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Profile of the structural engineering giant in Singapore
Transcript of ARUP Singapore Profile-3
Arup Newsletter Issue 3 2009MICA (P) 24310712009
MICA (P) 24310712009. The Singapore Profile is published by Arup in Australasia, part of the global Arup Group. Publisher: Arup Singapore Pte Ltd, Printer: Ee Tai Press Ltd (L011/10/2008). Published by Arup’s
Marketing & Communications team. Editor: Jenny Lie, Writer: Kathrynn Koh, Photo contributions: Christopher Dales, Jenny Lie, Russell Cole. Graphic Design: Creamy Visual Communications, Cover Image: © Arup
Issue 3 2009Profile
While 2009 was a largely sombre time for most businesses, we are looking
forward to 2010 with optimism.
Arup’s involvement in COP15 is an example of the firm at the leading edge
of the climate change debate – the greatest challenge facing mankind. Our
unique position enables us to share our real-world experience and gain
important insights into the impact policy change will have on our communities.
Evolution in the need for sustainable design and better planning for future
development provides the perfect launch pad for Arup as we create innovative
solutions that help our clients deal with the reality of climate change. This
is evident in our West-side Story feature where Arup’s environmentally
sustainable design (ESD) consultancy work is leading the way in Singapore’s
pursuit of more sustainable integrated developments.
Arup’s commitment to the environment and the communities we work in
remains at the heart of what we do. Our work in rebuilding the lives of the
people in Aceh after the tsunami follows a strong Arup tradition of assisting in
disaster relief and development projects around the world. Closer to home,
Arup’s award wins at the acclaimed President’s Design Award and the ACES
Design Excellence Award are a wonderful acknowledgement of the passion
and inspiration we bring to our work.
2010 will see the completion of much of the major work we have been doing
for the past few years. Stay tuned for more as we celebrate the completion
of the Marina Bay Bridge, Marina Bay Sands™ Integrated Resort, and the
Singapore Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.
I hope you will enjoy this Profile and if there is anything in it that sparks further
interest, please do not hesitate to contact us. On behalf of everyone at Arup in
Singapore, here’s wishing you a successful 2010.
André Lovatt, Office Leader
André Lovatt, Office [email protected]
Contents
Feel free to drop us a note on what you have enjoyed about
the Singapore Profile, or share your thoughts on how we could
make this a more informative read for you. Editor, Jenny Lie
1 | Downtown Line (DTL) Interchange:Bugis StationWhat’s going on down under?
2 | SustainabilityOpportunity in the Ecological Age
3 | SustainabilityThe Future of Cities
4 | Arup ProjectsWest-side Story
5 | Spotlight on AcousticsAcoustics - a black art
6 | NewsArup wins
7 | CommunityA commitment to the community
8 | Arup PeopleTan Yoong Heng + Heng Kok Hui
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Historic image of Nathan Road Arup’s intepretation of Nathan Road in 2050
Arup’s Hong Kong office explored how Nathan Road may appear in 2050 as part of studies into the ecological age. Flexible spaces with deep greening of buildings, intensified public transport together with greater pedestrian rights, leveraged IT systems and urban power resources will be a more sustainable and resilient solution. See feature story – Opportunity in the Ecological Age.
Cities of the ‘Ecological Age’.
01 | Downtown Line (DTL) Interchange: Bugis Station
Arup Scope: Civil, Structural, Geotechnics, Tunnelling,
Mechanical and Electrical (M&E), Acoustics
Client: Land Transport Authority (LTA)
Architect: Aedas Architects
Contractor: Soletanche Bachy – Koh Brothers JV
Project Dates: Current
What’s going on down under?October 2009
The construction activity seen at the junction of Rochor Road and North Bridge
Road belies the massive underground works for the new DTL interchange at Bugis.
As part of the DTL Stage 1 which runs from Chinatown to Bugis, a new Bugis
Station is being constructed beneath Rochor Road. This station, in addition to
serving the Bugis area, will allow passenger interchange between the Downtown
Line and the East West Line. This forms part of the LTA’s 40km Downtown Line
which is implemented in three stages – DTL1, DTL2 and DTL3.
Arup prepared the full detailed design for the station and the running tunnels on
either side of the station, in association with Aedas Architects.
The construction contract was awarded to Soletanche Bachy – Koh Brothers JV
in November 2008. Currently the majority of the perimeter retaining walls and
foundations have been completed and bulk excavation will commence in the
coming weeks.
Contact: Cheryl [email protected]
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New Bugis interchange station being constructed beneath Rochor Road.
Brunel Lecture
Since June 2008, Peter Head has been delivering
the Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) Brunel
Lecture Series1, in which he explores the policies
and investments that could lead to the ‘Ecological
Age’ of civilisation – a vision for a sustainable way
of living on the planet in 2050. The lecture brings
together knowledge gained from cities worldwide
and builds on disciplines such as sustainable
systems engineering, life-cycle analysis, industrial
ecology and earth systems engineering. The
series culminated in a final presentation at the
UN Copenhagen Climate Summit, COP15 in
December 2009.
Peter says “The breadth of this lecture shows
those outside and inside the engineering
profession that dealing with the problems we
face cannot be achieved by policy alone. Radical
transformation of the infrastructure that supports
life on the planet is needed if we are to attain a
sustainable future.”
1 The Brunel lecture is one of the most prestigious ICE
instituted lectures that commemorates the contributions
of Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859). Peter Head’s
lecture focuses on the major changes required in the
development of infrastructure, policy, and legislation to
mitigate and adapt to effects of climate change around
the world.
