{"data":{"news":{"items":[{"title":"Engineering excellence: Four Professional Engineers win BCA Awards ","date":"2020-08-27 14:23:41","id":2400,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2020/08/1598506325792_BCA Awards images - layout - 3 copy.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

Four Professional Engineers in Singapore have won the BCA Design and Engineering Safety Awards 2020. These awards, given by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), honour the engineers and their teams for their innovative designs and engineering solutions to challenging projects.

\n\n

One of the winners, Engineer (Er.) Kam Mun Wai from Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd is recognised for his engineering solutions in the construction of the iconic Singapore Management University (SMU) Connexion, an on-site net-zero energy teaching block in the city.

\n\n

SMU Connexion is believed to be the first building in Singapore that incorporates a hybrid steel-cross laminated timber (CLT) floor system. This innovative solution was chosen for its quick and efficient installation process, in order to mitigate the challenges of onsite space constraints and construction in close proximity to existing occupied buildings.

\n\n

Er. Kam also used prefabricated modular column-beam steel frames for the main building structure. As the frames were designed to be self-supporting, the project team avoided the need for temporary propping during construction. The frames were also of a standard design, allowing faster and safer installation on site. The end result was substantial time savings and reduction of building costs, as there were no need for temporary works. Likewise, the use of CLT panels further reduced construction time as the panels were lightweight, prefabricated to actual dimensions and easy to install.

\n\n

Speaking during the press conference, Er. Kam explained that given the challenges, SMU Connexion could not be designed as a conventional building, due to its short construction duration. So the project team decided to adopt the DfMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) concept on this development.

\n\n

In addition, Er. Kam and the project team had to overcome the challenge of constructing a two-storey link building over Fort Canning Link carriageway, which had to be temporarily closed for the building works to take place. The project team had to erect the structure quickly and safely, while minimising disruptions around the area. This was accomplished using a similar hybrid steel-CLT slab solution. As such, the project team avoided the need to erect temporary support structures over the carriageway.

\n\n

To support the building of the link, a pair of modified pratt trusses, spanning 27 m across the road, were employed. The lower segments of the trusses were meticulously designed and engineered to support incremental loads from the construction of the upper trusses, floor beams and CLT slab panels. This enabled the concurrent installation of the upper truss segments and CLT flooring. The entire link building structure was completed in a record time of seven days.

\n\n

Another winner, Er. Aaron Foong from KTP Consultants Pte Ltd - a member of Surbana Jurong - was the Professional Engineer in charge of the building works at the iconic Maxwell Chambers Suites, previously known as the Red Dot Traffic Building. A key challenge for Er. Foong was the construction of a 20-m overhead bridge linking the Maxwell Chambers Suites to the Maxwell Chambers.

\n\n

In order to support the additional load of the bridge, there was a need to strengthen the existing buildings. However, because both were conserved buildings, conventional strengthening methods such as adding new independent columns at the exterior or enlarging existing beams and columns to support the link bridge were not allowed, as these would alter the external facade of the buildings. An additional challenge included having to lay the foundation within the confines of an existing electrical substation that was in operation.

\n\n

Er. Foong devised an elegant solution by designing a novel Z-profile steel brace that could support both existing loads from the existing structures and the incremental loads from the new construction. When bonded with the integrated frame on the facade, this allowed the structural strengthening system to support the new overhead link bridge but without any modifications made to the exterior facade of the conserved buildings. This also enabled works to be done safely from the interior of the building.

\n\n

According to Er. Foong, the overhead link bridge is lightweight, weighing about 10 t, and was installed in just one night with the help of a mobile crane. He mentioned that prior to selecting the Z-profile steel brace solution, the team explored a number of options “but none of them could actually meet the very important purpose of preserving the heritage elements that we have.”

\n\n

Furthermore, Er. Foong implemented an innovative foundation strengthening solution within the live electrical substation, working within the tight working space of Maxwell Chambers. This was done by adding new micro-piles under the existing footing foundation. By making this careful modification, it safeguarded the integrity of the existing foundation that supports the weight of the existing building in operation and directed the new incremental loads to be safely transferred to the new micro-piles. This also minimised disruption to existing operations at the Maxwell Chambers.

\n\n

Two other award winners, Er. Jason Tan Bok Leng and Er. Tan Yoong Heng, both from Arup Singapore Pte Ltd, are also recognised for their engineering achievements in the Outram Community Hospital and Thomson-East Coast Line Contract T203 TE2 Woodlands Station projects respectively.

\n\n

The BCA Design and Engineering Safety Awards include six categories: Residential, Commercial, Institutional and Industrial, Civil Engineering, Small Scale Projects (cost < S$30 million), and Overseas.

\n\n

The awards specifically aim to inculcate a strong safety culture among building professionals in developing Singapore’s built environment; give recognition to Qualified Person for Structural Works [QP(ST)] and their firms for engineering achievements; and provide an avenue through which competition for work excellence can be enhanced.

\n\n

Note: Details of the winning projects will be published in the Nov/Dec 2020 issue of Southeast Asia Construction.

