Celebrating Our Journey

This timeline provides a window into Chow:Hill’s history, sharing a few of the milestones and stories that have helped make it the company it is today.

1992 - 1995
An Established Partnership
  • Chow:Hill Architects is founded by Chien Chow and Richard Hill in Hamilton, New Zealand with the practices first studio established in Garden Place in Hamilton/Kirikiriroa.
  • The original company logo is developed.
  • The Hamilton Studio moves to 119 Collingwood Street converting a Hertz Rental Car Facilities into a new Studio and a second Studio is established in Papatoetoe, Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau operating as Chow:Hill Architects Auckland Ltd.
An Established Partnership
1995 - 2000
Growth of Design Studios
  • Chow:Hill Architects and Chow:Hill Architects Auckland Ltd. are amalgamated as one company.
  • Chow:Hill wins first XXX award for XXX hospital.
  • The company’s In-House CPD training programme commences to support on-going staff development and learning.
  • The first formal Director’s Meeting is held with the Director team comprised of Richard Hill, Chien Chow, Darryl Carey, Maurice Kiely.
  • The Chow:Hill Team has now grown to XX strong across Hamilton/Kirikiriroa and Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau Studios.
Growth of Design Studios
2000 - 2005
A Decade of Design
  • Chow:Hill establishes a South Island presence with the opening of the Christchurch/Otautahi Project Office to support Christchurch Women’s Hospital Project. Chow:Hill also expands across the North Island opening a Studio in Tauranga.
  • Chow:Hill hosts its first Auckland client function at the Auckland Museum.
  • The first company AGM is held with Richard Hill nominated as Managing Director.
  • 10th Year Birthday celebrations take place at Founders Theatre in Hamilton/Kirikiriroa.
  • Urban Design, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture services are added to Chow:Hill’s suite of expertise.
  • A company branding strategy and media communications plan is developed alongside a refreshing of the logo update and launching of the first company website.
  • By the end of 2005, the Chow:Hill Director Group is comprised of Richard Hill, Chien Chow, Darryl Carey, Maurice Kiely, Anthony Flannery and Simon Woodall.
  • Chow:Hill wins it’s first NZIA Award?...
A Decade of Design
2005-2010
2005-2010
  • Chow:Hill Auckland celebrates its 10th Birthday and the Studio moves from Papatoetoe to Newmarket.
  • The company's first Chow:Hill Chill-Out Day is held at Hotel du Vin…kicking off an annual tradition.
  • Chow:Hill reaches equal number of male/female employees.
  • Chow:Hill appoints David More as its first Commercial Manager.
  • By 2010 Chow:Hill Director Group is comprised of Richard Hill, Chien Chow, Darryl Carey, Maurice Kiely, Anthony Flannery, Simon Woodall and Brian Squair with the company employing a Team of XX across it’s Studios.
4
2010 - 2015
A New Era of Leadership
  • Chow:Hill begins reporting on performance via a Company Sustainability Report.
  • Chien Chow and Richard Hill step down from the board to enjoy a new more relaxed role of consultants to the business after 18 years of founding leadership.
  • On the eve of its 21st year the Chow:Hill Director Team is comprised of Darryl Carey, Maurice Kiely, Anthony Flannery, Simon Woodall and Brian Squair.
  • Chow:Hill wins it’s first Property Council Award for Wintec House in 2011.
  • Chow:Hill celebrates it’s 21st Birthday at the Wintec Atrium in Hamilton/Kirikiriroa.
  • Chow:Hill’s annual Chill-Out Day now re-branded as the company’s “Inter-Studio Day” celebrated as an Architectural Amazing Race across the Waikato.
  • Chow:Hill appoints Kalpana Reddy as company CEO.
  • Chow:Hill is back in the South Island with a new project office established in Riccarton in Christchurch/Otautahi to support the Christchurch Hospital, Waipapa Project.
A New Era of Leadership
2015 - 2020
2015 -2020
  • Richard Hill, co-founder and former managing director of Chow:Hill Architects, is awarded the Honorary Medal from Waikato Institute of Technology
  • Chow:Hill’s Auckland Studio relocates to new premises in the heart of Newmarket
  • The Hamilton Studio has a makeover and extension to make room for a growing team
  • Chow:Hill takes on social media and joins Linked In
  • By 2020 the Chow:Hill Director Group is comprised of Darryl Carey, Maurice Kiely, Simon Woodall, Brian Squair, Brian Rastrick, Anner Chong, Jane Hill, Stuart Mackie with a Team of XX Architects, Technicians, Landscape Architects, Interior Designers, Urban Designers across three Studios.
6
2020 to current
Shaping Possibilities
  • An enhanced approach to agile and flexible working is initiated in response to Covid Lockdown.
  • Chow:Hill’s Christchurch/Otautahi Project Office becomes permanent Studio located in the heart of the city.
  • A rebuild of the company website is completed with a new look and feel to Chow:Hill’s brand.
  • Chow:Hill refreshes it’s governance structure in celebration of a new era of growing company leadership.
  • The company’s Senior Principals comprise of Darryl Carey, Maurice Kiely, Simon Woodall, Brian Squair, Brian Rastrick, Anner Chong, Jane Hill, Stuart Mackie.
  • The new Board comprises Darryl Carey, Maurice Kiely, Brian Squair, Brian Rastrick, Jane Hill.
  • Birthday Celebrations in preparation to mark Chow:Hill’s 30th year….
Shaping Possibilities