About Peter HeadPeter is a Director of Arup and leads Arup’s global
planning business. This team includes planning,
policy, environmental and transport consulting,
urban design and masterplanning, terminal and
interchange planning, and sustainability.
A civil and structural engineer, Peter has become
a recognised world leader in major bridges,
advanced composite technology, and sustainable
development in cities. He has won many awards
for his work including the IABSE Award of Merit
and the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Silver
Medal. Peter recently appeared in Time magazine’s
special report on ‘Heroes of the Environment’ –
recognising his enormous contribution and vision
for creating more sustainable cities.
As independent advisor to Singapore’s Building
and Construction Authority (BCA) since 2008,
Peter has provided insights on how Singapore
can move towards environmental sustainability,
including green building retrofit, new builds, and
green infrastructure.
02 | Sustainability
The ecological age is a sustainable way of living
where the global economy is in harmony with
the size of the eco-system that supports it.
Peter argues that we must move to an
ecological age by 2050 to support a projected
global population of nine billion. This would
require reduced CO2 emissions by 50% on
average, and by 80% in developed countries
(compared to 1990 levels); an ecological
footprint of 1.44ha per capita2; and an increase
in the Human Development Index.
He acknowledges that achieving these goals
and moving to an ecological age will require
a fundamental change in thinking: particularly
a combination of new land-use planning
approaches, which aim for sustainable
development targets, backed up by appropriate
infrastructure investment. Implementation
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Human development is now following a dangerously unsustainable path globally. Waves of investment in low and middle income countries are accelerating this problem because they are following an unsustainable model. Our urban areas and methods of food production consume land and non-renewable resources inefficiently. But we can do something to turn the situation around: we canmove towards an ecological age.
– Peter Head
Peter was the keynote speaker at the InternationalGreen Building Conference held in Singapore from28 - 30 October 2009.
The principles of biomimicry are:
1. Use waste as a resource
2. Diversify and co-operate
3. Gather and use energy efficiently
4. Optimise not maximise
5. Use materials sparingly
6. Clean up not pollute
7. Do not draw down resources
8. Remain in balance with the biosphere
9. Run on information
10. Use local resources
will need a combination of effective national
government policies to incentivise change and
very large public-private partnerships.
When implementing these, Peter prompts us to
learn from the planet’s successful organisms
through the principles of biomimicry (see inset).
Arup is already using these principles to unlock
opportunities for clients around the world: eco-
city developments in China embrace biomimicry
principles by harnessing renewable energy to
provide a secure and sustainable energy supply
for the efficient running of a city; the Treasure
Island sustainable development in San Francisco
Bay is a former military base that will become a
liveable community through economically-viable
technology. This neighbourhood incorporates
best practices in sustainable, low impact
development and green building.
Principles of biomimicry enable resource
efficiency and increased use of renewables to
drive growth, rather than growth consuming
non-renewable resources. While this requires
policy development on a global scale, it also
presents opportunities for businesses.
According to UN data, the annual additional
shift in investment from carbon pricing alone
will amount to around US$400bn by 2030. On
the ground, policymakers will need business
to provide many of the technological solutions
to support the move to an ecological age.
Sustainable urban design principles demand
smart technologies such as LED lighting,
electric and hydrogen-fuelled transport, carbon
capture and intensive food production using
hydroponics and nutrient feed. Companies
leading the way in such areas will be rewarded
with access to opportunities.
Opportunity inthe Ecological AgeHow business can benefit from the global shift to sustainability
“There is clear evidence that the first movers
in the transition to an ecological age are
enjoying opportunities at both a business and
a regional level,” says Peter. He adds, “Radical
transformation of the infrastructure that supports
life on the planet is needed if we are to attain
a sustainable future. This requires strong
partnerships between public, private, NGOs and
community groups, and the funding for good
projects may increasingly come from pension
funds looking for long-term security of return.
Businesses will be at the forefront of the move to
an ecological age.”
Contact: Russell Cole
“
”
To download a copy of Peter Head’s paper,
“Entering the ecological age:
the engineer’s role”, which accompanies the
Institution of Civil Engineers’ Brunel lecture
series, please visit www.arup.com
2 Singapore’s ecological footprint of 9ha per capita is influenced mainly by industrial oil bunkering rather than lifestyle issues
03 | Sustainability
Contact: Jenny Lie
1 COP stands for Conferences of the Parties. It is the highest body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
made up of environment ministers from around the world, who have met annually from 1995 to assess the convention’s progress in
dealing with climate change. COP15 was held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
2 C40 is a group of the world’s largest cities committed to tackling global warming and climate change. Formed in 2005, C40’s key
action points include the creation of procurement policies and alliances to accelerate the uptake of climate-friendly technologies and
influence in the marketplace.
Never before has humanity had to cope with the scale of transformation required to fashion sustainable cities in a short timescale of a few decades.
Yet ‘ecological age’ cities are a real possibility. Sustainable planning and design sit at the heart of Arup’s expertise. Our involvement in COP151, C402 and our active research into the drivers of change, help create solutions for those who share a similar goal.
The Future of Cities
Arup at COP15
From 7-18 December the eyes of the world were on
the United Nations (UN) climate change summit,
COP15, in Copenhagen.
We have been planning our attendance and
contribution to COP15 for over two years. Part
of this preparation involved using our ‘drivers of
change’ research to visualise the ways in which
cities can be developed and changed to meet
critical issues in order to deliver sustainable
economic development. This is summarised as
living in the ‘ecological age’.
