Mace Consult-Arup JV Picked for Program Management on $28.7B Hong Kong Megaproject
Northern Metropolis Coordination Office
The appointment marks the HKSAR government’s first use of the program management office model on a construction project.
Mace Consult and Arup have been chosen in a joint venture to lead the Hong Kong government’s first implementation of its project management office model to build what it says is the transformative $28.7-billion Northern Metropolis urban development along the northern Shenzhen River border with China.
Hong Kong’s Civil Engineering and Development Dept. announced Aug. 8 that the UK-based firms will establish the office to provide multi-disciplinary services for 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 in China.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s first use of the PM office model aims to streamline workflows, allow earlier stakeholder collaboration and enable digital integration to collect and analyze data for continuous improvement, said the department, adding that the project is expected to create around 650,000 jobs.
“The scale of the Northern Metropolis is unprecedented,” said department director Michael Fong Hok-shing. “It is a massive and complex program and the [program management office model] 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.”
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government CEO Carrie Lam announced the Northern Metropolis development in 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 region’s Highways Dept. sought its technical services to build the Northern Metropolis Highway, another key component of the larger development.
Arup, ranked No. 16 on ENR’s 2025 Top International Design Firms list, noted its support to the Civil Engineering and Development Dept. in “shaping this transformative area,” said East Asia managing principal Theresa Yeung. Mace has been previously ranked on ENR’s Top International Contractors list.
Emell Derra Adolphus has more than a decade of writing and journalism experience. He is senior editor of ENR’s Top Lists and Survey Rankings at ENR magazine and frequently contributes stories on technology, climate resiliency, diversity, equity and inclusion.
