INDIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GDS, the architectural firm for Indio’s Polo Square, has won an international design competition for Sea Colony, a similar large mixed-use residential project slated to open in Busan, South Korea, in 2010. GDS was hired in 2005 by developers Swank Development (SDC), La Quinta, CA; and John Megay & Associates, Bermuda Dunes, CA; to design the $600 million Polo Square planned for the North side of Highway 111 at Shield’s Road. Polo Square was approved by the Indio Planning Commission and City Council last month while GDS principals were in Korea receiving the award for Sea Colony. Construction for Polo Square will begin in late 2007. GDS Architects, Pasadena, CA, has offices known as GDSK in Seoul, South Korea. The firm was founded by UCLA graduate Charles I. Wee, AIA, in 1998. Wee is the recipient of the prestigious AIA Honor Award. Many of his projects are published in architectural journals featuring design excellence. “We are proud our Polo Square architects have won such a prestigious competition,” said developer William Swank, who also is a licensed architect. “While Sea Colony is larger, the two projects have much in common. Their recognition in such an important international competition further validates we are on the cutting edge of design right here in Indio.” Both projects, Swank explained, are in resort areas. Sea Colony, also a $600 million project, is a community of terraces and plazas with dramatic ocean views of Haeundae Beach. Both projects will provide a true live/work/play model for residents and the surrounding community. Sea Colony will include a library, retail, and a civic plaza. Polo Square will offer similar lifestyle benefits. Both will foster community and cultural events. Polo Square will have 511 high-rise and low-rise condominiums, two hotels, a lifestyle retail center and commercial office space. Sea Colony will have 2,593 housing units in nine towers. Ki Soo Oh, jury chief for the design competition and president of the Korean Institute of Architects, said the winning GDS design will make a significant contribution to housing internationally: “I believe this design will set a new paradigm in housing planning and design. The competition committee has spent considerable amount of resources to sponsor this competition and will stand to reap the rewards one-hundred fold. When completed, this project will be the first of its kind in Korea. This design will serve as the premier textbook example in apartment design for generations to come. Without any reluctance, the seven-member jury unanimously chose this design.” Entries came from many top-rated global architectural and environmental design firms. International firms placing in the Sea Colony design challenge include EDAW, San Francisco, CA; Parker Durant International, Minneapolis, MN; Destefano & Partners, Chicago, IL; and NBBJ, Seattle, WA. Many of the judges represent prestigious university schools of architecture and planning. Among them are Georgia Institute of Technology, UC Berkeley and several universities in Asia. In addition to principal Charles Wee, AIA, members of the winning GDS Sea Colony design team are Scott Callihan, Michael Collins, Andy Bae, Brandon Sakuma, Humberto Barazza, Lingie Park and Peter Lee, GDS, Pasadena; and Goon-Bo Hyun and Jae Young of GDSK, Seoul. Also contributing to the presentation were engineering professionals from Hanmi Engineers, Busan, South Korea: Sun Han, Bongdu Lee, Hyun Sulk Jo and Chang Hee Lim. Other firms involved in the GDS’ entry are WA Seoul, South Korea; SQLAS, Los Angeles, CA; Soltos Landscape Architects, Seoul; Dong Young and Jin Young Engineering Consultants, Seoul; KLC, Tapai, Taiwan; CS Structural Engineering, Seoul; Samshin Mechanical Engineering, Hwaseong City, South Korea; and Daeil Enc. Electrical Engineers; Zhongshan City, South Korea.