These critical issues include adaptation to climate
change in slums, water shortages, pollution
including greenhouse gas emissions, energy
security and resilience, resource overstretch and
food shortages. They can only be addressed by
system-thinking, which is core to Arup’s culture.
Arup’s main effort in Copenhagen was focused
on sharing our research and vision of a more
sustainable economic future with different
stakeholders, including our global public
and private client base. Our involvement in
Culture|Futures, an organisation conceived by
Arup and the Danish Cultural Institute, aimed to
define the cultural element needed to deliver an
ecological age by 2050.
Although the outcome was disappointing, the
team that represented Arup in Copenhagen saw
clear, progressive leadership from cities, regions
and businesses. (See reflections from COP15 by
Peter Head)
Every generation has defining struggles that
shape the way they act, think, and live. Baby
boomers had post-WWII reconstruction;
Generation X saw the reunification of Germany
and the fall of the Soviet Union. Generation Y,
has climate change.
Gen Y will feel the impacts of a world with a
radically changed climate as well as bearing
the burden of adapting to it. Most of the climate
change impacts will occur at greater severity
and frequency within their lifetime.
Design2050 Studio: Life @ 1 Planet in 2050… or naught.
Organised by DesignSingapore, the ICSID World
Design Congress Singapore 2009, held from
23 – 25 November, comes at a time when the
world attempts to recognise the severity of the
challenges that will face future generations. Arup
was invited as one of nine Design2050 Studios
to find design solutions needed to cope with
these impending global issues.
Reflectionsfrom COP15by Peter Head
Designing our world 2050The Gen Y future
Chris Luebkeman invited participants to look
back, from 2050, at the previous 40 years. He
moved through each decade to determine the
issues, technologies and design innovations to
identify the most important drivers of change to
achieve a sustainable 2050.
What will the world look like in 2050? Will our
cities be buzzing metropolises where people
live and work atop soaring skyscrapers?
Perhaps they will have swathes of green space
and gleaming solar panel-covered homes
and offices. Or perhaps future cities won’t be
cities at all in the conventional sense, rather,
a collection of hubs for specific types of
commerce and resources.
Successful cities of the future need to be built
in harmony with natural surroundings and
biodiversity. Arguably, there has never been a
more compelling time to consider how to bring
these future cities to life.
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About Chris Luebkeman
Dr. Chris Luebkeman is a bridge builder of many
kinds. He is a third generation educator, formally
trained as a geologist, structural engineer and
architect. Chris believes that successful design
cannot be separated from breadth of knowledge
and steadfast inquiry. He speaks widely to the
issues of sustainability and thoughtful design,
and applies the lessons learned in the design of
the built environment to businesses of all kinds.
Through his unique user-centric methods, Chris
helps clients better understand the needs and
desires of consumers, customers, and citizens.
Chris heads Arup’s Global Foresight + Innovation
initiative where he conceives new ways of building,
and works with some of the world’s largest
companies to develop and understand
the opportunities that change is creating in the
built environment.
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We, as human beings, need to address our over-consumption of resources and achieve a way of life that uses no more than the resources of our one planet.
Europe indicated a willingness to
consider raising its target to 30%
reduction by 2020 from 1990 levels
of emissions which for UK means
42%. This will require profound
and rapid change.
7
The USA is still mired in fossil fuel
lobby influence but states and regions
are pushing emissions reduction
forward and the lobby from the young
for change is growing.
8
Hong Kong is actively promoting
low carbon change as are cities and
states in Australia. Japan is also
still promoting huge reductions in
emissions.
9
Brazil’s leadership in South America
was very welcome and their
willingness to contribute to the
adaptation fund was a profound
change and must make China think
hard about their position.
10
The Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation
(REDD) scheme is alive and well.
11
All the above needs to be urgently
consolidated into a direction to
achieve a legally binding protocol and
the upcoming meeting in Bonn
is important.
12
1 192 countries worked to address
a common goal of tackling climate
change and 119 leaders attended
the final stages. This shows welcome
concern and the need to act together
- a new benchmark.
2 Africa found a new united voice and
was effective in making their case for
funding. This shows a glimpse of a
new world order coming.
3 The skeptics were roundly dismissed
by evidence and their voice
disappeared after the first day.
4 Cities and regions from all countries
except China showed clear
leadership and commitment to take a
paradigm shift forward ahead of their
leaders. In China this is happening
top down anyway.
5 The business community sees
great opportunity now in renewable
energy, building retrofit, waste
management, carbon sequestration,
electric vehicles and public transport.
This opportunity links to regional,
city action. New business models
with partnering across different
technologies are emerging quickly.
6 China did agree to targets and
monitoring (which India is likely to
follow too) which sets a course for a
possible agreement later.
UNITED NATIONSCLIMATE CHANGECONFERENCEDEC 7 - DEC 182009
Human Development Index
04 | Arup Projects
Residential Colleges (RCs) Client: National University of Singapore (NUS) | Architect: SOM / DP Architects |
Project Dates: 2008 – 2013 | Arup Scope: ESD, Green Mark consultancy
Five RCs (Khaya Angsana, Cinnamon Tembusu, and Jelutong) will be constructed
over a three-year period to accommodate 3,000 undergraduate students in Phase 1.
