News Archives

New Green and Gracious Builder Scheme for Small and Medium Construction Firms

21 April, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 5 minutes

– Customised Green and Gracious Builder Scheme launched for small and medium builders

– Green and Gracious Builder Scheme Version 2 sees increased weightage for gracious best practices

– 19 firms to receive Green and Gracious Builder Award at the 2014 BCA Awards

Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has introduced a Green and Gracious Builder Scheme (GGBS) for Small and Medium Construction Firms (SMC) to encourage wider adoption of environmentally friendly and gracious practices among builders. Adapted from the Green and Gracious Builder Scheme, the GGBS (SMC) is a voluntary scheme tailored for builders who work on smaller projects. It places greater emphasis on operational and gracious practices that can be easily adopted by smaller builders.

BCA has also released an updated version of the Green and Gracious Builder Scheme. The revised scheme focuses on gracious building practices that help to minimise the impact on site and surroundings, such as improved accessibility, enhanced public safety and better noise and vibration control. In addition, manpower management practices have also been revised to emphasise employee engagement, staff welfare, retention and training.The overall weightage for Gracious Practices has been increased from 40 percent to 50 percent

These announcements come just ahead of the BCA Awards scheduled on 22 May 2014, where 19 builders will be conferred the Green and Gracious Builder Award. Five companies have successfully achieved the top ‘Star’ rating, with another eight companies receiving the ‘Excellent’ award. The remaining companies will receive the ‘Merit’ award. Of the 19 companies awarded this year, 12 builders will be receiving the award for the first time.

“Given high visibility and impact of construction works in Singapore, it is important for builders to go green and adopt ‘friendlier’ construction practices. We hope to reduce inconvenience and disturbance of noise, dust and accessibility for those living in the vicinity, as well as members of the public. It is heartening to see more green and gracious builders participate in this scheme every year, and how they have found innovative ways to build responsibly. With the new scheme for SMCs, we hope to inspire smaller builders that they too, can take simple steps to be the change agent contributing to the environment and the community-at-large,” said Dr John Keung, CEO of BCA.

Green and Gracious Builder Award Winners 2014

In line with the increased focus on Gracious Practices, this year’s Green and Gracious award winners have not only come up with innovative ways to engage employees but also redesigned their work processes with a green and gracious mind set right from the start.

This year’s ‘Star’ award winner, Straits Construction Singapore Pte Ltd, has truly gone the extra mile to improve employee welfare. At its residential project, Kovan Regency, the company used excess construction materials to build recreational facilities for its workers. It has built a multi-purpose court, table tennis table, and gym equipment with pre-fabricated concrete planks, timber materials and surplus recycled concrete respectively. The project site even boasts a vegetable planting patch, which is collectively cared for by the workers. To minimise dust and noise for neighbours in the estate, the builder planted bamboo trees at the borders of the site to act as natural barriers, creating a more conducive worksite and living environment for the workers, as well as the community in the vicinity.

Gym facilities made out of recycled materials

Multipurpose court made out of precast planks constructed with concrete

Recycling bins made out of recycled construction material

Community vegetable patch tended by the workers

Potted plants located around the worksite to create a more pleasant environment

Table tennis table made out of recycled timber materials and reinforcement bars.

Singapore Piling and Civil Engineering Pte Ltd and Singa Development Pte Ltd are the first two companies to be assessed and awarded under the revised Green and Gracious Builder Scheme. Both builders have been given the ‘Star’ award for their use of advanced technology and innovative processes to improve productivity, conserve materials and enhance public safety.

For its Galaxis project, Singapore Piling and Civil Engineering Pte Ltd adopted a top-down construction method, where it built the basement levels and upper levels simultaneously. This not only improves productivity, but also helps to reduce the noise and dust generated during the construction process by having the upper levels shield the basement excavation work. In addition, the company designed its own unique underground support structure (One Layer Earth Retaining Stabilisation Structure (ERSS) Strut system) to help speed up basement construction and reduce vibration, noise and dust pollution.

Proving that smaller builders can also achieve green and gracious practices is Pal-Link Construction Pte Ltd. A Grade C1 “General Building” BCA registered contractor, Pal-Link has been awarded ‘Merit’ for its approach to piling which reduced the number of piles used. This helped to reduce noise pollution at its Millage Condominium site. To further reduce noise and dust pollution, the company also replaced the temporary retaining wall with diaphragm wall which also acts as a permanent structure and eliminates the need for hacking.

