Arup Newsletter Issue 2 2012

MICA (P) 159/01/2012

Profile
Issue 2 2012 Content
A silver jubilee 01 | Downtown Line Bugis Station 3

The last quarter has been Digging deep for a better solution
a big few months for me, 02 | Design Story: CREATE 4
with the passing of a major A brilliant integration of ideas and ideals
personal milestone and
the move into the office 03 | Project Showcase:
leadership role. Green is the new black 7
The green glow of success
I joined Arup in September
1987 as a structural 04 | Innovation: Downtown Line 3A 10
engineering graduate in The rail deal
Russell Cole, Office Leader Fitzrovia, London, and was Keeping progress on track
given the opportunity to
work on some of the most exciting projects in London at 05 | Cool Stuff You Didn’t Know
that time. 25 years and four different countries later, Arup Does 14

I am still working on great projects, but find myself on Going beyond labels
a different side of the world. Incidentally, this marks 06 | Arup News/Events 16
my tenth year of working in Singapore. The office has The Penguin Pool: A deliciously good time
certainly come a long way since then. The Penguin Pool: Backward thinking
In October, we said farewell to André Lovatt, who takes Winning by greening
up a new role as Chief Executive of New Zealand’s Examining the future of healthcare
Christchurch Arts Centre rebuilding programme, Off to a flying finale
confident he will make the same positive contribution to
07 | Arup People 18
his hometown as he has to Arup.
Russell Cole, New Office Leader
Shaping a better world – that’s an Arup trait that doesn’t Shaping a better world one person at a time
change. What is less well published, but increasingly well Joe Paveley + Mei-L Yeow
known, is the distinctive Arup culture. After 25 years of
developing and growing in Arup’s creative and challenging
environment, I am still inspired by the concept of a firm run
by a set of values based on a humane philosophy that aims
to produce excellent work. It makes a real difference to what Feel free to drop us a note on what you have enjoyed about the Singapore Profile.
We welcome any thoughts on how we can make this a more informative read for you.
we do and how we determine the best actions.
Editor, Jenny Lie
I hope you will enjoy this edition of the Singapore Profile jenny.lie@arup.com

that showcases Arup's ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking that I’ve

grown so custom to.
Last but not least, join me in this silver jubilee toast as we
shape a better future for 2013.

Covers: UP, and away! is Arup’s latest creative installation that has presented an
unconventional yet meaningful opportunity to showcase our multidisciplinary design
Russell Cole, Office Leader expertise; and most of all, to connect with a diverse community
russell.cole@arup.com © Arup | Key Anderson

MICA (P) 159/01/2012. The Singapore Profile is published by Arup in Australasia, part of the global Arup Group. Publisher: Arup Singapore Pte Ltd.
Printer: Dominie Press Pte Ltd (L029/09/2011). Published by Arup’s Marketing & Communications team. Editor: Jenny Lie. Writers: Celia Choong
and Daniel Kee. Photo contributions: Key Anderson, Symur Diche, and Frank K.

