The Urban Land Institute (ULI) in Asia Pacific has hired Terri Seow to take on the role of Executive Director for Singapore, a Council with over 600 members. Seow was formerly at BBC Global News for over 16 years, where she was Vice President, Marketing & Insights, Asia Pacific. In addition to a plethora of regional marketing experience, she joins ULI, the world’s oldest and largest network of experts across the built environment, with a huge passion for environmental sustainability.
Seow was also formerly the Going Green lead at the BBC, where she was responsible for raising awareness of environmental sustainability for over two years. During her free time, she is an Adjunct Lecturer for Sustainability Marketing at the National University of Singapore. Her move to ULI continues the trajectory of working for purpose-led organisations.
Wenshi Zheng, Group Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Frasers Property, commented, “We are glad to welcome Terri as the new Executive Director of ULI Singapore. With deep experience in brand building, marketing, and communications, Terri brings exceptional expertise and vision to our mission. Her passion for sustainability aligns well with ULI’s mission and makes her an outstanding choice to lead ULI Singapore. We are confident that under her leadership, ULI Singapore will continue to thrive and engage our like-minded members to advance ULI’s mission to create resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities.”
Terri Seow, Executive Director, ULI Singapore, adds, “I’m extremely proud to be leading the Singapore chapter of ULI – an organisation that has long been at the forefront of driving positive change in both the environment and communities globally. As someone deeply passionate about creating purpose-led work and advancing a sustainable world, I am thrilled to contribute and do my part in shaping the future of the built environment – an area that has such a profound influence on the world at large. I look forward to working closely with like-minded leaders from the industry to drive meaningful change.”
City Developments Limited (CDL) hosted its annual 5-Star Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Awards and Sports Challenge on Sunday, 17 November 2024 at SUTD Sports and Recreation Centre. The event also marked the 20th anniversary of the CDL 5-Star EHS Awards, its signature initiative to drive EHS excellence. Gathering more than 300 industry leaders, including representatives from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, migrant workers and partners, the event signals the collective commitment of all value chain stakeholders towards workplace health and safety.
Through a series of exciting games that tested teamwork and safety knowledge, participants – migrant workers from various CDL development sites – showed grit and tenacity as they vied for first place. To complement the thematic focus on workplace safety, the event also featured an exhibition on safety standards, in addition to safety-themed game stations and photo booths.
Mr Sherman Kwek, CDL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “Workplace safety is a collective responsibility and a shared commitment to protect ourselves, our teams and our families. Starting with a safety-first mindset, everyone’s actions – big or small – form the building blocks of a safer culture. Whether designing safe work plans, double-checking equipment or addressing hazards, every effort counts. As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the CDL 5-Star EHS Awards, we thank the BCA and WSH Council for their leadership in advancing WSH excellence, as well as our builders, consultants and all migrant workers for their partnership in ensuring that every CDL development is clean, green and safe. Safety is our top priority and we will continue to enhance workplace safety and productivity through innovation and digitalisation, making all CDL projects a safe place to work.”
Global construction consultant Linesight has published its latest Construction Market Insights report for Asia Pacific (APAC) & GCC. The report reveals that construction growth in APAC has proven to be resilient to the volatility of the wider global economy and construction output continues to gain momentum across the region.
Activity in APAC’s construction industry remains robust, fuelled by significant investments in the critical sectors of infrastructure, data centres, semiconductors and renewable energy. Key Southeast Asian construction markets such as Singapore and Malaysia, are expected to perform strongly over the next three years.
On a macro level, APAC is set to account for 60 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year. This positive trajectory is expected to continue in 2025 amidst favourable monetary conditions. GDP growth has also been revised up to 4.4 percent from 4.3 percent. While inflation has started to ease after a period of turbulence, construction inflationary pressures may increase next year. This is largely driven by persistent labour shortages, increased construction activity and geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East.