About GGBS and GGBA

First launched in February 2009, BCA’s Green and Gracious Builder Scheme and Green and Gracious Builder Award aims to raise the environmental consciousness and professionalism of builders. The award acts as a benchmark of a builder’s corporate social responsibility to the environment and the general public, and sets standards for green and gracious practices that builders can implement to address environmental concerns and mitigate possible inconveniences to the public caused by construction works. Both the revised Green and Gracious Builder Scheme and GGBS (SMC) scheme were developed in close consultation with Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL) and other builders. To date, a total of 74 builders have been certified under the Green and Gracious Builder Scheme.

MEGA BUILD INDONESIA and KERAMIKA 2014 Grows by 75%

17 April, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

JAKARTA – MEGA BUILD INDONESIA and KERAMIKA 2014 kicked off today at Jakarta Convention Center by Mr. MS. Hidayat, Minister of Industry Republic Indonesia and Mr. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), Jakarta Deputy Governor.

The event grew 75% in size, garnering strong support from industry associations as well as local and international companies. Organized by Reed Panorama Exhibitions (RPE), MEGA BUILD INDONESIA encompasses the 13th edition of Renovation & Construction Expo (RENEX) and the newly launched segments: Bathroom & Kitchen, Roof & Flooring and Doors & Windows. MEGABUILD INDONESIA 2014 is positioned to be the dedicated exhibition for Architecture, Interior Design and Building industry in Indonesia and the region.

According to an industry report, the Indonesian construction industry recorded healthy growth from 2009 to 2013, expanding by an average annual rate of 7% in real terms. Industry growth is expected to remain strong over the forecast period (2014-2018), as a result of the government”s focus on infrastructure and industrial construction, and the implementation of the multiyear Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia”s Economic Development (MP3EI).

The launch of MEGA BUILD INDONESIA is timely. The event is positioned as the most comprehensive event for architects, interior designers, developers and suppliers to share their experiences and ideas, present new products/technologies and network with key stakeholders both locally and internationally. MEGA BUILD INDONESIA 2014 is supported by Indonesian Institute of Architects (IAI) and Indonesia Society of Interior Designers (HDII).

Held alongside MEGA BUILD INDONESIA 2014, is the third edition of KERAMIKA, the only dedicated exhibition in ASEAN that showcases the entire ceramic supply chain, from raw materials, equipment and machineries, supporting services and finished products. KERAMIKA is co-organised by the Indonesia Ceramic Industry Association (ASAKI) and RPE.

ASAKI predicts that the growth in the industry will hit 10%, generating an estimated sale of Rp. 34 trillion. This signifies the growth potential of the Indonesia ceramic industry and the importance of KERAMIKA to promote trade and innovation in the industry.

“The strong domestic demand, particularly from the growing property best online casino and construction sectors, is creating tremendous business opportunities for the local ceramic industry. The success of KERAMIKA last year affirmed the industry”s needs, not only on a local level but also on a regional and international level. By bringing together local companies on a single platform like KERAMIKA, to exchange ideas, network and establish business opportunities, we hope to build Indonesia as the premier market in ASEAN for quality ceramic products,” said Mr Elisa Sinaga, Chairman of ASAKI.

Together, MEGABUILD INDONESIA and KERAMIKA 2014 will offer a complete and comprehensive platform that spans some 25,000sqm showcasing 315 participating companies from Indonesia and 11 countries.

“We are proud to announce that the event has grown not only in size but in terms of its regional mix. 26% of the participating companies are foreign companies, including 5 national pavilions from China, Korea, Italy, Singapore and Taiwan. We are confident that with the strong support of our partners, the growing Indonesian economy, plus our commitment to deliver a quality event for the industry, MEGA BUILD INDONESIA and KERAMIKA 2014 will continue to grow. It will become a key platform for international suppliers to penetrate the Indonesian market, driving further growth for the country,” said Ms Michelle Lim, President Director of RPE.

MEGABUILD INDONESIA 2014 is held in conjunction with IAI-Jakarta Design Week 2.1 which will provide various educational programs such as workshops and talk shows aimed to educate the public about the importance of architecture in Jakarta as the identity of Indonesia”s capital city. Themed “The Future of Architecture and Interior Design”, the latest design trends, solutions and technologies in the building and construction sector will be shared and discussed.

The Indonesia Society of Interior Designers (HDII) will be presenting PASAR DESAIN a showcase of 100 well-known interior designers and their designs, with the aim to create more awareness in adopting Indonesian culture and art in landscape architecture and design in Jakarta as a metropolitan city.

Over the next 4 days, 25,000 trade visitors and public are expected to attend MEGA BUILD INDONESIA 2014 and KERAMIKA 2014.

Green Label Stamp of Approval for Flowcrete’s Traffic Deck Coatings

10 April, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Flowcrete Asia has announced that two of the company’s resin based deck coating systems have received the Singapore Green Label Scheme’s stamp of approval.

Deckshield ID and Deckcoat EP are two innovative traffic deck coating systems, based on polyurethane and epoxy chemistry respectively, that have been designed to protect the concrete substrate of multi-storey parking developments.

Launched in May 1992 and administered by the Singapore Environment Council since June 1999, the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme is Singapore’s leading environmental standard and certification mark.

The certification evaluates building materials through stringent standards and encourages manufacturers to constantly improve the eco-development of products and services. Green Label certified products offer a competitive advantage in the market place and the scheme has proved useful in aiding consumers and specification professionals to address environmental sustainability when making their purchase decisions.

This certification is recognized globally and will go a long way to increasing the products credibility in an area where sustainable development is at the forefront of the construction industry.

Deckshield ID represents a low VOC, solvent-free deck coating formulation based on a water-borne polyurethane chemistry that has been specifically designed to deal with the unique demands of multi-level parking environments. The system offers enhanced durability and exhibits crack-bridging properties to accommodate thermal cycling as well as any dynamic movement of the structure.

Deckshield ID has a proven track record of the system selected for the adjoining multi-storey parking structure at Mumbai Airport’s new Terminal 2 development online casino in India.

Deckcoat EP is a low VOC, solvent-free epoxy car park deck coating system that provides a colourful, watertight and hardwearing surface for intermediate and basement decks of multi-storey car parking structures as well as other trafficable suspended floors. The system has proved popular in Singapore, with a recent high-profile installation at Capita Malls Star Vista development in Buona Vista where over 40,000 square metres of the product have been laid.

Projects that used Deckshield ID & Deckcoat EP:

Dubai Mall car park – top level

Dubai mall car park – interior

Star vista car park

Star Vista car park

Schindler 5500 – "Freedom of Design"

10 April, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Schindler breaks new ground with significantly more design options for architects

Your elevator deserves the most attractive cabin design.

“Elevators are small spaces and it is important that people feel comfortable in them. They have architectural characteristics, but at the same time they must also meet the requirements of modern industrial design. The Italian architect and designer was responsible for the interior design of the new Schindler 5500 – the innovative elevator for commercial and office buildings.

The motto for the concept was “Freedom of Design”. In other words: builders and architects should, as much as possible, no longer be restricted in terms of design. To achieve this, four lines were developed for the concept, ranging from the robust, functional variant (Navona) to the very complex, inspiring, and elegant-looking cabin design (Sunset Boulevard). They were, as always, when it comes to new Schindler design developments, tailored to the current architecture needs and trends.

Colors, materials, combinations
“There are basically two approaches that architects use,” says Edgard Spekking, Manager Sales & Marketing at Schindler. “The first integrates the elevator entirely within their building concept – they make the elevator part of the foyer. The other is to make clear, architectural accents with our products. And we want to offer solutions for both types.”

Newly available in Deco 2.0 is the expanded selection of warm, neutral and cool colors, providing entirely new possibilities of color and material combinations, giving walls and ceilings a whole new dimension.

Stainless steel is still very popular, as the classic material for an elevator. Glass elements are also being used increasingly more often; both transparent glass panels as well as colored, the so called “Back Painted Glass”. These are glass panels that are painted on the reverse side to achieve a deep color effect.

Also new to the range is the innovative “digital printing” on stainless steel and glass, which opens up completely new design possibilities and provides very inspiring cabin interiors for demanding architectural concepts, such as hotel lobbies, board rooms or roof-top bars. Imagination knows almost no bounds in cabin design today, especially because the Schindler 5500 allows for the interior weight to be up to 50% of the cabin payload.

Schindler 5500 Deco 2.0 – Waving Sensations

オンラインカジノ alt=”schindler-5500-deco-2-sunset-blvd_small” src=”https://brj.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/schindler-5500-deco-2-sunset-blvd_small-212×300.jpg” width=”212″ height=”300″ /> Schindler 5500 Deco 2.0 – Sunset Boulevard

Straight or curved

The optional “wave” element between the cabin ceiling and rear wall, which gives the cabin a “shuttle”-like feeling, is new in the Schindler 5500 program. Round or square? This incidentally is often a cultural question. For example, while curved lines and shapes are favored in southern regions, nordic design tends towards straight lines.

Ambient lighting

Accents in the cabin are also possible with the use of mirrors and light. Energy-saving LEDs are fully integrated into the design, especially because of the pleasant light they emit, which contributes to the well-being of the passengers. Today’s cabin light design comes not only from above but is now also available in the handrails or in the baseboard area.

Realize the customer’s vision

With the new Schindler 5500 design possibilities, a close connection was established with the newly refurbished Schindler 3300. When both types of lift are used in the same building, they can be designed with the same decor elements. “The architect’s time is limited and it is important for them that they do not need to make extensive analysis, even with special solutions. Therefore, our range is very attractive,” says Eric Darmenia, Schindler 5500 Program Director. With the new possibilities, Schindler will “realize the vision of the customer.”

Or, as designer Paolo Tempia Bonda formulated it: “Because the tastes and preferences in the world are not the same everywhere, we offer a selection. In order to assist our customers, we offer them some ‘Guidelines’ where they have the option of adapting to their individual and cultural tastes.”

Century City Mall Opens

10 April, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Broadway Malyan-designed Century City Mall opens in Makati City, Philippines

The 1bn Philippine Peso ‘Century City Mall’, designed by global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan, has opened to the public, making it the newest retail development in the City of Makati for nearly a decade.

Broadway Malyan delivered an integrated package of design services, covering architecture, interior and landscape design to wayfinding, on the 17,000 square metre retail centre.

The Mall hosts a wide range of luxury retail, fashion and lifestyle brands, includes four state-of-the-art cinemas and features a roof top garden with al fresco dining and a bar, complementing a series of ‘green paths’ オンラインカジノ that thread through the scheme.

Tenants include Rustan’s Supermarket, fashion and beauty stores Desigual, Fresh/H20, Beauty Bar, Hush Puppies, Philip Stein, Swarovski and Victorinox, and food and dining establishments Azurro Bistro and Restaurant, Early Bird Breakfast Club, Pepper Lunch, Starbucks Coffee, TWG Tea, Mochi Sweets and US burger joint CaliBurger.

Century City Mall is one of several buildings that Broadway Malyan has designed and which are now being built as part of the landmark mixed-use Century City scheme developed by Century Properties in Makati City.

Distinguished by our global reach with 16 studios across world centres, unrivalled diversity with 500 design experts and distinctive client focus with over 75% income from repeat business, Broadway Malyan creates world-class and fully-integrated cities, places and buildings to unlock lasting value and deliver a ‘return on design’.

ABB and Philips Join Forces

10 April, 2014/in News/by Editor

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ABB and Philips join forces in commercial building automation for energy efficiency and increased functionality

Philips’ lighting systems will connect seamlessly with ABB’s building device controls, reducing the cost of renovation of mid-and small-sized commercial buildings

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – ABB, a leading power and automation technology provider, and Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), the global leader in lighting, today announced a collaboration to simplify the integration of connected lighting systems and building device control for commercial buildings. Combining Philips’ wealth of expertise in LED lighting systems with ABB’s knowledge of building automation will benefit systems integrator, commercial building owners, facility managers and the people who work in these buildings.

Philips’ connected lighting system will interface seamlessly with ABB’s automation software to offer the ability to control a commercial environment including lighting, blinds, building access and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). The introduction of the solution from ABB and Philips will make it much simpler to reconfigure spaces. In a hotel this could mean altering the lighting scene after combining several separate rooms into a large meeting room, just through one click. Or in a shopping complex, a building manager can simply reconfigure the access, HVAC and lighting when a single unit is split into smaller ones.

Eric Rondolat, CEO of Philips Lighting, said: “Philips’ LED lighting combined with controls can deliver up to 80% energy savings compared to conventional lighting, while providing high quality light for a comfortable, more productive work environment. Together ABB and Philips will support our customers by making it easier to introduce the latest technology to drive energy efficiency and increased functionality.”

Tarak Mehta, head of ABB’s Low Voltage Products division, added: “The future is the ability to reconfigure spaces at the touch of a button, while reducing energy consumption. ABB and Philips will work together to offer a simple, scalable solution to streamline the introduction of this technology in commercial buildings.’’

Currently, re-configuring different building systems requires entering lines of code for each separate element. By enabling the control of all the different elements of building automation through compatible software, building management is simpler and more affordable to install and maintain.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting constitute 70% of the energy consumption in commercial buildings and the introduction of building device control can improve energy efficiency by approximately 30%. Upgrading to more energy efficient systems represents a significant opportunity for building managers to save on operational costs.

National Heart Centre Completes in Singapore

1 April, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

National Heart Centre in Singapore (Photo credit: Broadway Malyan)

National Heart Centre Singapore – Back of Building (Photo Credit: Broadway Malyan)

The landmark National Heart Centre in the centre of Singapore, designed by global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan, has completed onsite and is set to provide a new centre of excellence for patients.

Broadway Malyan acted as lead design consultant on the 48,000 sq m 12 Storey building, with support from local consultancy Ong & Ong, and the design philosophy based on the principle of putting patients, staff and visitors first.

The patient-focused environment builds on traditional hospital design, emphasises light and features open spaces with a mixture of green courtyards, sky-gardens and landscape views to create a welcoming and calming environment conducive to patient wellbeing and the healing process.

This sense of openness carries through to the external finish, with the façade appearing to be stripped back to reveal the gardens and courtyards and better connect people to the wider environment.

To improve the patient experience, the design team organised the complex and diverse range of clinical functions in a way that satisfies vital clinical needs, while minimising travel distances and creating efficient circulation around the building.

Ed Baker, Singapore-based Director at Broadway Malyan, said: “Our expert design team wanted to challenge people’s perceptions of healthcare and taking the patient experience as our starting point, working in close partnership with the Ministry of Health, we have incorporated the complex, specialist medical needs within an exciting and dramatic space. The resulting environment is better for patients, staff and visitors and stands as a vision for the future of healthcare facilities in Singapore and beyond.”

Broadway Malyan was selected through an open competition for the £175m million project and has provided a wide range of services, including architectural, landscape architectural and interior design services, with the project winning the MIPIM Asia Futura Project Award in 2010.

The project forms part of Singapore’s general hospital redevelopment masterplan – the largest of its kind in the country – with the Broadway Malyan-designed 17-hectare mega healthcare city recently launched in Singapore.

When complete in 2030 it will serve 30,000 patients, visitors, staff, students and residents a day, double the current 15,000 who visit Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The floor space will be increased from 250,000 to 600,000 sq m, the number of beds will be increased by 25 per cent to 2,200 and ten buildings will be physically connected, including Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The practice’s Singapore-based team of design experts is also delivering high-profile healthcare projects in India, including a 110,000 sq m and 500-bed high-level Cancer Institute in Lucknow, the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh, and the 30,000 sq m and 300-bed Fortis Children Hospital in Delhi.

Distinguished by Broadway Malyan’s global reach with 16 studios across world centres, unrivalled diversity with 500+ design experts and distinctive client focus with over 75% income from repeat business, they create world-class and fully-integrated cities, places and buildings to unlock lasting value and deliver a ‘return on design’.

2014 Pritzker Prize Laureate Revealed

25 March, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Shigeru Ban

“Shigeru Ban is a tireless architect whose work exudes optimism. Where others may see insurmountable challenges, Ban sees a call to action. Where others might take a tested path, he sees the opportunity to innovate. He is a committed teacher who is not only a role model for younger generation, but also an inspiration.” — Pritzker Jury 2014

Shigeru Ban, a 56 year old architect, has been announced as the 2014 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Established by the Pritzker family of Chicago in 1979, the prestigious award is widely regarded as “the Nobel Prize” in the architecture profession.

Ban is the seventh Japanese architect to become a Pritzker Laureate since– following Kenzo Tange in 1987, Fumihiko Maki in 1993, Tadao Ando in 1995, the team of Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa in 2010, and Toyo Ito last year.

According to the jury, the Pritzker Prize recognizes architects who both display “excellence in built work and who make a significant and consistent contribution to humanity.” Shigeru Ban, whose approach is as innovative as it is humanitarian, “reflects this spirit of the prize to the fullest.”

“He is a force of nature,” said the jury chairman, Lord Palumbo, “which is entirely appropriate in the light of his voluntary work for the homeless and dispossessed in areas devastated by natural disasters.”

“Receiving this prize is a great honour, and with it, I must be careful,” said Ban, who splits his time between offices in Tokyo, Paris and New York. “I must continue to listen to the people I work for, in my private residential commissions and in my disaster relief work. I see this prize as encouragement for me to keep doing what I am doing – not to change what I am doing, but to grow,” commented Ban on receiving the award.

A little of Ban’s background and his works

As a boy, Shigeru Ban observed traditional Japanese carpenters working at his parents’ house and to him their tools, the construction, and the smells of wood were magic. He would save cast aside pieces of wood and build small models with them. He wanted to become a carpenter. But at age eleven, his teacher asked the class to design a simple house and Ban’s was displayed in the school as the best. Since then, to be an architect was his dream.

Ban began his career in the office of Arata Isozaka, after being educated in America at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and then New York’s Cooper Union School of Architecture.

He founded his own Tokyo practice in 1985 with little experience and went on to complete a number of residential projects in Japan such as Three Walls (1988), Curtain Wall House (1995) and Naked House (2000).

Curtain Wall House – Tokyo, Japan, 1995

Naked House – Saitama, Japan, 2000

In all parts of his practice, Ban finds a wide variety of design solutions, often based around structure, materials, view, natural ventilation and light, and a drive to make comfortable places for the people who use them. From private residences and corporate headquarters, to museums, concert halls and other civic buildings, Ban is known for the originality, economy, and ingeniousness of his works, which do not rely on today’s common high-tech solutions.

His first designs for paper-tube structures were used to provide temporary homes for Vietnamese refugees after the Kobe earthquake in 1995.

“When you finish a roll of tracing paper or fax paper, there are always paper tubes left over,” he said. “They were so strong and so nice, so I kept them. Then I went to the factory where they made them, and I saw they could make any length and any diameter.” Paper and cardboard have long been part of an architect’s toolbox for drawings and models of buildings, but for Japanese architect Shigeru Ban they are good enough to make the real thing.

Paper Log Houses – Kobe, Japan, 1995

In 1995, he founded a non-governmental organization called Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN).With VAN, he has tackled disaster relief in Turkey, India, China and Haiti. Since then the architect has travelled to sites of natural and man-made disasters around the world to develop low-cost, recyclable shelters for affected communities.

His most recent disaster-relief project involved erecting a magnificent cardboard cathedral after the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, resulting in an elegant A-frame next to the ruins of George Gilbert Scott’s stone building.

Cardboard Cathedral – Christchurch, New Zealand, 2013

Cardboard Cathedral Interior

Leveraging Building and Construction Opportunities In Myanmar with BuildTechYangon

18 March, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

SPHERE Exhibits partners Singapore Business Federation (SBF) to bring building and construction expertise to Myanmar through an off-shoot of BuildTechAsia (BTA) – BuildTechYangon (BTY).

The Myanmar’s construction industry growth is expected to remain driven by the government”s increasing expenditure on improving Myanmar”s public infrastructure, and the rising interest of domestic and foreign real estate developers on constructing residential units to meet the population”s housing demand. In view of the growing interest for this sector, the Singapore Business Federation is partnering SPHERE Exhibits to co-organise the BuildTechYangon trade show in Yangon to help Singapore businessmen gain a foothold in this fast growing sector in Myanmar.

Supported by key government and industry authorities from both Singapore and Myanmar, the inaugural BTY2014 will be held from 22 to 24 May 2014 at the Myanmar Convention Centre in Yangon.

BTY2014 will focus on building and construction machinery and equipment; building and construction materials; building and construction specific electrical and mechanical engineering; and facilities management. Special attention will also be paid to precast, prefabrication, formworks and scaffolding to address immediate needs that will speed up affordable housing as well as commercial high-rise building construction in view of the growing economy.

With the involvement of the International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, BTY2014 will see a strong Singapore contingent taking up a 500 square meters country pavilion. The Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA) and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) have also pledged their support and will encourage the local building and construction sector and potential buyers to attend the show to advance their competencies.