2  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012

 01 | Downtown Line Bugis Station
Digging deep for a better solution
© Arup
What lies beneath Rochor Road is a beautiful architecture of a cross-over tunnel that will enable Bugis station to cope with the high volume of traffic when the Downtown Line
becomes operational in 2013.
Above: The evolving face of Bugis
Below: Construction of Downtown Line Bugis station
nearly complete. Image © Paul McMullin and Arup
Arup scope
Civil, structural, mechanical, electrical
and fire engineering, geotechnics,
tunnel design, acoustics
Client: Singapore Land Transport Authority
Architect: Aedas
Project completion: 2013
Contact: Cheryl Lee / Michael McGowan
cheryl.lee@arup.com / michael.mcgowan@arup.com
As part of Singapore's new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) development from
Chinatown to Bugis, Arup was given just nine months to design and engineer
a new station that would facilitate passenger interchange between the new
Downtown Line and East West Line.
With the new interchange station required to interface with the existing
station, the design of Bugis Station turned out to be a complex proposition.
It would require approximately 400m of mined and cut-and-cover tunnels on
both sides of the new station. This meant our consultants had to overcome the
challenges of deep tunnelling – up to 30m deep – in an area lined with
historic shop houses along Rochor Road.
Arup developed an alternative solution that made the station interchange
significantly easier to construct. By designing an alignment that was 20m
shallower than the initial base design, the team managed to pull off a 45m-long
tunnel directly beneath the existing Bugis station while exposing its base slab.
This translated into time, labour and substantial cost savings.
When completed in 2013, the new Bugis interchange will be an important
connection to Singapore’s new downtown, catering to the existing and
upcoming developments within Marina Bay.
For more on Arup's Infrastructure capability, refer to Innovation: Downtown Line 3A
on pages 11 and 12.
Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  3
02 | Design Story: CREATE
When the National Research
Foundation proposed a
home for the world’s top
researchers, it was always
going to be something
special. It had to send out
a clear message of being
responsibly progressive, while
being practical in facilitating
the work and interactions
of its multicultural and
multidisciplinary tenants.
4  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012
With such an exciting brief to begin
with, only the outcome could top it.
In November 2012, the Arup-
engineered, $360m Campus
for Research Excellence and
Technological Enterprise (CREATE)
opened its doors at the National
University of Singapore’s new
University Town. It has lived up
to every expectation, thanks to its
unique aesthetics and design, eco-
centric philosophy and the understated
engineering that made it possible.
Nestled in a tropical garden setting,
CREATE epitomises the land
development characteristics of
Singapore, tactfully concentrating
development and minimising its
carbon footprint.
A brilliant
integration
of ideas
and ideals
Arup scope
Structural, mechanical,
electrical and water engineering,
acoustics, building physics,
environmentally sustainable
design (ESD)
Contact: Jason Tan / Scott Munro
jason.tan@arup.com / scott.munro@arup.com
images © Darren Soh
Client: National Research Foundation
Architects: Perkins + Will in association
with DP Architects
Project
completion: 2011
With green walls and sky gardens
making a visible statement, Arup’s
passive design approach extended
inwards, placing the laboratory core
spaces and corridors at the perimeter
to introduce maximum daylight while
significantly reducing the need for
artificial lighting.
Energy recovery, photovoltaic power
systems and chilled beams in office
zones were installed to minimise the
need for energy-intensive mechanical
systems. Arup’s water-efficient
strategy also reduced CREATE’s
dependence on municipal water by
88% through the collection, storage,
treatment and re-use of rainwater.
© Perkins + Will
BIM provided an accurate visualisation which enabled our engineers to integrate the structural, electrical and mechanical services into the overall architectural design of CREATE.
A model of integration
To facilitate a project the scale
of CREATE, departments and
personnel cannot work in isolated
silos, especially when traditional
engineering groups are now
infused with the modern science
of environmental sustainability.
Instead, Arup’s engineering teams
find themselves coming together
over Building Information Modelling
(BIM) tools that allow any aspect of a
design’s performance to be simulated
and assessed before it is built through
sophisticated 3D and interaction
modelling. This is in fact, the key to
Arup’s seamless technical integration.
For CREATE, Arup used BIM
to develop a flexible building
configuration – zoning areas within the
facility according to usage types and
ventilation requirements, such that wet
laboratories are located in the low-rise
wings, while the dry ones and offices
are assigned to the high-rise tower.
BIM provided an accurate visualisation which enabled
our engineers to integrate E&M services into the
architectural design.
Horizontal services runs are nested
neatly within the voids strategically
formed by the use of pre-cast deep
beam sections, an example of building
services and structural engineers
working in harmony. It also helped the
environmental designers utilise the
tropical environment more effectively,
incorporating green roofs to reduce
storm water runoff and minimise
interior heat gain – translating statistics
into massive energy conservation.
BIM also allowed the team to
visualise vehicular and people
movement within the complex,
allowing them to create a campus that
eased and encouraged interaction.
Vehicular roads were redirected to
the site perimeter, while a network
of walkways that respond to the
existing topography, hydrology and
vegetation were made to intersect
at collection points for passive and
active interaction, without neglecting
the human experience. For example,
the grand stairs were positioned so
that occupants could be presented
with visually appealing scenery of
the landscape gardens adjacent to the
research laboratories – even before a
brick had been laid.
Building towards the future
By advancing BIM, Arup is not
just closer than ever to realising
the total design of systems and
structures – we are also a big step
ahead in terms of conforming to the
Singapore Building and Construction
Authority (BCA)’s plan to move
the construction industry towards
the official adoption of BIM by
mandating electronic submissions
in BIM format for architectural,
structural and mechanical and
electrical plans for regulatory
approval beginning 2013.
Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  5
Combining the best of worlds:
Building Services
Arup’s building services team
comprises of mechanical
and electrical engineers, and
environmentally sustainable design
(ESD) consultants.
Led by Roy Samuels who joined
Arup Singapore in June 2011 on the
back of iconic successes that include
the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Yas
Mall and Raffles Hotel in Dubai, the
team has also recently attained Panel
1 certification for Mechanical &
Electrical engineering by the Public
Sector Panels of Consultants (PSPC).
In Singapore, Arup has established
itself as one of the forerunners in
the civil and structural consultancy
The team, from left to right: Ricky Chan, Wayne Heywood, Bee-Choo Lloyd, Roy Samuels, Marlon Kobacker, Scott Munro, Kenett Low, Mei-L Yeow
6  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012
service and is now increasingly
recognised for its building services
work. This has enabled us to bring
together the best of our building
disciplines to provide a holistic design advances. Through our
solution for our clients.
In recent years, the team has
successfully delivered BHP Billiton’s
‘office of the future’ and the Green
Mark Platinum award-winning
CREATE. The 40-strong and still
growing team now has a full portfolio
of infrastructure and building projects
such as Thomson Line and Capitol
Development, and truly is set to
become a force to be reckoned with.
“At Arup, we pride ourselves
as leaders rather than
followers in technical
own research, development,
and even adoption, of
new technologies and
methodologies, we ensure that
clients get the benefit, rather
than the risk, of innovation.
For Building Services in
particular, these innovations
will only come faster, now that
we’re a truly integrated and
experienced unit.”
Roy Samuels
Principal, Building Services Leader
Contact: Roy Samuels
roy.samuels@arup.com
 03 | Project Showcase: Green is the new black

