Princeton Architect Sees Opportunity To Assist Redeveloping Nations

Matthew Hersh

Princeton-based Hillier Architecture is the fifth largest architectural firm in the United States, with projects throughout the country, including serving as a consultant for the Princeton HealthCare System as it plans its move to a nearby location.

Under the wing of founder and chairman Robert Hillier, Hillier is now is looking to expand development opportunities in booming nations.

At a lunch last Wednesday at the Nassau Club, Mr. Hillier explained how his CEO Tom Fridstein "put us on the map" in China and how architects have an increasing interest in development opportunities overseas.

China has changed drastically in the last decade, Mr. Hillier said, adding that by and large, the country with a population of one billion largely missed out on the development trends of the 20th century, but is now making up for lost time.

Both Messrs. Hillier and Fridstein spoke of establishing a "global village" in an area that was once virtually considered taboo for western architects and developers.

"China didn't pay their bills, and they had no laws," said Mr. Hillier, whose firm recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Up until about 10 years ago, he added, American developers were not known to travel east as they do today.

But that has changed as nations like China have enjoyed an ostensible rebirth and towns that were run-down port cities have turned into thriving metropolises. Shanghai, for example, has built over 3,000 new buildings in the past 10 years, Mr. Fridstein said.

Mr. Hillier said one of the challenges of designing institutions, like schools, is applying western savvy to eastern culture.

"What's interesting about international schools is that they want the American system of education but we have to do buildings that are in sympathy with the local context and culture," he said.

Mr. Fridstein echoed that sentiment, adding that the mix of varied perspectives often results in buildings that tend to reflect the cultural marriage.

"By integrating the two, we create something that is really special," he said, but warned that there is often not enough of that care going into development.

"They're building cities much too quickly without enough control, and very often without urban architects."

But that is what makes countries like China, with its developing cities, exciting Mr. Fridstein added.

"To understand China, you have to understand what's going on – it's all happening very quickly," he said. "The challenge is learning the culture and building on that."