Leigh & Orange
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture, Interior Design |
| Predecessor | Sharp & Danby |
| Founded | 1874 in Hong Kong |
| Founder | Granville Sharp, William Danby |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong SAR |
Area served | Global (Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Fuzhou, Shenzhen, Qatar) |
| Products | Architecture and interior design services |
Number of employees | 550 |
| Website | www |
Leigh & Orange Ltd (, previously ), established in Hong Kong in 1874, is a global firm specializing in architecture and interior design. The company employs around 550 professionals and operates its main office in Hong Kong, with additional branches located in Shanghai, Beijing, Fuzhou, Shenzhen, and Qatar.
Locations
Selected works
- Dairy Farm Depot (as Danby & Leigh, 1892)
- Old Mental Hospital, High Street, Hong Kong (1892)
- Queen's Building, Hong Kong (1899, demolished 1961)
- Marble Hall, Hong Kong (1901, demolished 1953)
- Ohel Leah Synagogue, Hong Kong (1902)
- Prince's Building (original structure), Hong Kong (1904, demolished 1965)
- St. Andrew's Church, Kowloon (1906)
- Old Pathological Institute (1906)
- St. Paul's Primary Catholic School, Happy Valley, Hong Kong (1907)
- Main Building, University of Hong Kong (1912)
- Former French Mission Building (extensive renovation, 1917)
- School of Tropical Medicine and Pathology, University of Hong Kong (1919, demolished 1977)
- Fung Ping Shan Building, University of Hong Kong (1932)
- S.K.H. Christ Church, Kowloon Tong (1938)
- Clubhouse of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (1939)
- Zetland Hall, Hong Kong (1949)
- National Societies' War Memorial, Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong (1950)
- Pui Tak Canossian Primary School, Aberdeen Main Road, Hong Kong (1956)
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong (1963)
- Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Central, Hong Kong (1993, demolished 2008)
- World Finance Tower, Shanghai (2000)
- Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building, University of Hong Kong (2000)
- TVB City, Hong Kong (2003)
- Lan Hua International Tower, Beijing (2003)
- Al Janadriyah Racecourse, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2003)
- Ristorante Isola, Central, Hong Kong (2004)
- CEO Office Tower, Zhongguancun, Beijing (PRC)
- Hong Kong Science Park Phase 2 (2009)
- Al Shaqab Arena, Doha, Qatar (2011)
- Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre at City University of Hong Kong (designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind in collaboration with Leigh & Orange) (2011)
History
Originating in 1874 under the name Sharp & Danby, Leigh & Orange underwent multiple rebrandings before adopting its present name. The company was initially formed by Granville Sharp—a businessman who became a prominent property dealer—and William Danby—an architect and engineer. Their collaboration merged Sharp’s landholdings with Danby’s design skills. After Sharp exited the partnership in 1880, Robert K. Leigh joined in 1882 followed by James Orange in 1890; these additions helped establish the firm’s core identity. The early portfolio included institutional projects such as the Clock Tower Fountain located in Statue Square. Following Danby’s departure in 1894, the business was renamed Leigh & Orange.
The construction surge during the 1890s was driven by the Praya Reclamation Scheme that expanded central Hong Kong’s land area and increased the need for commercial properties. With support from influential backer Sir Paul Chater, Leigh & Orange rose to prominence as the colony’s foremost architectural practice. They were responsible for iconic developments like Queen's Building and Prince's Building—significant office complexes that strengthened their market leadership. Their expertise also extended to warehouses, docks, and Star Ferry terminals—demonstrating adaptability that contributed to sustained growth amid fluctuating economic conditions.
Among their prominent early commissions were the Ohel Leah Synagogue completed in 1901; Marble Hall—the residence of Chater—and St. Andrew's Church finished in 1906. Beginning in 1910, Leigh & Orange forged a lasting association with the University of Hong Kong by designing its signature Loke Yew Hall. This partnership expanded to include faculty housing and athletic facilities on campus and garnered recognition for structures such as the Kadoorie Biological Sciences Building.
Other important projects from the early twentieth century include the Chinese YMCA building on Bridges Street and the Helena May Institute constructed in 1916. The firm demonstrated resilience through wartime disruptions and post-war rebuilding by delivering a wide range of projects from luxury homes to industrial complexes. Noteworthy works include churches like the Methodist Church in Wanchai built in 1955 and Union Church on Kennedy Road completed in 1949; they also designed the Mandarin Oriental Hotel with partner Francis Howorth.
In 1950 Leigh & Orange completed Zetland Hall—serving as Masonic headquarters—and Edinburgh House for Hongkong Land. Their involvement in educational infrastructure grew significantly following the implementation of Hong Kong’s Seven Year Plan in 1954 aimed at increasing primary school capacity; this led to designs for multiple schools including Sai Ying Pun and North Point Primary Schools. That same year saw rapid development of the Hong Kong Jockey Club facility in Happy Valley inspired by Bangkok’s racecourse grandstand.
Entering the contemporary period brought both geographic expansion and diversification of project types. The company inaugurated its Bangkok office in 1990 before launching branches in Beijing, Shanghai, and Yangon to extend its presence across Asia. Major undertakings during this time included Ocean Park Hong Kong, Tuen Mun Hospital, and Gaia restaurant. They secured commissions for sports venues across the Middle East as well as large-scale residential and commercial developments on mainland China. Innovative ventures included designing the Integer Pavilion along Tamar waterfront and a substantial extension of Phase 2 at Hong Kong Science Park completed in 2009.
Leigh & Orange continues to nurture long-standing partnerships with prominent clients such as the Hong Kong Electric Company and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Directors
Robert Leigh stepped down in 1904, followed by James Orange in 1908. Since their departures, a total of 23 individuals have held director positions, with five members presently serving on the board. Throughout this period, the company has retained its original masthead name.