Each RC will house residential and dining facilities, dedicated multi-purpose halls,
seminar and teaching spaces, and areas for social activities. Open spaces are also
incorporated – from outdoor recreation spaces to foyers, roof gardens, balconies
and terraces. The RCs will achieve varying levels of Green Mark certification,
ranging from Gold to Platinum.
Graduate ResidencesClient: National University of Singapore (NUS) | Architect: AWP |
Project Dates: 2008 – 2011 | Arup Scope: ESD, Green Mark consultancy
The proposed Graduate Residences consist of two 25-storey blocks over an area of
47,000m2. Set to achieve the Green Mark Gold Plus, Arup was engaged to provide
building physics and green building consultancy services for the development. The
residences are designed to accommodate singles and married unit types, both of
which feature natural ventilation and daylight.
CREATEClient: National Research
Foundation | Architect:
Perkins + Will / DP
Architects | Project
Dates: 2008 – 2011 |
Arup Scope: Structural,
Building Services, ESD,
Acoustics
The Campus for Research Excellence and Technological
Enterprise (CREATE) is a research-based development consisting
of a 16-storey tower and three low-rise laboratory buildings.
Arup’s integrated approach across various disciplines is evident in
the sustainable design strategies incorporated into the buildings.
CREATE is targeted to achieve the Green Mark Platinum rating.
Edusports ComplexClient: National University of Singapore (NUS) | Architect: SOM / DP Architects |
Project Dates: 2008 – 2011 | Arup Scope: ESD, Green Mark consultancy
The complex, built in two phases, will be the social interaction hub for the University
Town development and Kent Ridge campus. Phase 1 comprises the four-storey
mixed-use Block A and the two-storey Engineering Design & Innovation Centre
(EDIC) across 5,000m2. Phase 2, the larger of the phases at 21,000m2, comprises
multi-purpose halls, F&B, retail, lecture halls, an amphitheatre and the Centre
for Fine Arts. The complex is organised around seven courtyards with covered
walkways that link the multiple functions.
University Town
University Town Development (UTD) is NUS’s integrated residential, recreational and educational satellite campus. The development is pledging for all residential buildings to achieve a minimum Gold Green Mark score. Arup’s ESD consultancy for UTD involves primarily urban climatic mapping, airflow studies, and daylighting/solar analyses.
University Town
Conceived in 2001, the one-north masterplan fulfils JTC Corporation’s vision of a place where exceptional minds come together to live, work, learn and play. one-north is a 200-hectare development within the vicinity of the Science Parks, National University of Singapore (NUS), National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore Polytechnic and Holland Village. one-north’s work, research, entertainment and recreation facilities complement the on-going activities among these communities, creating a one-of-its-kind environment in Singapore.
one-north©
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•UniversityCultural Centre(UCC)
•NUSMuseum
•YongSiewToh Conservatory of Music
Client: National University
of Singapore (NUS) |
Architect: RSP Architects
Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd | Project Dates: 1999 – 2006 |
Arup Scope: Civil, Structural, Facade
Arup was commissioned to provide the civil and structural design,
and the supervision for each of these developments. In addition
to the three main buildings, it includes a courtyard and Centennial
Square. The hub is intended to be a focal point for the education
and promotion of music and the arts in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Contact: Russell Cole / Scott Munro
[email protected] / [email protected]
19 hectares in a tree conservation area
NUS Cultural Hub
04 | Arup Projects
“The one-north masterplan gave JTC a detailed framework to develop this dynamic hub. Having been actively involved with one-north’s conception, Arup’s familiarity with the masterplan was a value-add it brought to the rest of the one-north projects .”- Brendon McNiven, Principal
one-north
Renowned architect Zaha Hadid was the masterplanner for the one-north development, with Arup providing all engineering support in 2001.
From the start, Arup’s role in the engineering masterplanning included devising strategies for water, waste and telecommunications management. Arup’s commission was later extended to provide a more detailed strategy for the site. This encompassed transport planning and integration with the site infrastructure.
Contact: Brendon McNiven / Russell Cole
one-north masterplanningProject initiation capabilityClient: JTC Corporation | Architect: Zaha Hadid Ltd | Project Dates: 2001 | Arup Scope: Engineering masterplan advice and concept design
Arup’s role in preparing the Engineering Masterplan included devising strategies for water, waste and telecommunications management. The commission was later extended and saw Arup developing a more detailed strategy to encompass transport planning. This comprised proposing train and road systems, its integration with existing infrastructure, underground stations, utilities and drainage.
FusionopolisHigh-tech engineering solutionsClient: JTC Corporation | Architect: Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates in association with Jurong Consultants Pte Ltd | Project Dates: 2003 – 2007 | Arup Scope: Fire, Lighting, Acoustics, Theatre design, Audiovisual, Structural engineering (for main contractor)
This first phase of the Fusionopolis development features state-of-the-art scientific facilities, media studios, serviced apartments, office space and an egg-shaped theatre, Genexis. Arup provided fire engineering and lighting design for this three-tower development and was the main contractor’s structural engineer. For Genexis, Arup’s acoustic and theatre specialists broke all conventional rules of theatre design and created an exciting performance space that won it the 2009 President’s Design Award.
Fusionopolis 2BSpeed and economy of deliveryClient: Soilbuild Group Holdings Ltd | Architect: CPG Consultants Pte Ltd | Project Dates: 2008 – 2011 | Arup Scope: Civil, Structural, Geotechnics
This multi-tenanted facility is dedicated to house infocomms, media, science and engineering research and development companies. Arup was engaged by the Design & Build contractor to provide civil and structural services. Arup’s design included a ‘top down’ construction method that helped achieve the contractor’s tight development and construction programme.
