Origin

Mau Chiau Architects & Associates was founded by architect Hsu Mau Lin in 1967. Prior to the founding of Mau Chiau Architects & Associates, Hsu Mau Lin taught for nine years at the National Cheng Kung University and then assumed responsibility for Universal Cement Corporation's plant planning, design, construction supervision and operating management. He accumulated an abundant amount of architectural theories, professional training and actual experience. With Uni-President Enterprise CEO Kao Ching-yuen’s recognition and encouragement, Hsu Maulin founded his own company and undertook the planning and design of Uni-President’s projects and its affiliated companies. Architect Hsu also won the First Outstanding Architect Award of Taiwan in 1970.

In the fifty-four years since its establishment, with the rapid growth and transformation of Taiwan’s economy, MCA has been closely cooperating with the rapid expansion of talented business owners. Therefore, MCA’s works have spread across three continents in the world, serving as a comprehensive architect firm with a long history in Taiwan. The project covers architectural design, structural design, land development plan, urban design, regional planning, engineering consulting, project management, interior decoration and landscape design. The main works completed by the firm include Uni-President Enterprise, Ton Yi Industrial, Tainan Spinning, Universal Cement, Nandi Chemical, Chi Mei Industrial, Chi Mei Logistics, Dachan Great Wall Group, Sinlau Christian Hospital, Taichung Nursing Home, Chang Jung Christian University, Chang Jung Girls' High School, Taipei County Livestock Market, Tainan Meat Market, Chi Mei Electronics Third, Fourth, LCM and OLED Plants with a total floor area of ​​237,000 square meters, Chiling Technology, Epistar, Flexium Interconnect, Taiflex Scientific, Kaiser Pharmaceutical, SuperAlloy Industrial, Advanced Wireless Semiconductor Company, King Slide Technology, Tongtai Machine and Tooly, E-TON Solar Technology and Kinetic Technology, Panjit Semiconductor and Kerry TJ Logistics. The firm has experience in large and highly complex projects from hi-tech, food, clothing, housing, transportation and entertainment industries.

Architecture is an art of engineering that contains a high amount of integration. Every aspect is connected and closely related to one another and a small hiccup can affect the entire project. A careless mistake often results in “a miss is as good as a mile.” Therefore, it is very critical in figuring out the key of integrating stakeholders’ goals. Over the years, Mau Chiau’s two highly experienced architects and Professional Civil Engineers, Project Management Professional (PMP) and all of the firm’s colleagues have actively introduced various information and management tools and have formulated teams oriented for the projects, so that they can achieve the targets and performances based on the expected deadlines, quality and budgets to improve customer satisfaction and create win-win situations as benchmarks for every project. All of the colleagues at the firm are committed to “being diligent and sociable, serving with honor and good faith” and we expect ourselves to “be contentious, steadfast and earnest and create a sustainable future together.” We also look forward to the feedback, encouragement and support from all of the enterprises to create excellent enterprises and teams together.

Ideology

Architecture is a concrete manifestation of soul and culture, which is closely related and tightly connected to the people and their environments. Konosuke Matsushita once famously said this about management, “You must listen to the opinions of others with purity.” This so-called “purity” implies to being able to drawing conclusions after understanding the big picture. This quote definitely applies to the design of architecture as well! One must have “a heart of purity” for their surroundings, people, things and most importantly, they must face themselves with “emotions of purity!” The understanding that we have about the environment and the customers depends on how well we understand ourselves!

Therefore, we often reflect upon ourselves and ask when we help business owners achieve their goals and dreams, is the firm along with the environment, the people and our colleagues also joyful, happy and satisfied? Is it a win-win, multiple win-win, zero-sum, win-lose, lose-lose or multiple lose-lose situation?

Here, we’d like to address call business owners, related environments, the people and our colleagues as “stakeholders.” We fully understand the interdependence with the stakeholders and also appreciate the high level of wisdom and challenges needed to balance these interests. We understand that in this constantly-changing environment, there is a need for flexibility. There’s an old saying that reads, “Change is inevitable, progress is optional.”

We are convinced that Mau Chiau’s core competitiveness is to have a team that can work at all times and flexibly adapt to the situations. We seek to establish a common vision, to strive and obtain self-mastery, have pure and unhindered dialogues with stakeholders, allowing the teams to learn naturally like they’re breathing and use systematic thinking to delve into the essence of the issues. Yes, this is the requirement of a “learning organization” and that is also the goal that we strive for. Of course, we know that we have a long way to go to achieve that goal. However, throughout this vast amount of space and time, “We are not afraid of the long road ahead if we know where we’re going,” right?

VI (Visual Identity)：

M stands for Mastery, Mind and Man, meaning that only by fully mastering one's own mind and having a pure heart can one contribute to the people and the environment. Only continuous personal mastery can make people break through self and expand his boundaries.

The two as represent an M that has been split apart, which resembles two giants holding hands. This represents a culture that emphasizes teamwork and with such a culture and organizational climate, people are the most critical resource. The firm takes Architecture as its business and the firm is composed of Architects and Associates working together to make great strides toward the firm’s vision. Therefore, the English website “www.mca.tw” is the abbreviation of Mau Chiau Architects & Associates.

The firm’s English Slogan is “Making dreams concrete.” The pun uses concrete as Reinforced Concrete is the most commonly-used and most developed construction technology for structures in Taiwan and concrete also has a solid, firm and sturdy connotation. Therefore, people can see that the slogan “Making dreams concrete” is related to architecture.

Organization

It isn’t that difficult to put a team together, but it is extremely difficult to maintain and promote high performance and happiness within a team. We are convinced that only by being proud of the things that we have worked on diligently can we effectively manage a business and obtain happiness in life. Therefore, we work hard to find a balance between sensibility, rationality and beauty, face the present with humility and realize that there is still a long way to go to achieve our vision. However, we are willing to face what lies ahead together and move forward hand in hand despite the continuous number of hazards, obstacles and difficulties that are bound to impact the firm. We will continue to work hard and push forward.

The actual appearance and interior of Mau Chiau