Sr Frankie SO Hung Fai, the current Chairperson of BEAM Society Limited (BSL), has been in the construction industry since the 1970s. Graduating from the Hong Kong Polytechnic in quantity surveying, he has witnessed the dynamic growth of the local construction sector. In his career, Frankie has primarily focused on cost control in building projects, facilitating clients to complete their projects with cost-effective solutions.

Road to Becoming a Green Building Pioneer

Frankie's passion for green building development led to his appointment to the Board of BSL in 2012, nominated by the Hong Kong Institute of Facility Management (HKIFM). "At that time, people were paying more attention to global warming issues, but the concept of carbon emission reduction was still in its infancy. I believed that green buildings could play a crucial role in addressing environmental issues, that’s why I am deeply committed and actively engaging in the BSL's work, exploring possible ways to combat climate challenges."

Drawing on his expertise and extensive experience, Frankie has been a driving force in promoting the development of green buildings, striving to use environmentally friendly materials and construction techniques in the procurement process, thereby reducing carbon emissions and enhancing cost efficiency. He has also made substantial contributions to the development, strategy, management, and operations of BSL.

Forging Ahead Together with “TEAM BSL”

He explains, “The BEAM Plus assessment tools developed by BSL cover the entire life cycle of a building, from planning, design, construction, commissioning, renovation, management, operation to maintenance. By conducting environmental assessment of each stage, the designers, contractors and operators of projects can identify areas of improvement that can save energy and reduce carbon emissions, thereby enhance their long-term economic benefits."  

Frankie recalls that BSL was initially formed by a group of like-minded professionals from various fields who were dedicated to promoting green buildings. In the early days, there were only limited number of members, and everyone contributed their spare time to participate in BSL's work, often meeting late into the night. However, their efforts have paid off as evidenced by the number of registered BEAM Plus projects growing from around 100 in 2011 to 2,600 today. BSL has also developed seven BEAM Plus assessment tools, expanding its scope to cover a wider scope of assessment.

BEAM Plus Assessment Going Digital

As the number of registered projects has seen a significant growth, the workload of BEAM Plus assessment became heavier, making the automation essential. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 further disrupted the work progress across industries, prompting BSL to urgently require an automated system to improve efficiency. With his experience in developing similar systems, Frankie volunteered to participate in the creation of the new iBEAM^® assessment automation system.  
 
"System development usually takes a long time, but we launched the new system within just one year. What stands out the most is the team’s dedication, working tirelessly even during the Christmas holidays. Whether it was addressing user needs, business operations, or programming, we are very satisfied with the speed of system development."   
 
Frankie speaks passionately about iBEAM^®, undoubtedly one of the projects he is most proud of, and he has been actively promoting it. "iBEAM^® has successfully digitised green building assessment process, allowing green building data to be stored and shared via the cloud, which makes assessments more transparent, efficient and user-friendly. In the long run, it can establish a big database, enabling application of data-analytic tools for the industry to predict green building trends and suggest more forward-looking recommendations on green policies and practices. The system has enabled a paperless review process, uploading all data to the cloud, enhancing transparency, security and integrity, while also reducing carbon emissions."

Leading with Aspirations

As he takes on the responsibilities of Chairperson, Frankie is full of ambition for BSL’s future work. "The government's gross floor area concessions, which requires BEAM Plus assessment & certification, have positively recognised BSL’s efforts in promoting green buildings. Furthermore, BEAM Plus assessment & certification can also serve as a tool for financial sector to appraise the green building projects seeking green financing. In the future, we will continue to align with the government policies, constantly optimising BEAM Plus assessment tools and procedures. In addition to intensifying efforts to promote BEAM Plus to existing buildings, we will also explore and develop appropriate tools for assessing more building types, such as restaurants and hotels to make the whole built environment greener."

He adds that BSL is committed to training green building professionals and has partnered with six universities in Hong Kong to include the BEAM Affiliate training in relevant courses, which ensures the next generation learns about BEAM Plus early on. So far, the programme has trained 1,400 BEAM Affiliates. BSL has been continuously updating its curriculum and teaching materials, and launched a new BEAM Affiliate course in June 2024. "We plan to extend the course to the Greater Bay Area and regions outside Hong Kong, in a hope of nurturing and attracting talents for the industry to work together to advance green buildings."

In May 2024, BSL launched the BEAM Plus Existing Buildings (Global Version) v1.0. Frankie states, "This is our first step to go global. In line with the government's Belt and Road Initiative, we plan to introduce the global versions of other BEAM Plus assessment tools in the future, promoting BEAM Plus to regions beyond Hong Kong, contributing to the global sustainable development."