Labour remains a significant cost factor due to the shortage of skilled workers, a challenge that is more pronounced in developed countries. Coupled with continued strong demand for projects, contractors are experiencing capacity constraints and there remains high levels of pressure on all fronts to deliver on pipeline projects.
Following spikes in the first half of 2024, commodity prices have broadly stabilised, but the fluctuating prices of metals remains a concern. Prices of copper and aluminium are higher than they were in 2023 due to supply chain challenges and rising import costs. Strong demand from renewable energy, power and infrastructure sectors is expected to keep upward pressure on prices.
The report also highlighted the following Singapore findings:
Industry outlook
Singapore’s construction industry growth is expected to slow, due to soft external demand and a decline in construction contracts issued in the first quarter of 2024.
However, between 2025 to 2027, industry is forecast to grow, driven by investments in transport, renewable energy, and manufacturing, including the S$21.9 billion high-speed railway project linking Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
Key commodity prices
Copper demand is heavily driven by the renewable energy transition across multiple markets including Singapore. Investments in semiconductors and energy storage will also further boost demand and copper prices in Singapore are anticipated to increase ≥ 1 percent – < 5 percent between Q1 2025 and Q2 2025.
Steel rebar and steel flat prices are expected to inch downwards in Q4 2024 due to weaker iron ore prices and soft global demand. While prices are anticipated to level off between Q1 2025 to Q2 2025, infrastructure and mega projects are expected to drive long-term price increases.
Cement and concrete prices exhibit similar trends and remain elevated. Rising project demand and costs associated with labour, energy and transport have caused prices to inch upwards but a slight easing in prices is expected between the first two quarters of 2025.
John Butler, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at Linesight, said: “2024 has been a strong year of growth for the APAC construction industry driven by significant capital injections by both private and public sectors. Despite labour shortages and some volatility in metal prices, the outlook for the industry in 2025 continues to be vibrant as APAC paves the way in the global construction arena, amid high levels of demand and activity in mission-critical sectors.
SG Enable, Singapore’s agency for disability and inclusion, with the Zero Project, a global and research-driven initiative to support the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), co-hosted the inaugural Zero Project Asia Pacific Symposium 2024: Powering Inclusive Businesses.
The symposium brought together global thought leaders, social entrepreneurs, government representatives, NGOs, and businesses to advance disability inclusion through sharing good practices from around the world, developing partnerships, and the latest innovations in accessible technology.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Eric Chua, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development, attended as Guest of Honour, giving his support to this inclusive vision. The two-day symposium began with the Inclusive Business Forum, a biennial event organised by SG Enable. Over the last eight years, the forum has expanded its focus on disability-inclusive employment practices to include innovations in employment pathways and good practices in businesses to cater to persons with disabilities as customers or service users.
In support of the CRPD which Singapore ratified in 2013 and the Enabling Masterplan 2030, the forum featured perspectives on building an inclusive workplace culture from Enabling Mark organisations (Singapore’s accredited disability-inclusive employers), their Asia counterparts, and employees with disabilities. The plenary discussions also featured innovations such as intersections of inclusive arts and employment, and ICT that enable greater independence. Furthermore, the forum presented a panel discussion on building inclusive spaces.
Release of the New Zero Project Report
The Zero Project research publication “Champions of Inclusive Spaces” was unveiled at the symposium. The report selected eight exceptional accessibility projects and two urban planning initiatives which have undergone a rigorous selection process and feature insights from leaders in the field of accessible built environments as well as a curated collection of features and projects.
Two landmark projects in Singapore – Enabling Village by SG Enable and the Punggol Library by the National Library Board, both models of universal design and inclusive spaces – are featured in the report. As part of the Zero Project Asia Pacific Symposium 2024, participants also will have the opportunity to tour Singapore’s accessible attractions like Gardens by the Bay, Sentosa, and the Science Centre on 29 November.
