CDL, GuocoLand, Hoi Hup Realty & Sunway Developments win top awards at EPEA 2021; Guocoland’s Cheng Hsing Yao clinches Personality of the Year

Group photo of the winners of Top Developer Awards. From left: Mr Cheng Hsing Yao (CEO of GuocoLand), Mr Koon Wai Leong (GM of Hou Hup Realty Pte Ltd), Mr Bernard Tong (CEO of EdgeProp), Mr Wong Kok Leong (Director of Sunway Developments Pte Ltd), Mr Chia Ngiang Hong (Group GM of City Developments Limited). Photo: Albert Chua/The Edge Singapore

SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) -- The winners of the EdgeProp Excellence Awards 2021 were announced at the gala luncheon with 50 guests in attendance. This annual hallmark event recognises outstanding property developers and distinctive developments that set the benchmark for innovative and pragmatic approaches to deliver value in Singapore’s real estate industry. The event will be broadcasted on Edgeprop's social media platforms on Nov 29.

In a time when people are spending much more time within their residences, housing needs have also evolved. The awards this year take into consideration an additional criterion: layout. This will be judged in partnership with Attribuild to provide a quantitative assessment of the unit layouts within the qualifying projects.

The judging panel this year comprised Khew Sin Khoon, Group CEO of CPG Corporation; Ong Choon Fah, Board of Directors of Edmund Tie Holdings; Yvonne Tan, Director and Landscape Architect of DP Green; Angela Lim, Co-Founder of SuMisura; Dr Lee Nai Jia, Deputy Director, Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies, NUS and Bernard Tong, CEO of EdgeProp. The aggregated scores of all nominees were also carefully reviewed by KPMG Singapore, the Official Knowledge partner.

“The list of winners this year does reflect the growing popularity of integrated developments. Beyond just the convenience these projects provide, the judges also paid special attention to how well connected the different components are when they are put together,” says Bernard Tong, CEO of EdgeProp Singapore.

“Irwell Hill Residences, our Top Development award winner, reflects this vision. Conceptualised during the circuit breaker period last year, its design was inspired by a renewed focus on wellness and health. This project places much emphasis on nature, flexible spaces and smart home features to cater to evolving lifestyles and changing needs,” says Chia Ngiang Hong, Group GM of City Developments Limited.

“The real estate market in Singapore is definitely one of the most competitive. We have so many excellent real estate companies and world class projects are launched almost every month. In order to excel and to complete, a company like ours has to, through the years, continue to learn, to improve, to find our strength, our niche and to really dedicate ourselves to designing and delivering quality projects. Year after year. This award is a validation of the company’s philosophy and the team’s hard work,” says Koon Wai Leong, GM of Hoi Hup Realty.

“To receive this recognition is a great boost to our confidence and morale, but it is important for us to turn this honour into a source of motivation for us to continue to work harder, and do better to introduce new concepts and ideas that would meet the needs of our home buyers and tenants”, says Cheng Hsing Yao, CEO of GuocoLand.

In response to receiving the Personality of the Year, Cheng Hsing Yao responded: “Today’s event with everyone gathered here is already a testament of our resilience in the face of such an unprecedented global event that lasted way beyond what we had all initially assumed. I would like to congratulate everyone here for being able to stay strong under such trying times.”

Here is the complete list of awards and winners: