SAN FRANCISCO—As the first quarter of 2014 comes to a close, SB Architects says it has 30 projects currently under construction in the United States and abroad.

The distribution of those projects, spread throughout the US, China, the Caribbean, the MENA region and Eastern Europe, indicates an ongoing recovery across many regions of the world, the firm says. The also reflect a combination of new-build and renovation across the hospitality, multi-family residential and mixed-use sectors. More than 25% of the projects under construction are located within the United States, an indication of the recovering health of the US real estate development and hospitality sectors.
"2014 is proving to be a banner year for us, and for our clients," states Scott Lee, president and principal of the San Francisco, Miami and Shenzhen-based design firm. "We have emerged from a long recession stronger, smarter and focused on the future. In less than a year, we have re-branded, launched a new website, and have seen 30 of our projects move into the construction phase."
The firm's work under construction is a balance of projects in the United States, China and the Caribbean—three of the firm's major practice areas—with additional projects across Europe and the MENA region. The projects also represent a balance between new projects and projects dormant during the recessionary period that have resumed development as the economy has recovered.
"We believe this indicates a sustainable recovery across the regions in which we have a strong presence," says Jon Wyman, vice president of development and strategy for SB architects. "We are also building momentum in Latin America - we anticipate seeing the construction number grow in that region as well, as our current projects there move into the advanced stages of development."
Many of the projects on SB Architects' construction list represent "firsts" for the venerable design firm.

Ancient Sands Golf Resort, nearing completion of its first phase of development, will be the firm's first constructed project in Egypt. Golden Pebble Winery Resort, in Dalian, China, will be the firm's first winery constructed in China, an indicator of the country's rapidly-developing wine-making culture. A new Kimpton Property on Grand Cayman, under construction in the Cayman Islands, will be San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels' first international hotel property. Palm Court, under construction in Miami, Florida, is the first phase of an ambitious expansion of the city's Design District - as the project's master architect, SB Architects plays a critical role in defining this new destination.