The green glow of success Contact: Russell Cole

russell.cole@arup.com

Each year, up to 40% of the world’s energy CapitaGreen

WORK
is used to heat, cool and light buildings.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that the world will
need 60% more energy in 2030 than it does
now.* It is clear then that going green when
designing buildings isn’t just good practice,
it is essential for our collective future.
It is also core to Arup’s building philosophy
to integrate sustainable practices into our
work. Through positive partnerships with our
clients, we’ve been able to develop cutting-edge
solutions and adopt best practices to our work.
Here, we’d like to highlight just some of the
projects we’ve had the privilege to work on.
*Based on study done by International Energy Agency
South Beach
LIVE
In response to the Central Business District’s typical
concrete buildings, CapitaGreen was designed to
replicate a plant’s circulatory system. Through a
tropical tree-filled ‘Sky Forest’ on the roof, a cool
void system draws cool, clean air and delivers it
through a central core to each floor, much like a real
tree trunk would. Meanwhile, its energy-efficient
façade enables more natural light to illuminate
internal spaces while minimising heat gain.
Together, these innovative systems will significantly
lower overall energy consumption while giving
nature a firm foothold in the city.
Client: Joint venture of CapitaLand,
CapitaCommercial Trust and
Mitsubishi Estate Asia
Architects: Toyo Ito & Associates
Project completion: 2014
Arup Scope: Vertical transportation,
environmentally sustainable design

(ESD), acoustics and

South Beach pushes the Singaporean ideal of the city in a façade engineering

garden. A central feature of South Beach is its ribbon-like

canopy spanning over the entire development.
The lightweight canopy has been engineered to provide
a naturally-ventilated shelter against the worst of the
tropical climate. Its dynamic form and structure filters
out heat and converts solar glare into electricity through
photovoltaic cells, while encouraging airflow within the
© CapitaLand

spaces beneath. It doesn’t stop at providing protection

from the rain either. In fact, its unique shape also serves as
a channel for rainwater harvesting and reuse.
© South Beach Consortium Pte Ltd

Client: South Beach Consortium Pte Ltd

Architects: Foster + Partners in association with Aedas
Project completion: 2015
Arup Scope: Civil, structural and façade engineering, geotechnics,
environmentally sustainable design (ESD)

Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  7

 03 | Project Showcase: Green is the New Black

Singapore Sports Hub

PLAY
With what is to be the world’s largest free-spanning steel dome roof at 310m, Arup’s design
for the new 55,000-seat stadium will form the centrepiece of the Sports Hub in Marina Bay.
Flexibility is a key factor in the design—a movable lower-tier provides optimised viewing for
a range of sporting events, while its piece de resistance, a moving roof, can extend to shade
spectators or retract to bathe the pitch with natural sunlight during non-event days. Its cooling
system, which delivers cooled air to every seat in the stadium, can be controlled to operate only
in occupied zones, providing comfort where it is most needed and saving energy otherwise.

Client: Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd

Architects: Arup (Sports venue design) and DP Architects (Architectural QP)
Project completion: 2014
Arup Scope: Sports venue design, civil, structural, fire and maritime engineering, geotechnics, acoustics, audio visual and multimedia,
building physics and environmentally sustainable design, security and risk consulting, lighting design, advanced technology and
research (moving structures); Specialist technical services (sports lighting, bowl cooling, pedestrian modelling and turf consulting).
© Oaker

Client: Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

Architects: DCA Architects Pte Ltd
Project completion: 2012
Arup Scope: Civil, structural, mechanical, electrical
and maritime engineering,
environmentally sustainable design (ESD)

Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk

RELAX

Running along Alexandra Road, through the Berlayer Creek mangrove area and around the
foothills of Bukit Chermin, the 2.1km Labrador Nature and Coastal Walk introduces nature
lovers to bird, fish and mangrove plant species previously inaccessible to the public.
The boardwalk was designed to maximise the use of concrete precast elements as this solution
minimises the ecological impact to the mangrove and seabed. Some sections have also been
elevated to allow animals to move unhindered from one end to the other – even as their visitors
are moved by the view of Singapore’s southern coast.

8  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012

 03 | Project Showcase: Green is the new black

Yale-NUS College
LEARN
Yale and the National University of Singapore (NUS) are collaborating to develop a Yale campus
within the new NUS University Town. In working with the Yale-NUS team and architects to
design a campus that can accommodate teaching, sports, recreational and residential facilities
while minimising energy usage, Arup found novel ways of optimising passive design strategies.
The building massing of this development is configured to promote breezeways through outdoor
and naturally ventilated spaces. Being self-shaded, solar heat gain is minimised, leading to
more comfortable outdoor spaces. The façade design has been developed to balance heat gains,
daylight and views, and to minimise construction time. An eco-pond that acts as a stormwater
catchment for irrigation greatly increases the appealing green outdoor environment.