Fusionopolis 2AExpertise in laboratories and vibration issuesClient: JTC Corporation | Architect: P&T | Project Dates: 2006 – 2013 | Arup Scope: Civil, Structural, Geotechnics, Facade
This development comprises three tower blocks housing high-tech research and laboratory facilities over an area of 1.1 million square feet. The facility was designed to meet stringent requirements in micro-vibration control to accommodate the research laboratories. The building includes a 3-level basement.
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Biopolis II (Neuros + Immunos) Ease of construction and economic solutionsClient: ACP Construction Pte Ltd | Architect: Jurong Consultants Pte Ltd | Project Dates: 2005 – 2006 | Arup Scope: Facade, Structural engineering (for main contractor)
Biopolis II is a purpose-built development for research and development facilities in biomedical sciences. It houses research on neuroscience and immunology in two towers – Neuros and Immunos respectively. Arup provided design refinement to the main contractor on the original design, with the intent of improving cost-effectiveness and buildability.
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The Integrated Civic, Cultural, Retail & Entertainment Hub @ Vista XchangeInnovative fire engineering and environmental design strategies Client: Rock Productions Pte Ltd / CapitaLand Retail Ltd | Architect: Aedas | Project Dates: 2008 – 2012 | Arup Scope: ESD, Fire
Arup was engaged to provide Green Mark consultancy and ESD services for this project. Key contributions are on natural ventilation, solar protection and rain ingress strategies. Arup’s fire team also developed a performance-based strategy to complement the building’s retail and theatre usage, ensuring maximum leasable space and safety.
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Ministry of Education Headquarters Advanced facade design Client: Public Works Department (PWD) | Architect: Public Works Department (PWD) | Project Dates: 2001 | Arup Scope: Facade
Arup provided full facade consultancy for this 25-storey headquarters. The development of the facade included detailed studies of sunshading and was a pioneer project that utilised computer simulation of daylight penetration into the office space. Light shelves were incorporated to shade the building against glare from direct sunlight.
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200 hectares of research, business and urban life
There are three distinct phases in the
development of one-north’s masterplan which
will take place over the next twenty years.
Biopolis, Fusionopolis and Vista Xchange are
the three hubs of the first phase development.
They are the dynamic core of one-north and will
create the platform to the roll-out of phases two
and three.
Vista Xchange is designated as a corporate
and business service centre which is supported
by public transportation nodes such the Buona
Vista Interchange (East-West and Circle Line)
and the bus interchange.
Biopolis is a state-of-the-art biomedical
research campus mixed with residential,
business, education and institutional uses.
Fusionopolis will be established a synergistic
hub for the infocomm technology, media and
sciences. Being the nexus of one-north, it will
be conveniently accessible by the upcoming
one-north MRT Circle Line station.
Furthermore, three designated heritage areas
will serve as natural counterbalances against
the urban intensity of the afore-mentioned hubs.
They are Rochester Park, Wessex Estate and
Nepal Hill.
The developments of the three phases
will integrate industry clusters and their
neighbourhoods to allow them to grow
organically without compromising the spatial
mix of one-north. As innovation in one area fuels
ideas in another, new linkages and synergies
will develop.
Nepal HillEnvironmental sustainabilityClient: JTC Corporation | Architect: W Architects | Project Dates: 2008 – 2012 | Arup Scope: Sustainability advice
Nepal Hill is envisioned to be the green lung of the one-north development. To preserve the special nature of the area, W Architects was appointed to develop a detailed masterplan for the enclave. Arup’s input was sought in drafting the sustainability guidelines. This was achieved after identifying the focus areas and working closely with the client to define targets.
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From the award-winning Genexis Theatre in Fusionopolis, to the sustainability advice for Nepal Hill, Arup’s holistic approach to problem-solving and innovative design is exemplified through its various projects within this dynamic and vibrant development.
Acoustics is often described as a ‘black art’ and not a science. Whilst this might have been true 25 years ago, the tools and understanding at an acoustics professional’s fingertips now allow prediction and assessment with a high degree of confidence. Acoustics is very defiantly a science.
Here are some of the myths we still encounter about noise and vibration.
05 | Spotlight on Acoustics
Acoustics – a black art?Rediscovering the science of sound
Myth 1The ‘Soundproof’ Room
A soundproof room doesn’t exist on earth
(it might be possible in orbit). Sound insulation
works by reducing noise by a fixed amount
when it passes through a construction. A
top-notch recording studio might have 70dB
walls. These are pretty impressive, and very
complicated to build, but sound will still come
through. If you play 100dB in one room, you will
get about 30dB next door (100-70dB), and you
might well be able to hear it. Of course, people
don’t talk to each other at that level. This
means that normal speech in one room might
be so quiet that it can’t be heard next door, but
the room still isn’t ‘soundproof’.
Contact: Nick Boulter
Myth 8Sound Quality of Recordings
The standard of personal hi-fi systems has
improved dramatically in recent years and
many of us enjoy the portability of our entire
music collection. Technology now allows us to
package music compactly – the ‘compression’
process used by most personal music systems
squeezes a file down to less than a 10th of its
original size. However, some of the subtleties
are lost along the way and cannot be recreated
by the player. As a result, the quality of these
recordings are less good than the CDs they
came from, but the improvements in amplifier
and loudspeaker technology make this less
obvious to the casual listener.
