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Arup wins Gold at the HKIE Design for Safety Excellence Award 2026

Arup recognised for innovative approach to safe slope upgrading in Hong Kong’s dense urban environment.

Author

Janet Chan

East Asia Media Officer

Hong Kong

Author Contact Information

[email protected]

Last updated: 19th May 2026

In partnership with the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) of the HKSAR Government, and the construction contractor, China-Geo Engineering Corporation, Arup has received the Gold Award in Category 3 (Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition) at the HKIE Design for Safety Excellence Award 2026.

The award recognises the firm’s commitment to designing out risk from the earliest stages of a project, demonstrated through a slope upgrading project under the Government’s Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme.

Arup engineer Kartikay Rana was also honoured with the Best Safety Engineer Award in the same category, in acknowledgement of his contribution to embedding safety principles throughout the project's design and delivery.

Arup team winning Gold at the HKIE Design for Safety Excellence Award 2026

Our engineer Kartikay Rana receiving the Best Safety Engineer Award

Designing for safety in constrained environments

Arup was appointed by the GEO to design and oversee slope stabilisation works as part of the Landslip Prevention and Mitigation Programme. The award-winning project involved upgrading a steep slope situated directly next to buildings, with underground utilities running along both its top and base. The extremely tight site conditions and proximity to existing structures meant that conventional methods — typically reliant on heavy machinery — were neither practical nor safe.

As slope works under the Programme increasingly take place in similarly constrained settings, finding safer and more adaptable solutions has become a growing priority for the industry.

Rather than relying on traditional heavy equipment, the team developed a lighter, more precise construction approach. A vertical pipe pile wall system was designed to stabilise the slope without disturbing the structures or utilities at either end. Hand-held drilling techniques and an innovative lightweight tripod lifting system replaced conventional heavy plant, allowing work to proceed safely within the restricted space.

Digital tools, including Building Information Modelling (BIM), were used to manage tight interfaces and ensure accuracy, while the use of modular, threaded pile sections improved manual handling safety and removed the need for welding on site.

The project eliminated key hazards at source, reduced the need for temporary works, and improved the overall safety and efficiency of construction in a constrained environment. The design also incorporated long-term maintenance access and durable materials to support ongoing performance. The approach offers a scalable model for safe slope upgrading across Hong Kong's dense urban landscape — an increasingly important capability as the city addresses ageing infrastructure in built-up areas.

This recognition reinforces Arup’s position as a trusted partner to the GEO of CEDD and a leader in safety-driven design and innovation in geotechnical engineering in Hong Kong.