Client: Yale NUS College,

National University of Singapore
Architects: Pelli Clarke Pelli,
Forum Architects Pte Ltd
Project completion: 2015
Arup Scope: Environmentally sustainable
design (ESD), acoustics,
© Forum Architects Pte Ltd, Pelli Clarke Pelli

façade and water engineering,

IT and communication systems,
theatre consulting, audio visual
and multimedia

Client: Rock Productions Pte Ltd/CapitaLand Retail Ltd

Architects: Aedas
Project completion: 2012
Arup Scope: Environmentally sustainable design (ESD),
© Darren Soh

fire engineering

The Star
CONVERGE

The Star is an iconic 62,000m2 development pulling together an entertainment, lifestyle and
retail experience in a vivacious, geometrically complex, almost organic structure. With daringly
slanted columns and a twisting, flexing façade, the challenge was to integrate environmentally
sustainable designs into the building while maintaining its architectural intent as an open-air
design. We employed advanced computer simulations and detailed analyses to set the location of
its canopies to provide effective rain protection while maximising air movement and daylight –
particularly in the basement level. To increase user comfort, mechanical fans were also installed
in selected areas to encourage greater natural ventilation.

Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  9

04 | Innovation: Thoughts
The rail deal
by Michael McGowan, Infrastructure Leader
Michael is a Principal and leads the
infrastructure team of 120 staff,
delivering key projects such as
Downtown Line and Thomson Line
in Singapore and the Kelana Jaya Line
Extension in Malaysia.
I was asked a little while back – how did I end up in the
rail infrastructure business? It left me pondering for a
bit. Like many things, it was not by design but forged by
location and timing. For the past 15 years, I have worked
mostly in Hong Kong and Singapore - two of the most
space constrained, and forward looking cities in terms
of urban rail development in the world. In both cities the
necessity to maximise land use means that rail networks
are generally built underground in close proximity to
development.
Being a geotechnical engineer by training the picture is
clear, I hope - the ground was the start. But I soon started
to appreciate the other elements of the business that I
continue to enjoy as an engineer. Realising real project
benefits that reduce risk, capital and life cycle costs; and
enhancing commuter experience is something anyone
would be proud and inspired to be associated with.
It is no secret that by 2020, Singapore’s rail network
will have extended from the current 178km to 278km.
Despite the huge advancement of public transport in this
city, car ownership seems to remain a national obsession
– something that still surprises me. In some countries
where there is a lower penetration of infrastructure,
driving is a necessity. In Singapore, getting around
certainly isn’t an issue. I’ve never once felt the impetus
to own a car here, or in Hong Kong for that matter.
Using public transport for me means that every journey
is different and I get to experience a different slice of
life – what could be more interesting and enriching in
Singapore of all places?
As Arup assists the Singapore authorities in delivering
multiple rail projects, we bring in global expertise and
best practices to supplement the extensive local client
experience. Our emphasis on all of our projects is
centered on recognising that the railway is in place for
way beyond our time, and as such the user experience
and convenience is paramount. This, for Arup and our
team, translates into delivering shallower well-planned
stations and railways, and optimising interchanges.
If convenience creates engineering challenges, then they
must be overcome – that’s the real deal!
Contact: Michael McGowan
michael.mcgowan@arup.com
Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  10
Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  10
 04 | Innovation: Downtown Line 3A

Keeping progress on track

The Singapore rail network today spans four lines and
transports around 1.4m passengers daily. To enhance
connectivity, particularly from the east to the central
business districts, the 21km Downtown Line was
Geylang Bahru
Bendemeer

conceived. Arup has partnered with Aedas, to provide Jalan Besar

a full multidisciplinary service suite on five stations Fort Canning

Bencoolen

that fall collectively under the Downtown Line 3A

(DTL3A) package. The team worked amongst a dense
built environment which called for technical excellence
that gave rise to three innovative design solutions.

Design Solution 1 Design Solution 2 Design Solution 3

Minimised cost, maximised productivity Power of BIM Saving heritage buildings and more

Steel Fibre Steel Fibre

Reinforced Concrete

Connector (Top); Shear Cone (Bottom) Virtual environment of station and tunnel design Necklace of old shophouses
representing Singapore’s heritage

DTL3A will house Southeast Asia’s
first steel-fibre tunnel constructed
between the Jalan Besar and
Geylang Bahru stretch. Arup's use of
Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete
(SFRC) translated to cost savings
during construction (15% savings),
long-term durability, improved
fire safety, and greater impact
protection.
Openings created within the
tunnels are typically supported with
traditional frame props to limit any
deformation to the concrete lining.
The use of Shear Cones shares the
load of the frame props and reduces
the size of the frame required for the
passage which improves work flow
within the tight underground space.
As a leader in the field, Arup has
been utilising Building Information
Modelling (BIM) since 2001.
BIM helped our engineers better
visualise suitable route alignments
and resolve potential interface
issues. With that, we were able to
coordinate complex mechanical,
electrical and plumbing services
within the tight spaces of the MRT
railway stations within a shorter
time frame and with a lower margin
of construction error.
We produced over 7,000 drawings
conforming to the Singapore
Land Transport Authority’s CAD
Standards, saving considerable
cost otherwise spent on traditional
methods of documentation.
Fully underground, DTL3A will
be constructed within a very dense
network of existing buildings,
infrastructure and rail lines. Avoiding
damage to conservation buildings
and working around the complicated
arrangement of existing utility lines
was crucial to the project’s success.
Arup performed an alignment study
to assess ground conditions which
helped us draw up an extensive plan
to aid the diversion of the lines.
We explored multiple options and
design solutions that included
constructing some of the new tunnels
within 1.5m of existing tunnels, as
well as having tunnels in a stacked
configuration, preventing 60% of the
buildings from being demolished.