\n\n

Credits
\nImage 1: Maxwell Chambers, Singapore Management University, and Arup Singapore
\nImage 2: Singapore Management University
\nImage 3: Singapore Management University
\nImage 4: KTP Consultants

\n\n\n","article_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2020/08/1598506347004_BCA Awards images-layout-2.jpg","article_expanded_image_uid":null,"article_image_caption":"Winners of this year’s BCA Design Engineering and Safety Awards.","publications":"7","tags":"Singapore,BCA","category":"Projects"},{"title":"Singapore’s construction demand 2020 expected to remain strong ","date":"2020-01-08 16:21:06","id":1929,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2020/01/1578471705760_IMG_3638.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

The total construction demand (value of construction contracts to be awarded) in Singapore is projected to remain strong in 2020, ranging between S$28 billion and S$33 billion, according to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). This is due to sustained public sector construction demand, which is expected to reach between S$17.5 billion and S$20.5 billion this year, accounting for approximately 62% of the demand.

\n\n

The public sector construction demand would include major infrastructure projects - which are larger and more complex in scale - such as the Integrated Waste Management Facility, infrastructure works for Changi Airport Terminal 5, Jurong Region MRT Line and Cross Island MRT Line.

\n\n

The private sector construction demand is anticipated to reach between S$10.5 billion and S$12.5 billion this year, supported by projects such as redevelopment of en-bloc sale sites, recreational developments at Mandai Park, Changi Airport new taxiway and berth facilities at Jurong Port and Tanjong Pagar Terminal. BCA pointed out that the forecast for 2020 excludes any construction contracts by the two Integrated Resorts (IRs), pending confirmation on the timeline and the phasing of the expansion projects.

\n\n

Last year, Singapore’s total construction demand expanded by 9.5% to reach S$33.4 billion, about S$1.4 billion higher than the upper bound of BCA’s 2019 forecast of S$27 billion to S$32 billion. This was mainly due to a stronger than expected increase in industrial construction demand for petrochemical facilities despite the slowdown in manufacturing sector.

\n\n

Outlook for 2021 to 2024

\n\n

Construction demand in Singapore is expected to hold steady over the medium term, said BCA. Demand is projected to reach between S$27 billion and S$34 billion per year for 2021 and 2022, and between S$28 billion and S$35 billion per year for 2023 and 2024.

\n\n

The public sector will continue to lead demand and is expected to contribute S$16 billion to S$20 billion per year from 2021 to 2024, with building projects and civil engineering works each taking up about half of the demand. Besides public residential developments, public sector construction demand over the medium term will continue to be supported by various mega infrastructure projects.

\n\n

The private sector construction demand is expected to stay at a moderate level in view of the likely continued global economic uncertainties and the current overhang in the supply of private residential housing units. Nonetheless, the planned expansion of the two Integrated Resorts could provide further upside to private sector demand, depending on their eventual construction timelines and phasing.

\n\n

Furthermore, Singapore’s total nominal construction output in 2020 is projected to increase to between S$30 billion and S$32 billion, from the estimated S$28 billion in 2019. The anticipated further pick-up in total construction output in 2020 is supported by the improved construction demand since 2018 following the slowdown in 2015 to 2017.

\n\n

Industry transformation through DfMA and IDD

\n\n

Singapore’s Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, Zaqy Mohamad, also urged the industry to continue to invest in a skilled and competent workforce with a strong local core, in order to sustain business growth and the good progress in transformation that have already been made.

\n\n

Since the Construction Industry Transformation Map was launched in 2017, the local industry has been using newer and more advanced technologies to improve construction processes and methods and ultimately creating new and better jobs for those working in the sector. For example, more projects are adopting the Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) method, where a substantial portion of work is now done in a controlled manufacturing environment before it is transported to site for assembly.

\n\n

BCA revealed that the DfMA adoption rate by the local industry shows an improvement from 22% in 2018 to about 30% in 2019, setting a good progress towards the target of 40% by 2020. The public sector, like HDB, will continue to take the lead in adopting DfMA in their building projects where 75% of all its units launched in 2020 will adopt DfMA methods, including prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) or advanced precast concrete system (APCS).

\n\n

Besides DfMA, Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) has been identified as another key transformation area for the built environment sector in Singapore. Those who implement IDD can expect to reap benefits such as productivity gains throughout the building life cycle, reduction of costs and waste by minimising reworks and improving site safety. For instance, BHCC Construction aims to achieve 30% time savings during the design of a project by using Virtual Reality (VR) collaboration system and 25% time savings by digitalising its management of site safety records.

\n\n

Similarly, the multi-disciplinary project team including the builder behind the Tuas Port Maintenance Base aims to achieve 20% time savings by using a cloud-based digital platform for managing defects and site safety during construction works. The team also expects to achieve a 20% productivity improvement in maintenance work by integrating data from the Building Information Modelling (BIM) into their building management system when the building is completed.

\n\n

These transformation efforts have reportedly led to the redesign or creation of new and better jobs, such as digital lead and DfMA production manager within the sector. To support the sector’s transformation growth, BCA is also working with industry partners on initiatives to attract more fresh graduates and mid-careers into the sector, as well as a skills framework to chart out career progression pathways, which is scheduled to be launched later this year.

\n\n\n","article_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2020/01/1578471715842_IMG_3638.jpg","article_expanded_image_uid":null,"article_image_caption":"Singapore’s Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, Zaqy Mohamad.","publications":"7","tags":"Singapore,construction forecast,BCA","category":"Others"}],"pageInfo":{"hasNextPage":false,"hasPreviousPage":true,"totalCount":42,"totalPages":4,"currentIndex":40}}}}