World’s skyscrapers take shape here

New Delhi, Nov 21: Time: 2 am
Place: A stained glass building in Noida
Young boys and girls are busy, leaning down on their desks, sketching designs for landscapes across the globe. From a mosque in Kuwait and F-1 track in Italy to a casino in Las Vegas and skyscraper in New York, whole cities emerge, as the pace of their hand quickens. Welcome to the world of architect design outsourcing!

With rising costs and shortage of architects in US, Middle East and Europe, architecture outsourcing is scaling heights in India. From 3D rendering of planetariums, auto malls and luxury resorts to helping archaeologists find lost cities and monuments through virtual walkthroughs, the global $57 billion industry is booming.

Michael Jansen, CEO of Noida-based Ananta Satellier says, “Five years back, there were only 40 outsourcing firms globally. But now there are more than 700 such firms, with about 100 based in India alone. There is a lot of work coming from US clients based in China. So, the building is conceptualised in US, designed in India and built in China!”

Started in 2000 with just two people, Ananta Satellier has grown to 175 people now. Jansen, himself an architect and a graduate from Yale and Oxford, went to work in China for four years before starting his venture.

Says Mr Jansen, “Indian architects are technically sound, talented, possess good English skills and are loyal. There is a 94% retention rate in our firm.”

Billing rates vary with the kind of work. For low end-work like tracing and drafting, firms charge $6 per hour. For design devlopment, rates can go as high as $45 per hour.

In such BPOs, architects and engineers get 200% more than what they would get in a traditional setup.

Mr Nishi Chandhok, managing partner, Arcides says, “Architects and engineers get Rs 15,000-20,000 as starting salary in such BPOs.” Delhi-based Arcides has executed projects ranging from hospitals in UK to an airport in US.

But, there are threats to the emerging industry also. Philippines, for instance, offers services cheaper than India. It is also close to US, culturally as US had a military base there, for more than 50 years. Rising salaries can also be threat to India.

But, for now, the industry has an upper hand. And Indian architects will continue to design buildings for the globe, be it Las Vegas, London or Lanzhou!