11  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012

 Downtown Line 3A
Overcoming complex geology
The fundamental technical challenge of DTL3A was the the excavation process became extremely difficult at the
complex soil and rock geology. The rail alignment starts Jalan Besar and Geylang Bahru stations.
from the diverse rock profile of the Jurong Formation at
The sound technical solutions that Arup introduced to
Fort Canning station and runs through the unpredictable
counter the complex geological profile laid the necessary
and challenging geology of the Fort Canning Boulder Bed
foundation for the design and construction process.
at the Bencoolen station. Due to the sensitive nature of soft
marine clay and the loose sands of the Kallang Formation,

DT20 Fort Canning DT21 Bencoolen DT22 Jalan Besar

renderings © Aedas

The construction of Fort Canning
Station is challenging due to its
undulating geology and proximity to
the exit of the Central Expressway.
The equipment selection process was
crucial as maximum control will be
required when boring through the
geology and existing piled foundation
of adjacent buildings. To make way
for the twin tunnels to be built,
we had to construct a bow-shaped
canal by first creating a diversion in
the Singapore River.
Bencoolen Station will be the most
challenging station to work on given
the tough geological make-up of
sandstone boulders, co-existence
with parts of three other rail networks
and the proximity of buildings to a
built area with live utilities.
To avoid existing rail networks, the
optimum depth for this station was
43m, making it the deepest to be
constructed in Singapore. Another
brave solution was to design a non-
traditional stacked configuration to
maneuver around the utilities.
We designed a robust retaining
wall system that will limit ground
movement caused by the soft marine
clay and loose sands, ensuring that
surrounding buildings will not be
impacted by the building works.
Jalan Besar is also dotted with aged
buildings. Without much historical
built records, prolonged assessments
were carried out. Our challenge was
to ensuring that there was minimal
disruption to the daily lives and
homes of people living here despite
the extensive works.

12  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012

Client: Land Transport Authority
Architects: Aedas
Project completion: 2016
Arup scope: Civil, structural, mechanical, electrical engineering, geotechnics, tunnel design,
transport planning and environmental consulting

Contact: Poh Seng Tiok / Michael McGowan

seng-tiok poh@arup.com / michael.mcgowan@arup.com

DT23 Bendemeer DT24 Geylang Bahru

Bendemeer is the only part of the
DTL3A to house a cross-over track,
allowing trains to cross-over onto the
adjacent track when needed.
Complex cut-and-cover tunnels
400m long and 30m deep had to be
built. Critically, precise sequencing
of work flow was hence needed
to ensure a safe and efficient
construction process. A robust
retaining wall system was designed
to prevent any anomalies in the
construction sequence.
Due to the lack of historical built
records, Arup had to conduct
investigations by building boreholes
and trenches to assess the type of
foundation and the actual depth
in this area. A rigorous process of
planning and implementation of the
temporary works was necessary to
counter the soft clay soil conditions.
The proximity of the substation
brought along with it a complex
utility layout which involved many
stakeholders and an extensive
diversion plan.

Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  13

05 | Cool Stuff You Didn’t Know Arup Does
Going
© Giles Rocholl Photography Ltd
beyond labels
Arup’s multidisciplinary setup has
allowed us to transcend limitations
that labels such as “engineering”
and “design” traditionally impose
on what we actually do ‒ which
is much, much more. Here, we
gather just a few of our people and
projects that spark the imagination
and inspire action, in an almost
quirky way.
14  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012
UP, and away!
Lighting Design + Engineering = Inspiration
Cycling with your arms outstretched, the wind
in your face, the road slowly falling away as you
gently soar into the open skies. It’s a wonderful,
well-trodden (or, in this case, cycled) fantasy, and
a bunch of artists from Arup have brought us one
step closer to it with UP, and away!
Brainchild of the Singapore office’s lighting
consultants Key Anderson and Vellachi Ganesan,
structural engineer Mauro Pellegrini, design
consultant Alma Banuelos and facades designer
Gautam Bhasin, UP, and away! is an interactive
light art installation comprising five recycled
bicycles retrofitted with psychedelic wings,
engineered so that the faster you pedal, the
brighter the wings glow. The bicycles have been on
a world tour ever since its launch at light festivals
Vivid Sydney and Luminance! Singapore.
Contact: Key Anderson / Vellachi Ganesan
key.anderson@arup.com / vellachi.ganesan@arup.com
Greenhouse by Joost
Project Management + Engineering = Sustainability
What started out as a showcase in sustainable
construction techniques and operational processes in
Melbourne in 2009 is now an award-winning pop-up
restaurant concept touring Europe. Greenhouse grows
its own produce on its roof and walls and recycles
cooking oil to generate electricity, bringing sustainability
to a whole new level.
Brainchild of environmental artist Joost Bakker,
Greenhouse requires no structural foundation
and is built entirely from recycled and recyclable
materials. Arup played a vital role in its core design,
providing project management, fire engineering and
environmentally sustainable design services for the
project in Sydney (2011) and Melbourne (2012).
“Arup has helped me to realise my creative vision.
Where others have said things could not be done,
Arup has found solutions.”
Joost Bakker, Creative Director
Contact: australasia.press@arup.com
05 | Cool Stuff You Didn’t Know Arup Does

Tim Jarvis leads the Shackleton Epic

Environmental Science + Adventure = Answers

His Arup business card says he is a sustainability

and climate change strategist—and it’s easy to buy
that story when you hear him champion the green
agenda at a conference. But put him at the helm
of a wooden lifeboat with five other men and little
else somewhere in the Southern Ocean and you
may recognise action hero, Tim Jarvis: explorer,
adventurer and boundary-buster.