Myth 9Surround Sound
In the past, you needed a set of five
loudspeakers in a room to hear surround
sound. You can now do this with a pair
of headphones, and some clever signal
processing. By mimicking how our head
interferes with the sound before it gets to our
ears (that’s how we know the direction sound
has come from), it is possible to simulate
the surround sound effect with just two
loudspeakers mounted on our ears.
Myth 6More acoustic stuff means less noise
– part two
The ‘less is more’ approach is particularly
relevant to vibration isolation of equipment.
Dramatic noise reductions is achievable if a
plant is isolated from a building structure. This
involves inserting soft materials between the
plant and the support, allowing the plant to
move very slightly and to absorb the vibrational
forces. The softer the support, the better the
vibration reduction. Conversely, if you are using
rubber pads for this support, a larger pad
area results in a stiffer support, causing more
vibration transfer.
Myth 7Anti-noise
Sound is a simple wave form. Theoretically, you
can create waves that are the exact opposite
(the peaks overlay the troughs) and you end up
with nothing – perfect silence. Of course, it’s
nowhere as easy as this in practice. Systems
have only managed to reduce noise levels by
about 10dB and very few of these systems
have been made to work on an industrial scale.
Sadly, silence at the flick of a switch seems as
far away as ever.
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Myth 2Egg Boxes
Perhaps the most prevalent of the acoustic
myths – putting some soft stuff on a wall
significantly reduces the amount of noise
that gets through. There is a major difference
between sound insulation and sound
absorption. A good aquatic analogy for these
two properties is an umbrella (equivalent to
sound insulation in its ability to stop water
passing through) and a nappy (a device that
soaks up unwanted water). Egg boxes (when
they used to be made from porous card) could
have a small effect on room acoustics by
absorbing a little of the noise that might get
through the wall. In practice, the benefits are
so small, it’s almost unnoticeable. Think of a
cotton-wool overcoat in a downpour. Still, the
egg boxes would look ‘acoustic’ and that might
be why this myth often comes up.
Myth 5More acoustic stuff means less noise – part one
Common sense would probably tell you that the
more layers there are in a plasterboard partition,
the less noise will pass through. However, this
is not always the case, and more layers can
reduce the performance. This is because the
size of the cavity between the plasterboard
skins has a big influence on the partition’s
performance, by decoupling the two sides of the
wall. If adding an extra layer reduces the cavity
depth (ie a triple skin partition), the reduction
in performance that this causes can offset the
improvement in performance achieved because
the wall is heavier.
Myth 4Turn it up - I can’t hear the PA system
You might have misheard the Public Address
(PA) system because it was not loud enough,
but in many instances, intelligibility is often the
problem (ie you can hear an announcement but
have no idea what they are saying). When this
is the case, turning the overall level up will not
help – it will still be the same jumble of mixed
up sounds, just louder.
Getting a sound system to be audible and
intelligible needs careful acoustic engineering
of the room and the loudspeaker selections.
This is possible as witnessed by the quality
PA systems in the latest generation of airport
terminals. Given the need to safely manage
large numbers of people in an emergency, a
good PA is not just useful, it is essential.
Myth 3Quackers
A rather bizarre myth recently debunked by
the University of Salford, UK. It had long been
claimed that you would never get an echo from
a duck when it quacked. By putting a duck in
various acoustic test chambers, the university
clearly showed that a duck’s quack had no
magical acoustic properties!
Arup has a reputation for pioneering innovations and for fresh approaches to age-old challenges and these awards truly reaffirm our beliefs. Above all, we celebrate the passion of our people who are inspired to seek ever better ways to imagine, re-imagine and reshape the built environment.
06 | News
Genexis Theatre
Client: JTC Corporation | Arup Scope: Acoustics | Audiovisual | Theatre Design | Fire |
Lighting | Structural design refinement
Arup has been honoured with the prestigious and highly-acclaimed Design of the Year
award for its work on the Genexis Theatre at Fusionopolis. The award represents the
pinnacle of recognition in Singapore’s design industry. Arup was the lead consultant and
worked in tandem with WOHA’s interior designers to fit out the ovate theatre space.
The jury citation states:
“The design of the Genexis Theatre rises to the challenge of an extremely difficult site, and
succeeds through a wonderfully cohesive amalgamation of highly technical solutions and
innovative design. The result is a composite work of art and technology that transcends
the site. This project raises the bar for architectural and audio-visual system design for a
performing arts venue.”
See Singapore Profile Issue 3/2008 – The Fusionopolis Vision Comes to Life
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Singapore Flyer
ACES DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2009
PRESIDENT’SDESIGN AWARD2009
Client: Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd | Arup Scope:
Structural | Civil | Building services | Fire | Traffic
The ACES award recognises the engineering-
led design process that contributed to the
Flyer’s success in taking the design for Giant
Observation Wheels (GOWs) to a new level of
structural efficiency. The panel of award judges
comprised representatives from government
departments, universities and the building
industry.
This is a significant win for Arup. As the engineer
for the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer, Arup
has established itself as global specialists in this
respect and are currently involved in a number of
such GOW projects around the globe.
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Arup winsArup Project WinVictoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall refurbishment
Arup’s People-winning Strategies
Amidst the current economic challenges and market volatility, it is
critical to strengthen people strategies and practices to ensure business
sustainability and profitability.
