All-new PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) 2018 nominations open

Competition for the country's best developers embraces diversity in eighth year.  

- New awards for outstanding industrial development, smart building, and reconstruction project

- Lim Wenhui, partner at SPARK Architects, begins tenure as chairwoman of the judging panel

- Premier real estate event of the year expects more than 300 guests at the annual gala dinner

SINGAPORE - 10 April 2018: Following the success of its very first stand-alone gala dinner last November, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore), presented in 2018 by Kohler and supported by PropertyGuru.com.sg, Singapore's No.1 property site, returns for its eighth annual edition to recognise the year's most outstanding developers, projects and design.

Diversity is the recurring theme for this year's Awards, with nearly 30 awards at stake, including honours for industrial development, smart building, reconstruction project, and Special Recognition for Public Facility. The categories are making their debut this year to acknowledge Singapore's smart innovations, as well as its continued leadership within the Asia-Pacific region's property sector.

Returning categories include six residential awards (luxury, private and executive condos), seven commercial awards (office, retail, hotel, mixed-use development), and eight design honours.

Nominations are now being accepted from the public until 10 August 2018. Entry submission closes one week later. For online submissions, visit: AsiaPropertyAwards.com/nominations/

First-ever chairwoman of the judges

Another first for the competition is the recent election of Lim Wenhui, partner at SPARK Architects, as new chairwoman of the independent judging panel, taking over head judge duties from esteemed architect Mink Tan, who remains on the panel.

Having served previously as a judge for this tilt, Lim has more than 12 years of experience undertaking major national and international design and architectural projects for complex urban and master-planned developments.

On her historic election as first woman to lead the panel, she said: "I would like to thank Mink for the inspired way he led the awards process over the last few years and in particular his drive to develop diversity across the jury panel and categories of awards on offer prospective developers and design consultants. I will do my best to develop further Mink's vision and I'd like to think that we can introduce new and broader range of skills across the jury to respond to the changing market conditions in this city."

Remaking the city through technology

She cited Singapore's innovations in technology and sustainability that coincide with its ongoing Smart Nation initiative to remake the city "are becoming key drivers for value in an industry that historically has been very slow to embrace change."

"Developers are taking advantage of advances in telecommunications, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and data analysis to reinvent, reimagine, and long established industry norms. They are also importantly taking seriously customers desire to live increasingly more sustainable lives.

"This is very exciting and hope that the process of award categories, project selection, and the judging process is enabled to reflect this change under my tenure," she added.

The awards programme will host its annual black-tie gala dinner once again at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands, where around 300 of the industry's leading names and senior figures will converge on Friday, 12 October, to reward excellence in the property industry.

Consumer sentiment in Singapore

Hari V. Krishnan, CEO, PropertyGuru Group, said: "As Singapore continues to lead the region in quality real estate, green and sustainable building, we believe that the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards will shine a light on outstanding new projects and design as the industry looks to recover in 2018. Consumer sentiment in Singapore remains stable with more Singaporeans satisfied with the market despite affordability concerns, based on our latest market survey. Because of its fair and transparent judging system, the Awards has proven to be a great platform for the country's best developers to promote their latest offerings in the residential and commercial segments."

The 2018 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singpore) gala dinner is supported by platinum sponsor Kohler; official portal partner PropertyGuru.com.sg, Singapore's No. 1 property site; media partner PropertyGuru Property Report, Asia's leading luxury real estate, architecture and design publication; and official supervisor BDO, the world's fifth largest auditing and accountancy firm, led in Singapore by executive director Roger Loo and senior manager Jan WeidLich.

Main category winners in Singapore will advance to the 8^th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final to be hosted in Thailand. The finale ceremony is a collocated event of the two-day PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit at The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok on 8-9 November 2018.

For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit: AsiaPropertyAwards.com/singapore-property-awards/

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About PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards:

The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, the region's biggest and most prestigious real estate awards series, is recognised as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence in the Asian property sector, established in 2005. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors BDO, the world's fifth largest auditing and accountancy firm, the Awards has an unparalleled reputation for being credible, fair and transparent, with a unique, free-to-enter system. In 2018, the Awards covers 17 key markets around the region, featuring 12 gala dinners and associated awards ceremonies in 11 countries, with each one hosting up to 600 senior industry figures to recognise excellence within each Asian market, culminating in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place alongside the two-day PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit in Bangkok on 8-9 November 2018.

For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com

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