In January 2013, in honour of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s

famous treacherous voyage nearly a century ago,
Tim and his crew will attempt to authentically
re-enact the Shackleton Epic expedition using the
same type of clothing and equipment available to
Shackleton’s original crew.

Besides the personal challenge, Tim relishes it as

an opportunity to highlight global environmental
concerns.

© John Stoukalo
Contact: Tim Jarvis
tim.jarvis@arup.com

Stuart Candy
Foresight + Information = Opportunity

If one person were to be the sum of interdisciplinary

thinking, it would be Dr. Stuart Candy, Arup
Australasia’s resident futurist. As regional Foresight
and Innovation Leader, Stuart is a catalyst for
thoughtful engagement with future scenarios,
helping people develop innovative strategies best
suited to them.

Having first joined Arup in San Francisco before

returning to Australia last year, Stuart’s first
assignment in this Australasia region was to work
with the CEO and Board of Directors of the Sydney
Opera House to consider upcoming renovations
in view of the future. Locally, he is leading a
multidisciplinary project to test the thinking behind
Singapore’s sustainability blueprint for the year
2030, for the national Ministry of the Environment
and Water Resources.

When designing for the built environment, thinking

systematically and creatively on longer timeframes
is not just a nice thing to do — it’s crucial.

Contact: Stuart Candy

stuart.candy@arup.com

Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  15

06 | Arup News/Events

The Penguin Pool

Arup's global creative events series designed
to inform, inspire and entertain.
The series takes its name from Arup's first project
in 1935 ‒ the Penguin Pool at the London Zoo.
Each event is as quirky and stimulating as the
spiralling, cleverly cantilevered double ramps of
the famed penguin enclosures.
Held globally, the event sums up everything
Arup believes in: the sharing of ideas across a
diverse spectrum of people, the celebration of
creativity, and the perpetual drive to excellence.
We will continue to look for exciting ways to
engage the creative community in the new year.
Drop us a line at rsvp.singapore@arup.com if
you wish to be part of our event series.

A deliciously good time April 2012

The inaugural Singapore Penguin Pool launch delights the
mind and tastebuds to equal measure
Owner and Chef of 2am:dessertbar and 2am:lab,
Janice Wong, designed and executed five edible art
installations around the office. The star attraction was a
forest-inspired chocolate wall, but equally popular were
the hanging spheres which housed edible food leathers.
With a capacity crowd of over 120 people packed into
the Arup office, Arup staff mingled with guests from
industries as far-ranging as music, advertising, media,
images © Lightedpixels

fashion and education. Janice also shared her definition

of art and how she draws inspiration from the mundane,
everyday things.

Backward thinking October 2012

images © Arup | Symur Diche

The second edition of Penguin Pool looks to the past to

design for the future
In a culture that is hung up about forward thinking,
we take the contrarian view and explore how in
retrospect, backward thinking can release a powerful
inspiration to our human experiences in our daily lives.
Our eclectic mix of panelists from the diverse fields of
photography, architectural conservation, visual art and
product design shared their personal journeys where
memories have in fact empowered their best creation.
With an energetic turnout of close to 120 people, the
hyped crowd was deeply engaged and vocal about a
topic that was so close to the heart. Conversations about
memories and design continued as the night went on,
all done over good drinks and traditional local delights.

16  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012

Winning by greening May 2012
Arup sweeps awards at the Building and Construction • Green Mark Platinum: CapitaGreen, South Beach
Authority (BCA) Green Mark awards (Residential & Non-residential) and Edu Sport
Building
In 2005, the BCA launched its Green Mark scheme to
raise the awareness of sustainable and environmentally • Green Mark GoldPlus: Singapore Sports Hub,
friendly buildings. It is a benchmarking scheme which Changi City, Khaya & Angsana Residential Colleges
incorporates internationally recognized best practices and UP@Robertson Quay
in environmental design and performance. Our efforts
• Green Mark Gold (Provisional) The Ritz Carlton
and contributions to a greener cityscape were matched
Residential Berjaya Central Park in Malaysia
by the highest recognition in Singapore being awarded
to a total of nine awards across three categories:

Examining the future September 2012

of healthcare
Katie Wood, Arup’s Australasia health lead, was in
Singapore this September to discuss the future role of
healthcare facilities in the region.
Katie facilitated an Arup-hosted workshop which
brought 20 leaders from various fields to brainstorm on
practical ways in which health facilities can be shaped
to cater to future needs.
She also spoke at the inaugural Healthcare
Infrastructure, Technology & Engineering Conference
organised by Ministry of Health Holdings, where she
focused on value management techniques in healthcare
infrastructure solutions. Therein, she explored the very
definition of value-for-money when it came down to
health facilities.