Seeking to support new knowledge specific to the Asian context, the
Singapore Human Capital Summit 2009 brought together top business
leaders and leading practitioners to advance people practices in Asia
and beyond. Dr Robert Care, Arup Australasia CEO & Chairman, was
among the list of prominent CEOs invited to share how they combine
knowledge, insights and best practices to leverage human potential for
business success.
In his presentation, Robert said that making a lot of money may not be
enough to attract talent and motivate employees these days.
“Arup is different by design, by culture and by its business drivers. The firm attracts like-minded people who join us because they admire our work, philanthropy and attitude towards the environment.”– Dr Robert Care, Arup Australasia CEO & Chairman
Robert was also involved in an exclusive closed-door Executive
Roundtable involving 11 high-profile CEOs and thought leaders. The
session challenged leaders to identify and outline their key actionable
strategies to address human capital challenges facing their companies.
Held in Singapore from 29 – 30 September 2009 at the Raffles City
Convention Centre, the Summit attracted over 800 participants from
around the world.
© A
rup
Client: National Arts Council | Arup Scope: Acoustics | Theatre design |
Fire | ESD
The National Arts Council selected Arup for this significant consultancy
following an international selection process, confirming Arup’s leading
position in auditoria renovation projects across the globe.
Arup’s central role involves developing a full brief for the facilities,
improving technical capabilities, and enhancing the auditoria’s
acoustics. Arup will bring a mixture of international and local knowledge,
drawing on experiences from award-wining auditorium design projects
in the UK, Australia and the US, as well as the wide range of projects
undertaken by Arup’s Singapore office.
Arup will also be providing input as Fire and ESD consultants to the
building design team led by W Architects.
As Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall are a key part of
Singapore’s cultural heritage, the refurbishment works will address
the conservation issues to give the complex a renewed and refreshed
purpose and capability.©
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Did you know?The original building on the site was the Victoria Theatre, built
in 1856. In 1905, a new town hall was constructed next to the
theatre as a memorial to Queen Victoria. That subsequently
became a concert hall in the 1970s – now referred to as
Victoria Concert Hall, and home to the Singapore Symphony
Orchestra (SSO).
Dr Robert Care spoke of ‘Enhancing Human Resource Competencies for Business Growth’ at the SingaporeHuman Capital Summit 2009
Speakers (L to R) included Professor Dave Ulrich, Partner & Co-founder of RBL Group, Professor of Business, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan; Ms Lim Soo Hoon, Permanent Secretary, Public Service Division, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore; Dr Robert Care, CEO & Chairman, Arup Australasia.
Contact: Jenny Lie
(L to R): President S R Nathan; Mr Robert Tomlin, Chairman (Dsg); Mr Wong Mun Summ, Co-Founding Director (WOHA); Mr Andrew Nicol, Principal (Arup); Mr Richard Hassell, Co-Founding Director (WOHA)
Gift of LoveOn 15 October 2009, the smell
of gourmet delicacies filled the
air as staff brought and sold their
home-made goodies in the name
of charity. This was in response
to the 2009 natural catastrophes
that had affected Indonesia,
Samoa and the Philippines. Arup
staff from the Australasia region
raised some $32,000 in support
of the Red Cross.
Arup, in conjunction
with the Disasters
Emergency
Committee (DEC1),
has published
a report on
26 December 2009
entitled Lessons
from Aceh: Key
Considerations in
Post-Disaster Reconstruction. The report,
published on the 5th anniversary of the Asian
Tsunami, is aimed both at humanitarian and
construction professionals involved in future
post-disaster reconstruction projects.
Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, head of the Aceh-
Nias Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency
(BRR) says, “In releasing this study, DEC with
Arup have extended their humanitarian work
and contributed to an ever-increasing body of
knowledge so critical to the success of disaster
mitigation and the recovery of communities
devastated by natural catastrophes.”
Rebuilding Lives
07 | Community
A commitment to the community
Contact: Jack Pappin
“Engineering and construction professionals have a significant part to play in reconstruction efforts of this kind, and should be involved at the very beginning. We have vital technical expertise and know-how to contribute to the strategic planning of post-disaster reconstruction not just in design and implementation. It’s about building relationships with the humanitarian sector and with governments so that we are collectively better able to respond when disaster strikes – and learn from the past.” – Jo da Silva, Director,
International Development, who worked
extensively in Sri Lanka and Indonesia
immediately after the disaster and during the
continuing reconstruction effort
Background:
The Indian Ocean tsunami on
26 December 2004 devastated the
coastline in Aceh province on northern
Indonesia leaving 167,000 people
dead and over half a million homeless.
This resulted in an unprecedented
humanitarian response. Over the next
three years, DEC Member Agencies
collectively constructed almost 20,000
houses in Aceh, in addition to numerous
schools and health centres.
An important theme throughout the
report is the way in which reconstruction
can act as a catalyst to recovery,
contribute to long-term development and
reduce vulnerability to future disasters.
The lead author, Jo da Silva, is a Director
at Arup where she heads the International
Development team. She is a Fellow of the
Royal Academy of Engineering, has 20 years’
experience in construction, and has worked in
post-disaster contexts since becoming a RedR
member in 1991. Her key areas of expertise
are shelter/housing, sustainable development
and disaster risk reduction including climate
change adaptation.
Lessons from Aceh: Key Considerations in Post-
Disaster Reconstruction (ISBN 978-1-85339-700-4)
is available for download at www.dec.org.uk
or www.arup.com/internationaldevelopment.
For bound copies, visit
www.practicalactionpublishing.org.uk.