Launch of Tripartite Partnership for Barrier-Free Accessibility
In one of the key moments at the symposium, SG Enable, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), and the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance barrier-free access (BFA) routes and scale inclusive infrastructure across Singapore. This milestone collaboration reinforces Singapore’s commitment to accessible spaces and urban innovation for persons with disabilities.
This tripartite MOU leverages the strengths of public-private partnerships to drive accessibility forward, using SLA’s geospatial data capabilities to map barrier-free access routes across Singapore. To date, SLA and SG Enable have mapped around 1,100 km of accessible routes in nine key areas such as Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah and Orchard, now accessible through SLA’s OneMap app.
Under the MOU, SLA will lead the OneMap BFA project, integrating new data from REDAS-member properties into its routing algorithm. SG Enable will guide disability inclusion efforts by advising on accessible design and innovations, while REDAS will engage its members in identifying properties for indoor and outdoor mapping, ultimately helping to improve wayfinding for persons with disabilities. Regular user testing will ensure the project remains responsive to the community’s needs, aiming for a truly inclusive built environment.
Mr Colin Low, Chief Executive of SLA, said, “SLA is delighted to partner with SG Enable and REDAS to leverage geospatial expertise to advance barrier-free access (BFA) routes and support more inclusive mobility across Singapore, following the success of the launch of pilot BFA routes on OneMap, Singapore’s authoritative map. This collaboration will augment the current BFA routes on OneMap with wider coverage of indoor routes and new locations, including private commercial properties contributed by REDAS’ members that will make wayfinding in Singapore more inclusive and accessible for mobility-challenged communities.”
Ms. Ku Geok Boon, Founding Chief Executive Officer of SG Enable, said, “Our partnership with the Zero Project, now in its second year, continues to expand our network of collaborators dedicated to creating inclusive, sustainable solutions that empower persons with disabilities to lead independent lives. As Singapore’s focal agency for disability and inclusion, we hope to advance, together with our partners, the critical discussions and actions shaping the future of inclusion across the region.”
Prof. Dr. Michael Fembek, CEO and Member of the Board, Essl Foundation – Zero Project, said, “The Zero Project works with carefully selected partners in important world regions outside Europe, with the goal of building bridges between the global disability inclusion community and regional innovation ecosystems. Our partnership with SG Enable is a testament to this vision, uniting diverse stakeholders to advance sustainable and innovative solutions for disability inclusion in Singapore and across the Asia Pacific. We are thrilled to have welcomed over 20 international delegates from more than 10 countries, whose participation underscores the power of global cooperation in driving meaningful change.”
Diriyah Company, the dynamic mixed-use developer behind the transformation of Diriyah, The City of Earth, has awarded a SAR 758.5 Million ($202.2 million) contract to China Harbour Engineering Company to undertake bulk excavation works in Diriyah’s second phase. The excavation works will cover most of the area of the second phase of the Diriyah project, which spans approximately 6.3 square kilometres, out of the total 14-square-kilometre development area.
The excavation works will see more than 600 heavy machines deployed on-site to carry out the work, shaping the site according to design specifications and providing a foundation for the development of planned world-class assets in Diriyah. These include the Royal Diriyah Opera House and the 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena.
According to international sustainability guidelines, Diriyah Company will embrace circular economy principles, as materials from the excavation site will be crushed and repurposed for uses such as road bases, landscaping, and backfill. By embedding international best practices, innovative technologies, and sustainability certification targets in all our projects, Diriyah Company aims to enhance environmental performance and sustainability credentials at the community and building levels.
Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Company, said: “We are excited to begin bulk excavation works in the second phase of the Diriyah project, marking another key milestone in the development of ‘The City of Earth’. Progressing ahead of schedule, this excavation will enable the smooth and efficient development of major cultural assets that will attract millions of visitors annually to Diriyah and inspire the world. As we move forward in creating a premier live-work-play destination, we encourage partners to join us on this journey.”
Yang Zhiyuan, CEO of China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd (Middle East), commented: “We are honored to collaborate with Diriyah Company on the execution of the Bulk Excavation Works project. We are confident in the success of this project, integrating the advantages of global resources, technical strength, equipment resources and an experienced management team. We will focus on environmental protection awareness and sustainable development concepts during implementation, ensuring the timely delivery of the project, contributing to the preservation of Diriyah’s heritage, cultural exchange and the development goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
The large-scale contract is the latest awarded this year by Diriyah Company, following a $1.55 billion joint venture for Qurain Cultural District, awarded last month in November; a $2.08 billion contract for the Northern District, awarded in July; and another contract worth $2.13 billion to build four luxury hotels and Royal Diriyah Equestrian & Polo Club in Wadi Safar, also in July.
This excavation contract marks another key milestone in the realization of the Diriyah masterplan, showcasing the rapid progress of the 14-sq km integrated urban development project. The Diriyah Company is responsible for the Diriyah and the Wadi Safar masterplans, which encompass more than 40 hotels, arts districts, museums, and world-class sporting venues within a vibrant new global destination on the outskirts of Riyadh, the capital city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Surbana Jurong Group (SJ) and Independent Business Group Sweden AB have entered into a strategic partnership to provide consultancy services for sustainable aviation projects and technologically advanced air transport systems. Leveraging the complementary strengths of both companies, the partnership aims to advance the adoption of green innovations in the aviation sector.
SJ, a global urban, infrastructure, and managed services consulting firm, brings deep expertise in the development of airports, terminal buildings, surrounding infrastructure, and airport city projects, with extensive experience in the delivery of sustainable solutions globally. Some of its notable aviation projects include the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia, Noida International Airport in India, and Changi Airport Terminal 5 in Singapore.
Independent Business Group, with its proven track record in airspace and procedure design, safety assurance, project management, airports, Air Traffic Management systems, and Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance equipment, will contribute its technical expertise to the partnership.
Sean Chiao, Group Chief Executive Officer, SJ, said, “SJ’s partnership with Independent Business Group reflects a transforming aviation sector, marked by a growing consciousness and commitment to sustainability, and the adoption of supporting smart technologies. SJ’s expertise in sustainable design and engineering, alongside Independent Business Group’s industry insights, will enable our joint efforts at accelerating the development of green aviation hubs and sustainable infrastructure.”
Ulf Rudebark, Group Chief Executive Officer, Independent Business Group, said, “Our shared vision and aligned capabilities will support the growing demand for sustainable aviation practices and infrastructure. As countries increase their focus on advancements in airspace management, there is a rising need to improve the efficiency of flight procedures, enhance safety measures, and reduce carbon emissions. Together with SJ, we are committed to driving these advancements towards efficiency, sustainability and safety in the aviation sector.”
The partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that took place during the Singapore-Sweden Royal Business Forum. Held in Singapore on 20 November, the event was attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during his first state visit to Singapore, and distinguished representatives from the Singapore and Swedish governments.
Far East Hospitality has launched its first serviced residence, Quincy House Singapore, under the Quincy brand. Opened on 1 October 2024, the residence offers an authentic taste of the Singaporean lifestyle with city-centre conveniences and excellent accessibility.
The Quincy brand is known for being extraordinary, experimental and experiential. At Quincy, each guest is treated as an individual with unique needs, preferences and quirks. Through a highly anticipatory service approach, the brand curates personalised experiences for non-conformist travellers, providing a place where guests can engage in meaningful interactions and be themselves – embodying the Quincy ethos of “Be Yourself at Quincy”.
A Great Location to Discover Singapore
Quincy House is situated in the upscale Holland Village precinct, a mere ten-minute car ride from the city centre. It is conveniently located near business hubs, such as one-north and Buona Vista, renowned for their focus on high technology and innovation. Guests have easy access to a vibrant mix of local eateries, fine dining, stylish retail boutiques, and diverse entertainment options, making Quincy House an ideal base for both expatriates and locals alike.
