Who Built Grand Marina? The Newtecons, HBA, ATKINS & AB Concept Story

For a branded residence worth tens of billions of dong, the key question is not only "who is selling it" but "who built it." A project that lasts depends heavily on the calibre of its main contractor, architect and interior designers. This article gathers the firms behind Grand Marina Saigon — the build-quality story that few pages spell out clearly.

Who is the main contractor for Grand Marina?

The main contractor for the superstructure of the Lake tower (Marriott brand) at Grand Marina is Newtecons, one of Vietnam's leading private construction firms.

Newtecons belongs to the family of major Vietnamese contractors and is known for delivering complex high-rise buildings. At Grand Marina, Newtecons served as main contractor for the Lake tower — the 47-floor Marriott tower reaching 176.4 m, part of the project's Phase 2.

Developer Masterise Homes choosing an experienced domestic contractor for high-rise work points to strict demands on schedule and quality. The Lake tower completed construction in 2022 and began handover to residents in March 2023 — a real milestone that demonstrates delivery capability. You can read a dedicated profile of the Lake Tower Grand Marina: The Marriott 47-Floor Phase 2 to understand the building's scale.

ATKINS — the architect behind the project's form

The architecture of the Cove tower (JW Marriott) was handled by ATKINS, the renowned architecture and engineering firm from the United Kingdom.

ATKINS is an international name in architecture and engineering consultancy, associated with many landmark projects worldwide. At Grand Marina, ATKINS was responsible for the architectural design of the Cove tower — the 47-floor JW Marriott tower reaching 184.2 m, part of Phase 1.

The involvement of a British architecture firm explains the project's signature design language: river-facing towers that maximise views over the Saigon River, just around 200 m away, and the Thu Thiem New Urban Area opposite. This is part of what creates "branded residences" value — where architecture and hotel operations come together. If you want to understand the concept, see our piece on what are branded residences?

HBA and AB Concept — two international interior designers

Grand Marina's interiors were entrusted to two international studios: HBA for the Lake tower and AB Concept (Hong Kong) for the Cove tower.

• HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates): one of the world's foremost hospitality interior design firms, responsible for the interiors of the Marriott-branded Lake tower.
• AB Concept: a Hong Kong design studio celebrated for luxury hotel and restaurant spaces, responsible for the interiors of the JW Marriott-branded Cove tower.

Engaging two studios that specialise in five-star hotel design, rather than ordinary apartment fit-out, is the heart of the branded-residence model: units are finished to Marriott hotel standards. Per project information, residences are handed over fully fitted with marble/engineered-wood floors, Poggenpohl/Boffi kitchens, Miele/Gaggenau appliances, Toto/Duravit/Hansgrohe bathroom fixtures and Daikin VRV air conditioning.

If you want to see the finishing materials and handover standard of each tower with your own eyes, our team can send detailed documents.

Summary table: who did what at Grand Marina

Each tower has its own construction and design consortium, all coordinated by developer Masterise Homes and operated by Marriott.

The table above is based on project information; figures and participating firms may be updated by the developer per phase. The common thread is that the project assembled international names at each stage — architecture, structure and interiors — rather than handing everything to a single contractor.

Why does "who built it" matter to buyers?

The calibre of the contractor and designers directly affects handover quality, structural durability and the resale value of a unit.

In the branded segment, buyers pay not only for the Marriott brand but also for the physical quality of the building. A reputable construction consortium reduces the risk of delays, structural defects or deviation from the design. In fact, all of Grand Marina's towers have been handed over with residents living in them and Marriott concierge service operating — real evidence that matters more than any promise.

For international buyers, do not overlook the legal conditions: foreigners may own for 50 years (renewable under Vietnamese law) with a cap of 30% of units per building. To confirm the legal progress and handover status, see Grand Marina Legal Status & Handover: Is It Done?

Each tower and phase has its own construction history, handover date and unit layouts — our team can help you compare them.

Once construction is done, who operates it?

After construction is complete, Marriott International runs resident services under a long-term management contract.

Build quality is only half the story; the other half is operation. At Grand Marina, Marriott provides services such as 24/7 concierge, housekeeping, laundry, valet parking and multi-layer security. The developer subsidises the management fee for the first three years; after that the community of residents may renew or change the operator. Learn the details in Marriott's 20-Year Operating Contract Explained.

In other words, Grand Marina's value comes from a combination: Newtecons and the contractor consortium build the "hard" structure, the HBA/AB Concept studios and ATKINS architecture shape the spatial experience, while Marriott sustains the "soft" service over time. For an overview of the developer and partner, see the About the project page.