Mace Consult and Arup have been chosen to lead the Hong Kong government’s first implementation of the project management office model in a joint venture for the construction of region’s transformative $28.7-billion “Northern Metropolis” urban development along the northern Shenzhen River.
The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) announced in a Aug. 8 press release that the UK-based firms will establish a program management office (PMO) to provide multi-disciplinary services for the construction of the Kwu Tung North/Fanling North New Development Area and San Tin Technopole Project, key components of the 74-acre megaproject that will connect the northern part of Hong Kong to the southern part of Shenzhen.
CEDD noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government use of the program management office model for the first time aims to streamline workflows, allowing for earlier stakeholder collaboration, with plans to establish digital integration to collect and analyze data for continuous improvement. The project is expected to create around 650,000 jobs, according to CEDD.
“The scale of the Northern Metropolis is unprecedented,” said CEDD Director Michael Fong Hok-shing. “It is a massive and complex program and the PMO will provide support and oversight to help us navigate the challenges ahead.”
He added, “It’s not just about managing scale; it’s about working smarter.”
Mace Consult CEO Davendra Dabasia called the firm’s PMO appointment a “true testament” to its “track record of delivering the most complex programs across the world.”
Arup East Asia Managing Principal Theresa Yeung added, “We’re proud to deepen our involvement in the Northern Metropolis and support CEDD in shaping this transformative area. With extensive experience managing large-scale, multidisciplinary projects, we bring the rigour, insight and innovation needed to navigate complexity and deliver with confidence.”
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the Northern Metropolis development in October 2021, presenting an ambitious plan to foster economic and tech growth while addressing the region’s housing shortages, Bloomberg reported.
AECOM, in a joint venture with AtkinsRéalis, announced in April 2025 that the HKSAR’s Highways Department sought its technical services for the construction of the Northern Metropolis Highway, another key component in the Northern Metropolis’ development.
Arup is ranked No. 16 on ENR’s 2025 Top International Design Firms list. Mace Consulting has been previously ranked on ENR’s Top International Contractors list.