Designed for Solo Business Travellers
Far East Hospitality recognises a growing trend among solo business travellers who are staying for extended periods, with a 12 percent year-on-year increase in bookings for stays exceeding six days between August 2022 and July 2024. In response to this market demand, Quincy House introduces well-appointed Deluxe Rooms with ensuite bathrooms – a first for our serviced residences – designed to cater to the needs of urban professionals. Enjoy the comfort and convenience of our pragmatically priced Deluxe Rooms, while enjoying our exceptional facilities and prime location.
Serviced Apartments for Expatriates and Small Families
Quincy House offers a selection of spacious One-Bedroom Deluxe, Two-Bedroom Superior and Two-Bedroom Deluxe apartments, with pet-friendly options available. Whether singles, couples or relocating expatriates and their families, each apartment is designed for maximum comfort and space, with thoughtfully curated living areas and elegant, functional furniture. These apartments offer ample private and shared spaces, ensuring a comfortable and stylish stay.
Be Yourself at Quincy
Offering a personalised guest experience, which begins before arrival conveniently through email or WhatsApp, guests can connect with their Quincy Qurator – a knowledgeable guide who can customise their stay with insider tips and tailored experiences – and share preferences or special requests prior in advance.
Upon arrival at Quincy House’s reception lobby on level 2, guests are greeted with a choice of Quincy juice shots, and a Quincy Qurate Neighbourhood Guide featuring three complementing tracks – Style, Chill and Wow – that reflect different personalities and preferences. Whether guests are looking for cultural exploration, savour life’s finer moments, or high-energy excitement, Quincy House has something to offer for everyone.
Spearheading the effort to decarbonise real estate across China, Hang Lung Properties Limited is using nearly 100 percent low carbon emissions steel for all above-ground structural plates (to be manufactured into columns and beams) and reinforcing bars of its Pavilion Extension at its flagship Plaza 66 mall in Shanghai. This marks the first commercial real estate project in mainland China to incorporate low carbon emissions steel, sourced from Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (Baosteel), achieving a 35 percent reduction in the steel’s embodied carbon compared to conventional steel alternatives.
Real estate accounts for more than 38 percent of China’s total annual carbon dioxide emissions. In Hang Lung’s case, steel emissions accounted for approximately 40 percent of its total embodied carbon emissions in 2023, making steel decarbonisation essential for achieving its goal of reducing its scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Hang Lung’s low carbon emissions steel transaction with Baosteel is an example of how leadership in real estate can help China reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.
Baosteel will supply 1,171 tonnes of its BeyondECO® low carbon emissions structural steel and 325 tonnes of BeyondECO® low carbon emissions reinforcing bars for the Plaza 66 Pavilion Extension project, which is now underway and due for completion in 2026.
“The steel procurement in our Plaza 66 Pavilion Extension project is an exciting moment for Hang Lung,” said Mr. Adriel Chan, Chair of Hang Lung Properties. “Thanks to our collaboration with Baosteel, a leader in steel decarbonisation in China, as well as with other industry partners, we have set a new benchmark for steel emissions reductions in the real estate sector. Hang Lung will continue to implement sustainable practices across our value chain, including the application of low carbon emissions steel on other development projects, such as Westlake 66 in Hangzhou.”
To meet Hang Lung’s stringent low carbon emissions steel tender specifications for the project, the main contractor and Baosteel collaborated closely to provide accurate product-level carbon emissions data with the Company. This collaboration set a new industry standard for transparent, traceable and trusted emissions data. Baosteel calculated the products’ carbon footprint through Baosteel intelligent Carbon Data platform using a lifecycle analysis model developed by Shanghai E-Carbon Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (EC-Digital). This data was verified by TÜV SÜD, a global third-party certification body.