Off To A Flying Finale October 2012

The World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Singapore
With more than 8,000 attendees participating in the festival, it was the perfect
opportunity for Arup to catch up with old friends and make a few new ones.
So what better way to end a day of talks than to get our globetrotting architect
friends off their chairs and up into the Singapore Flyer for some light-hearted
conversation over much needed drinks. With a turnout of more than 100 guests, the
Singapore Flyer was buzzing with energy and laughter. Clients, architects and Arup
staff found themselves in inspiring and like-minded company. For those who could
remember anything the morning after, it was a high point of their WAF experience.

Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  17

07 | Arup People

Russell Cole, Before we lose Russell to all that

responsibility, let us first toast his

New Office Leader wonderful appointment with a few

celebratory, drink-laden questions:
1. What do you enjoy most about
being part of Arup Singapore?
The excitement of being a part
of a team making a big impact
on Singapore. So many of our
teams bring something special to
their projects that contribute to
Singapore’s position as a leading
city of the future, often reflected
in the eyes of our visitors.

2. Singapore’s sheen and organised

conservation sometimes
obscures its 'soul'.
Is this a fair accusation?
Being well-organised is
something very deep in
Singapore's soul and is in itself a
Almost side-stepping into the position of Singapore’s Office Leader is defining characteristic. However,
Russell Cole, who replaces André Lovatt, who after a stellar six years in Singaporeans see past this and
this role, has left Arup to return to Christchurch to assist in rebuilding his whilst they are ambitious to
hometown. always see things done better,
Barely a few weeks into the role, Russell has a clear vision of what’s to they are also realistic with a sense
come. Having grown to 400 employees from 50 just six years ago, the of humour and community that
Singapore office is poised to move from a local focus towards a broader comes to the fore.
regional spread of work in Asia, where opportunities abound. Whilst faced
3. How do your staff address you?
with the challenges of growing a busy office and implementing a new
business strategy, perhaps Russell’s most important task is to ensure Arup’s Asking young team members
unique philosophy-driven culture remains a key differentiator that elevates to call their local seniors by
the company from most other engineering firms. their first names can initially be
challenging. But it’s not an issue,
“Commercial performance is essential to
Russell elaborates, and my staff address me
sustain the firm and allow us to determine our actions and as Russell.
reward ourselves reasonably. Time and again when faced
4. Tiger Beer or Guinness Stout?
with a challenging staff issue, reference to our values
Heineken!
provides good guidance. Equally, when explaining our
needs or actions to a client, if we have held to our values, 5. State the one random word that
the direction of the discussion is clear.” comes to mind.
Doubtless, as he plans for the office’s continued growth, Russell will be Challenge – it keeps me going!
building on Arup’s design leadership and pushing the ecological agenda
within the built environment. Within the organisation, he intends to
cultivate and develop stronger relationships between Arup and its industry
partners. His focus will also be to identify and grow leaders who will
eventually make crucial and visible contributions to the built environment.

18  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012

07 | Arup People

Shaping a better world

one person at a time
From intern to international Arup is a special place driven by positive philosophy
Mike King,
and the people. Here, we highlight a few of our
Principal
colleagues who contribute not
Transferring our just to Arup’s reputation, but to
passion to Amsterdam its unflagging spirit for the bold
Colin Yip,
Senior Structural Engineer and better.

In good company
Arup awards five scholarships
in Singapore
Contact: mike.king@arup.com

Australian by birth, Mike, in his

17 years with Arup, has worked in
practically all our key offices. He
started as an intern in Sydney, and
later moved to London, New York
before settling in Singapore.
True to the Arup way, Mike has a
particular interest in buildings with a
high interaction between architecture
and structure and sustainable
development. One of his most
gratifying projects was the King’s
Cross New Western Concourse
– its spectacular geometric roof
ingeniously blends with the
redeveloped station’s original
architecture to create a space for
passengers that has been described as
being akin to a waterfall in reverse.
Mike also led other milestone
projects such as the Zaha Hadid-
designed London Aquatics Centre,
the City of Manchester Stadium and
the Pearson Airport in Toronto.
Contact: colin.yip@arup.com
Singaporean Colin Yip finds
himself on a rather interesting
trajectory. In the five years he’s been Contact: SINHR@arup.com
with Arup, he’s worked on major
Nurturing young talent is an inherent
projects in Singapore and China.
part of Arup’s nature. That’s why,
His specialisation in structural
in partnership with Singapore’s
and geotechnical engineering has
Building and Construction Authority
allowed him to combine his technical
(BCA), we have awarded five
expertise with the artistic aspect of
undergraduate scholarships to
the job. That’s also how he found his
talented young people who aspire
way to our Arup Netherlands office
at the end of 2010, on a long term to lead and shape the future of
assignment. Singapore’s built environment.
These graduates will begin their
“Working in the Amsterdam
Arup journey with a two-year
computations group was a challenge
programme that will give them career
where innovation, programming
mobility, interaction with globally
and pushing the boundary with
radical digital solutions was the way respected experts and opportunities
forward. It was a very inspiring and to develop a specialisation.

