designers for the Changi Terminal 1 upgrade.

"Both are run the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, and both are major public infrastructure projects."

Opening up the market in Singapore

The Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), which came into effect in July 2003, has opened up the Singapore Government Procurement market for Australian service companies, including Woodhead.

This has especially helpful with the allowance of Australian architects into Singapore.

In 2005/06 Austrade helped 449 businesses achieve export business deals in Singapore worth $410 million. Of these, 137 were new exporters.

Australia has a number of free trade agreements in addition to SAFTA, including an FTA with Thailand (TAFTA), with the United States (AUSFTA), and with New Zealand (ANZCERTA).

For further information visit www.fta.gov.au.

Company information

David Holm, Principal
Woodhead
343 Pacific Highway
North Sydney NSW 2060

Tel: +61 2 9964 9500
Fax: +61 2 9964 9683

Email: dholm@woodhead.com.au
Website:www.woodhead.com.au

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