Mr. U Tha Htay, Chairman, MCEA, said: “The building and construction industry in

Myanmar can play a part and contribute to the growth and development of the country’s economy. We can facilitate progress in infrastructure development by embracing efficient building and construction technologies and expertise. In particular, precast and prefabrication will speed up housing and commercial building construction and keep cost economical.”

The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that between 2010 and 2030, Myanmar will need to invest $320 billion in its infrastructure to achieve an 8 percent economic growth per annum, with the majority of infrastructure investment (60 percent) in residential and commercial real estate. Some key construction and infrastructure projects in Myanmar include a new international airport in Yangon, the upgrading of 30 of its 69 domestic airports, and the development of special economic zones – Kyaukphyu, Thilawa and Dawei.

Last December, MCEA advisor and former ambassador Hla Maung projected that urban dwellers will rise 35 percent by 2015. As it is, urban residents have doubled since 1980 from 8 casino million to 16 million in Myanmar.

Mr. U Win Aung, President, UMFCCI, added: “The Myanmar Government is actively implementing reform processes and vital plans and programmes for achieving its aim of building a modern industrial advanced developed prosperous nation in the shortest time frame possible. In order to achieve this goal the state is developing the industrial sector simultaneously along with the priority agricultural sector. Needless to say Myanmar’s infrastructure in almost all sectors is weak. Infrastructure development is gaining increasing priority to contribute toward the country’s economic growth and there are vast opportunities for Public-Private-Partnership in this sector”.

Mr. Ng Cheong Yew, Centre Director, Overseas Centre Yangon, IE Singapore, commented: “Myanmar presents immense opportunities for Singapore companies across various sectors, including infrastructure and urban solutions. The recent revisions to the Foreign Investment Law have also provided greater clarity and certainty for foreign investors. While Singapore companies venturing into the market need to be mindful of the fluid business environment, they should also strive to pursue mutually beneficial investments which create value for the local communities, for example through job creation and skills transfer.”

BTY2014 will be featuring over 120 exhibiting brands from China, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan, and expecting 3,000 trade visitors. Singapore companies looking to participate in the Singapore pavilion can apply for funding through IE Singapore’s iMAP (International Marketing Activities Programme) which supports up to 50 percent eligible core expenses.

To complement BTY2014, a MCEA delegation was in Singapore for a two-day visit from 5 to 6 March 2014. The delegation of 20 developers and contractors met local authorities and companies to explore business and learning opportunities. They also shared with Singapore companies insights to the building and construction sector in Myanmar in a seminar held on 6 March 2014.

Myanmar MCEA delegates in Singapore (5 to 6 March 2014)

Echo Barrier Backs NEA’s Quieter Construction Fund

18 March, 2014/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Money and time is being needlessly wasted by construction companies who are failing to specify noise reduction measures as part of their site plans” is the message from market leading noise reduction specialists Echo Barrier.

Last month the National Environment Agency of Singapore (NEA) introduced a special S$10million fund to incentivise construction companies to introduce noise reduction solutions into their site management plans. The Quieter Construction Fund (QCF) will offset up to 50% of the cost of purchasing or leasing noise reduction solutions.

In response to the new incentive, the company, which has recently worked with internationally recognised construction projects such as the London Underground and the Sydney Rail Network, is urging Singapore’s construction firms to take advantage of the chance to make noise reduction a priority and reap the benefits.

Echo barrier’s technical director Peter Wilson is a supporter of the fund, commenting: “Not only can noise reduction measures reduce noise complaints, save time and money, but it goes a long way to creating a quieter living environment for local residents.

“We are congratulating the NEA for making this fund available and are urging any construction company, no matter what their size, to take advantage of it.”

In financial terms, upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars are thought to be wasted annually in noise complaints and disrupted work schedules.

Echo Barrier is one of the world’s leading solutions to the increasingly important issue of excessive noise, offering innovative, effective, practical and low cost solutions for noisy construction sites.

The temporary acoustic barriers are easily fitted to metal fencing or scaffolding structures to reduce both transmitted and reflected sound, significantly reducing the noise emitted from construction sites – typically by 90 – 97%.

Photo Credit: Echo Barrier

For more information about echo barrier visit www.echobarrier.co.uk