The eBook showcases over 40 iconic engineering projects, corresponding to 17 UNSDGs, in both the public and private sectors in Hong Kong over the years and provides insights into their distinctive features and advanced technologies from engineers’ perspectives. Through this informative publication, the HKIE hopes to deepen understanding of UNSDGs in the industry and wider society and inspire collaborative efforts and active participation from all stakeholders to support sustainable development.
HKIE President Ir Eric MA said, “The UNSDGs aim to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. Engineering plays a major role in achieving many of the UNSDGs. Through the launch of Engineered for Sustainability: Hong Kong’s Contribution to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we hope to strengthen understanding among members of the public as well as within the engineering sector of how various engineering disciplines can integrate environmental, social and economic considerations into their practices. The engineering industry is in a unique position to lead sustainable development through actively collaborating across the aspects of engineering design, construction, renovation, operation and reuse, using electronic control systems, IoT, promoting new industrialisation, autonomous vehicle technology, sustainable energy systems, etc.”
“Last week, Vice President Ir Prof Frank CHAN led a delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference – COP29, where he shared the efforts taken by Hong Kong’s engineering industry to address the challenges of climate change, including strengthening the resilience and sustainability of urban infrastructure. The HKIE will continue to champion sustainable development, including continued updates of the eBook and encouraging industry sharing of sustainable projects, empowering engineers to put UNSDGs into practice as part of our commitment to building a better and more sustainable future for the planet,” President MA added.
The International Engineering Alliance (IEA) resolved the proposed changes of IEA Graduate Attributes and Professional Competencies (GAPCs) to align with the UNSDGs in 2021. As a Member of IEA, the HKIE will review its Graduate Attributes for accrediting engineering programmes and its Competence Standards for admitting members to factor in the UNSDGs. The reviews are in the pipeline and the new HKIE Graduate Attributes and Competence Standards are planned for implementation in 2026/27.
In addition, the HKIE is currently holding a cover design competition for the publication, Engineered for Sustainability: Hong Kong’s Contribution to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The competition aims to encourage members and the public to actively engage with the UNSDGs by participating in the creation of the eBook. The winning entry may become the cover of the future edition of this publication.
The deadline for submission is 5pm on 31 December 2024.
Click here for more information on the submission or click here to download the eBook.
Meinhardt Japan marked a significant milestone with the celebration of its third anniversary, hosting an exclusive event that brought together close to 150 industry stalwarts including developers, government officials, technology players, Meinhardt Group Global Board Members and management staff. Held in Tokyo on 8 October 2024, the anniversary celebration highlighted Meinhardt Japan’s rapid growth, the unveiling of groundbreaking innovations, and the company’s strategic vision for the future.
The celebration also commemorated the broader achievements of the Meinhardt Group as it looks forward to its 70th anniversary in 2025. With a strong focus on innovation, cross-border collaboration, and digital transformation, the event served as a platform for announcing Meinhardt Japan’s continued expansion in the Japanese market and beyond.
Among the distinguished attendees were government officials and key industry leaders. The presence of Mr Low Hon Mun, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Singapore Embassy in Japan, underscored the importance of cross-national collaboration, while senior executives from Japan’s leading general contractors and design consultancies added further gravitas to the occasion.
The event provided a unique opportunity for Meinhardt Group’s leadership team, including over 20 representatives from the company, to engage directly with key clients and partners, fostering new business opportunities and strengthening existing relationships.
In his keynote address, Dr Shahzad Nasim, Executive Chairman of Meinhardt Group, delivered an impactful speech that not only reflected on Meinhardt Japan’s journey over the past few years but also outlined the plans for the future. He highlighted Meinhardt Japan’s evolution since its founding in February 2022, noting how the office has grown into a first-class consultancy with a dedicated team of specialists in architectural, structural, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) design backed up by the full weight of the group’s global resources.