Today, Mike leads the structural
design of the Singapore Sports Hub.
Already, he has put his globally
acquired inspirations to work, leading
an impressive feat of engineering in
the form of the world’s largest (and
retractable) free-span steel dome roof
for the new National Stadium.
motivating experience to see this
human dynamism in action,” says
Colin of his overseas stint.
Clearly at Arup, it’s not just about
import or export of talent. It’s about
facilitating an active exchange of
ideas among different cultures and
people to gain real human insights.
The BCA-Industry Built Environment
Scholarship represents the concerted
efforts of the BCA and leading
industry players to offer young people
with high potential the opportunity
of a rewarding career in the built
industry. This year, a record number
of 106 scholarships were given out.

Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  19

07 | Arup People

Joe Paveley Mei-L Yeow

Fire Engineering
Joe Paveley is a Senior Associate
with 25 years of experience as a fire
engineer. In this time, Joe has taken
an active role in multidisciplinary
teams on many large projects, and
has been pivotal in smaller projects
requiring specialised fire engineering solutions.
Joe’s expertise in fire engineering has been paramount in
the design and operation of infrastructure and buildings;
including shopping centres, rail stations, tunnels, rolling
stock, research complexes, airports, offices, atria
buildings and residential high-rises – for projects in
Australia, UK, Ireland, Singapore, Denmark and Iran.
It’s his second stint at Arup, having previously worked
in the Sydney office from 1999 to 2005, before returning
in 2008. On what led him to Arup, not once, but twice,
Joe says: “Arup offered me the chance to work on great
projects, and with the freedom to develop ideas not
available in other firms.”
Building Services
A recent addition to the Arup
family, Mei has been working in
the building services consultancy
sector for the last 20 years.
Leading up to her position of
Senior Associate/Technical
Director, she has been responsible for all aspects of
project delivery including client and authorities liaison,
leading multidisciplinary projects, co-ordinating teams
of engineers, tender documentation and site supervision.
She has worked on almost every project imaginable –
from mixed developments, super high rise buildings,
high-end condominiums and institutions, to recreational
projects and townships. Among the highlights are
Keppel Marina, W Hotel in Sentosa and Reflections at
Keppel Bay.
With her keen interest in sustainable building design,
Mei’s on her way to becoming a Green Mark Professional,
having just completed her MSc in Sustainable Design.

Contact: Joe Paveley Contact: Mei-L Yeow

joe.paveley@arup.com mei-l.yeow@arup.com

Singapore Sydney Hong Kong New York

10 Hoe Chiang Rd Level 10, 201 Kent Street, Level 5, Festival Walk 77 Water Street
#26-01, Keppel Towers, Sydney NSW 2000, 80 Tat Chee Avenue New York, NY 10005
Singapore 089315 Australia Kowloon Tong, Kowloon USA
t +65 6411 2500 t +61 2 9320 9320 Hong Kong, China t +1 212 896 3000
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Tokyo London Shanghai Ho Chi Minh City

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20  |  Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012

 Why did we … embark upon comprehensive design
embracing architecture as well as all branches of the
relevant engineering disciplines? The answers can
perhaps be abstracted from my many papers, published
or unpublished, which deal with what could be called my
philosophy of design and the crucial role design plays in
the affairs of mankind.

Sir Ove Arup,

Founder (1895 – 1988)

Philosophy of design - a unique collection of

35 original essays by Ove Arup on the theme of
design in the built environment.
Publisher: Prestel
Language: English
ISBN-10: 3791347314
ISBN-13: 978-3791347318

World leaders in design, engineering and business consultancy

Established in Singapore since 1968, Arup has over 11,000 planners, designers, engineers and consultants
spanning 90 offices in 38 countries.
The firm’s creative spark is derived from the beliefs and convictions of the firm’s founder, the engineer and philosopher
Ove Arup. Recognised for creating some of the world’s most iconic projects like the Sydney Opera House and the
Beijing National Stadium, Arup’s impressive portfolio of Singapore projects include Marina Bay Sands®, Singapore Flyer,
The Helix, School of the Arts, South Beach, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Sports Hub, Capitol Development,
Downtown Line 3 and Thomson Line.
Our success is founded on delivering Arup’s global expertise locally and we now have over 400 staff offering a range of
specialist disciplines unparalleled in Singapore.

Singapore services
Acoustics | Audio Visual and Multimedia | Building Information Modelling | Building Physics | Civil and Structural Engineering
Environmentally Sustainable Design | Façade Engineering | Fire Engineering | Geotechnics | Geographic Information Systems
GreenMark & LEED® Consulting | Infrastructure Design | IT and Communications Systems | Lighting Design
Masterplanning and Urban Design | Maritime Engineering | Mechanical and Electrical Engineering | Program and Project Management
Security and Risk Consulting | Site Development | Sports Venue Design | Sustainability Consulting Theatre Consulting | Transport Planning
Tunnel Design | Vertical Transportation Design | Water Engineering

Singapore Profile Issue 2 2012  |  21

www.arup.com We shape a better world