Lord Norman Foster as “Design Trust Legacy Award 2026” Honouree at Hong Kong Architectural Legacy Symposium on April 9th at HSBC Main Building

Design Trust presented 2026 Design Trust Legacy Award to Lord Norman Foster, honouring his prolific contributions to Hong Kong, the region, and the global practice of Foster + Partners as a pioneering force in sustainable cities, transformative urban design, and technological excellence in design and innovation, on the occasion of Hong Kong Architectural Legacy Symposium convened and moderated by Lead Curator Marisa Yiu on April 9^th 2026 at HSBC Main Building.

During the keynote dialogue between Lord Norman Foster and Lead Curator Marisa Yiu, Lord Foster shared insights on the enduring legacy of architectural design and its profound connection to human experience, reflected on the design of HSBC Main Building and evolution of the city of Hong Kong through time. Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the iconic HSBC Main Building, Lord Foster says: “Design is ultimately about anticipating the future – creating buildings and cities that are resilient, humanistic, and open to change. The Hongkong Bank building was a radical departure from the typical office tower; it was also an expression of optimism, of confidence in the city’s future, and of the extraordinary energy that defines Hong Kong.  I have always said that such projects are never the work of an architect alone — it depends on enlightened patronage, on those with the courage to support innovation, and on a shared belief that design can help shape better cities for generations to come.”

Keynote dialogue between Lord Norman Foster and Lead Curator Marisa Yiu

On the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of HSBC Main Building designed by Lord Norman Foster, Lead Curator Marisa Yiu, who convened and moderated the symposium, emphasised the organisation's commitment to fostering design excellence and preserving cultural heritage. “At Design Trust, we believe Hong Kong is an outdoor museum, especially Central District to the Peak, a dynamic canvas where the 'Art of Movement' reveals how urbanism, heritage, and innovation converge. This symposium underscores our commitment to fostering a public learning lab, celebrating the myriad contributions that shape our city's optimistic spirit. It is a profound honour to acknowledge Lord Norman Foster's visionary legacy, a testament to how architectural patronage and design excellence continually redefine our cultural landscape," stated Yiu.

Lord Norman Foster is the founder and executive chairman of Foster + Partners, a global studio for architecture, urbanism and design, rooted in sustainability. Major projects include Beijing Airport, Millau Viaduct in France, 30 St Mary Axe (also known as the Gherkin) and the Great Court at the British Museum in London, the Hearst Headquarters tower in New York, Apple Park in California, Bloomberg’s European Headquarters in London, the Comcast Tower in Philadelphia, and the Norton Museum of Art in Florida. Recent projects include, 425 Park Avenue in New York, the Narbo Via museum in Narbonne, and the redevelopment of the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco. Some of his current projects within the practice include JP Morgan’s new headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in New York, the Magdi Yacoub Global Heart Center in Cairo, and a community boathouse in Harlem. He is president of the Norman Foster Foundation, based in Madrid with a global reach, promoting interdisciplinary thinking and research to help new generations of architects, designers and urbanists anticipate the future. He became the 21^st Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate in 1999. In 1997, he was appointed to the Order of Merit and in 1999 was granted a Life Peerage in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, taking the title of Lord Foster of Thames Bank. Foster + Partners, Foster + Partners is a global studio for architecture, urbanism and design, rooted in sustainability, which was founded over fifty years ago in 1967 by Norman Foster. Since then, he and the team around him have established an international practice with a worldwide reputation for thoughtful and pioneering design, working as a single studio that is both ethnically and culturally diverse.

Stay tuned for the upcoming online release of the symposium documentary on Design Trust website and social media platforms. More information on the symposium panels here. Design Trust thanks with gratitude to Symposium Partner HSBC for making this event possible.