“We certainly did not come to Japan to teach anything new to Japanese companies who are known internationally for their innovation, high quality and attention to detail. We are here to strengthen and leverage our existing relationships with Japanese companies to extend and expand our collaboration both in Japan and globally, where Meinhardt has a strong presence, people and expertise. This is a win-win proposition. Japan is facing what most developed countries are facing – a shortage of skilled manpower. Meinhardt will utilise its global expertise and more than 6000 technical staff to support Japanese companies in design, BIM modelling and production of drawings for their projects both in Japan and abroad. Our strong presence here will make this collaboration easier. Our bilingual engineering team, combined with dedicated access to global talent, positions us as an ideal partner for Japanese companies to collaborate,” said Dr Nasim in his speech.
“This paves the way for collaboration on bigger, more complex and technology projects, such as high-tech industrial projects, mission-critical facilities, high-rise buildings, smart cities and major infrastructure projects, where Meinhardt has an enviable reputation. Our focus on digital planning, technology and data-driven design, positions us to deliver sustainable cities of the future. We are here for the long term and are committed to playing a key role in Japan’s dynamic engineering landscape,” he added.
One of the highlights of the evening was the introduction of Meinhardt Digital Technology Solutions’ (DTS) groundbreaking Generative AI engine. Developed under the Trailblazers 2.0 programme – spearheaded by the Communications and Information Ministry, Digital Industry Singapore, the Smart Nation Group and Google Cloud – and supported by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), this new Consultancy Augmentation Tool is instrumental to Meinhardt’s ongoing digital transformation. The platform assists with the streamlining and enhancement of the production of consultancy deliverables.
“This AI-powered tool is designed to amalgamate Meinhardt’s tremendous domain knowledge and practical experience across the world to position Meinhardt as a pioneer in leveraging AI to redefine the consulting landscape. We believe this tool will address various challenges faced by project delivery teams, creating a more connected and intuitive consulting environment, and underscoring Meinhardt’s commitment to innovation and digitalisation,” said Mr Omar Shahzad, CEO of Meinhardt Group.
A key theme of the event was Meinhardt Japan’s role as a bridge between Japan and the global market. Through cross-border collaboration, Meinhardt Japan has successfully integrated the expertise of the multi-disciplinary Meinhardt Group to bring the latest international design trends into local projects. This collaboration has been crucial to overcoming Japan’s skilled labour shortage by tapping into Meinhardt’s global talent pool, ensuring projects are delivered on time and to the highest quality standards. The event also provided an opportunity for Meinhardt Japan to share its vision for the future.
“We are proud of our cross-border design collaboration. This approach has enabled us to work on projects like the US and UK pavilions for the Osaka Expo 2025, which not only showcases our technical capabilities but also highlights the strength of our international partnerships. Looking ahead, Meinhardt Japan plans to expand its services in key industrial sectors, including data centres, where the company has already begun taking on substantial projects for major players. Additionally, Meinhardt Japan is extending its services locally to include façade design & testing and commissioning, while supporting Japanese companies in their overseas ventures by providing comprehensive design and on-site engineering solutions,” said Mr Kazuhiko Ono, CEO for Meinhardt Japan.
“In alignment with Meinhardt Group’s recognition as a Centre of Excellence for smart cities in Singapore, Meinhardt Japan is committed to merging Singapore’s smart city frameworks with Japan’s technological prowess. This collaboration will pave the way for new benchmarks in urban development and create opportunities for innovative, data-driven solutions in third countries,” he added.
Beyond the celebrations, the visit of several Meinhardt Group leaders to Tokyo was a golden opportunity to host a series of meetings with key clients, industry partners, and government officials. These interactions were essential in promoting collaboration on both domestic and international projects, allowing the company to strengthen its relationships with key stakeholders.
The third-anniversary celebration of Meinhardt Japan was a resounding success in successfully conveying Meinhardt Group’s strong presence both in Japan and globally while showcasing the impressive growth of Meinhardt Japan in just a few years. With a clear focus on digital transformation, cross-border collaboration, and sustainable urban development, Meinhardt Japan is well-positioned to continue driving innovation and delivering world-class engineering solutions for its clients.