1DEC members include Oxfam, CARE, Save the Children, Islamic Relief, Merlin and the British Red Cross.
Talking PointAre neighbouring earthquakes a serious concern
for buildings in Singapore?
Tremors caused by larger earthquakes in neighbouring Sumatra have often been felt in
Singapore. This has caused occupants to evacuate their high-rise buildings on occasions
in the past.
Singapore is unusual in that it is only affected by large distant earthquakes and has
extremely few nearby earthquakes of small magnitudes. As a result it is only affected by
long period (or low frequency) ground motions. These ground motions pose no threat to
low-rise buildings whose collapse are often the cause of deaths during major earthquakes
in other places around the world.
Statistical studies of various projects in Singapore show that only high-rise buildings
located on loose or soft soils are possibly at risk from future seismic ground motions.
However, this risk is usually negligible. In accordance with international best practice
requirements, earthquake engineering can be applied to such buildings to cater for the
ground motions.
Earthquake engineering is a wide field that encompasses a broad range of specialist skills,
ranging from geology, seismology, geotechnical and structural engineering to risk analysis.
Arup’s expertise in earthquake engineering comes from years of applying these skills
successfully to an extensive portfolio of projects throughout the world, including Beijing’s
CCTV and the Beijing National Stadium (popularly known as the Bird’s Nest).
Honesty, fair dealings with others, and a commitment to humanitarian aims were articulated as key principles in 1970 by the firm’s founder, Ove Arup. These values remain fundamental to the way Arup operates today.
Be it through fundraising efforts or contributing our knowledge towards the post-tsunami reconstruction efforts in Aceh, Arup’s commitmentto the environment and thecommunity remains at the heart ofthe company’s ethos.
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Contact: Jo da Silva
We shape a better worldwww.arup.com
Singapore10 Hoe Chiang Rd#26-01, Keppel Towers,Singapore 089315t +65 6411 2500f +65 6411 2501
London13 Fitzroy StreetLondon, W1T 4BQUnited Kingdomt +44 20 7636 1531f +44 20 7580 3924
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Hong KongLevel 5, Festival Walk80 Tat Chee AvenueKowloon Tong, KowloonHong Kong, Chinat +852 2528 3031f +852 2865 6493
MelbourneLevel 17, 1 Nicholson Street,Melbourne VIC 3000,Australiat +61 3 9668 5500f +61 3 9663 1546
Bangkok31st Floor, Italthai Tower2034/134 New Petchburi RoadBangkapi, HuaykwangBangkok 10320, Thailandt +66 2 716 1561f +66 2 716 1562
New York155 Avenue of the AmericasNew York, NY 10013,USAt +1 212 229 2669f +1 212 229 1056
Tokyo3F Tobu Fuji Building24-4 Sakuragaoka-choShibuya-KuTokyo 150-0031, Japant +81 3 3461 1155f +81 3 3476 1377
08 | Arup People
Tan Yoong HengMaritime
Yoong Heng leads the maritime team for the
Singapore office with the experience he has
gained from marine and infrastructure-related
projects in Malaysia, Indonesia and London. His
work is synergistic with that of the infrastructure
group, and with projects involving maritime
inputs and analysis. Some of these include the
various Marina Bay projects undertaken by the
Arup office including Marina Bay Sands™ Integrated Resort, Marina Bay
Bridge, and Marina Bay Promenade.
In addition to these projects, Yoong Heng is currently involved in
Downtown Line 3, overseeing a riverwall crossing and acting as the
Qualified Person (QP) for one of the stations being constructed. His work
scope extends to the role of project management as seen in Gardens
by the Bay where Yoong Heng managed the multidisciplinary lead by
Arup’s London office in maritime, geotechnics, civil & structural, M&E,
transportation, water strategy, microclimate and blast study.
Yoong Heng’s energy goes beyond his project work: he is working with
the maritime team in Australia to put together a paper for the 2010
Coastal Engineering and Management Asia conference in Singapore.
Yoong Heng says, “There is a need to localise the knowledge of marine strategy and structure design for an island state like Singapore. Arup’s global expertise in this area can be tapped so that the local market can benefit and gain a greater understanding of how design and functionality can work hand-in-hand to meet client objectives.”
Contact: Tan Yoong Heng
Heng Kok HuiGeotechnics
Kok Hui is an Associate with Arup and
is one of the first members of Arup’s
geotechnics team in Singapore. With more
than 10 years’ experience as a geotechnical
engineer, Kok Hui is familiar with Singapore’s
geology having worked on many of the
island’s landmark projects.
Some of these projects include the Singapore Flyer, the soon-to be-
completed Marina Bay Bridge, Downtown Line (DTL) 1 and 2, and even
residential projects like The Berth and The Coast condominiums at
Sentosa Cove.
Kok Hui is currently leading a geotechnics team for the DTL3 Package A
commission which Arup won in early 2009. While the work involves the
detailed design of five underground stations and cut-and-cover tunnels,
the true challenge lies in its location – through the Singapore’s central
business district, with numerous geological interfaces and close proximity
to existing structures.
Kok Hui explains, “A good knowledge of geological conditions is crucial to our work. In the case of DTL3, the tunnels are built under existing structures, while the stations are located near to existing shophouses. Given these conditions, Arup is proposing a robust system that will minimise damage to these structures during excavation.”
Kok Hui’s specific capabilities include designing shallow and deep
foundations, temporary works, earth retaining structures, settlement
and slope stability analyses.
Contact: Heng Kok [email protected]
