The German Urban Planning Workhorse

"More and more Germans are now involved in construction and urban planning projects abroad, and Albert Speer, 73, is not only one of the most successful; he's a pioneer in German overseas development. He began his career abroad 40 years ago in Libya, then went on to complete projects in Saudi Arabia and later in China."

"Today the younger Speer's employees find themselves often in China. Right now they're working on a 120-square-kilometer (46-square-mile) automotive city that will border Changchun, a Chinese industrial center. To keep pace with the enormous project, Speer has opened an office in Shanghai."

"But Speer has never lost interest in Germany. In Frankfurt, where he and Mayor Petra Roth are discussing plans for the gleaming financial center's future 20 years from now, Speer envisions a more concentrated city and less of a sprawling metropolis. Part of the plan would involve the development of new residential and commercial buildings on former harbor and railroad sites. Cologne also wants to bring more order to its hodgepodge of a downtown, and Speer's job is to provide the group with a "binding" concept for the city center."