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Singapore Polytechnic Strengthens Position as a Leading Force in the Built Environment Sector

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At BEX Asia 2024, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) solidified its commitment to driving industry transformation by inking agreements with four key industry partners: British Standards Institution, ISS Facility Services, Kajima Development and the Soilbuild Construction Group. These collaborations focused on enhancing productivity,  adopting digital technologies, fostering innovations, and promoting sustainability in the built environment (BE) sector. Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, graced BEX  Asia 2024 as the guest of honour.

Solidifying Strategic Partnerships at BEX Asia 2024

The partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI Singapore) emphasises developing a skilled sustainability workforce leading to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Practitioner and Professional certifications. Certified practitioners/professionals can help their organisation achieve net zero goals by quantifying, verifying, and validating GHG emissions and reporting in an impartial and evidence-based approach.

 

The alliance with ISS Facility Services aims to drive innovation, productivity, and digitalisation within the Built Environment-Facilities Management sector. This partnership will support curriculum development, co-organise Learning Journeys focused on Smart FM  technologies and sustainability, and provide lecturers and students with industry attachment and internship opportunities.

 

The collaboration with Kajima Development focuses on driving innovation by co-creating  Learning Journeys, supporting SP startups, and leveraging Kajima’s The GEAR Lab as a living laboratory for testing solutions.

 

The partnership with the Soilbuild Construction Group aims to enhance productivity and digital adoption through joint projects and talent development. This MoU also paves the way for SP students to engage in industry-relevant projects, internships, and potential scholarship programmes, further bridging the gap between academia and industry. These strategic alliances would nurture a future-ready workforce and drive the development of new initiatives to address industry challenges.

 

Demonstrating Innovation and Leadership in the BE sector

This year marked the third time that SP exhibited at BEX Asia. At this year’s event, SP  showcased the ingenuity of its students and staff, presenting innovative solutions to address contemporary challenges in the built environment. Under the theme “Building a Sustainable  Future with Innovative Technologies,” SP highlighted its commitment to advancing digitalisation, innovation, and sustainability in the industry and the importance of integrating academic learning with real-world applications.

 

Highlights of the showcase include:

  • To enhance construction productivity and accuracy and reduce human error, SP  developed a mixed-reality construction workflow as part of the Architecture & the Built  Environment School’s (ABE) Automation and Digital Fabrication Corridor. This innovative workflow allows complex design models to be overlaid onto the physical environment, providing fabricators with precise reference lines to assemble elements more efficiently. It also bridges the gap between advanced technology and varying levels of expertise within the industry.
  • SP’s Data Science & Analytics Centre (DSAC) highlighted an AI-enabled Parts Management for Intelligent Maintenance solution designed to provide prescribed recommendations to optimise inventory levels and streamline reordering processes.  This tackles common issues such as overstocking and unexpected parts shortages in warehouses, effectively reducing delays and the reliance on unsustainable reactive maintenance practices.
  • In collaboration with various organisations, SP’s Advanced Materials Technology  Centre (AMTC) featured products poised to advance industry sustainability,  buildability, and maintainability, making them ready for widespread industry adoption.

 

BE Transformation Learning Journey: Driving Innovations to Design, Build and Manage

The event also marked the launch of the Built Environment (BE) Transformation Learning  Journey, supported by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). Located at SP, this learning journey provides SMEs and students insights into this resilient, future-focused industry. The learning journey is also designed to propel the BE industry into the future by raising awareness of the Industry Transformation Map (ITM) and its three key pillars:  Integrated Planning and Design, Advanced Manufacturing & Automation, and Sustainable  Urban Systems.

 

The learning journey is structured to achieve two primary objectives:

  • For SMEs: The learning journey displayed transformative examples within the BE  sector, illustrating how companies adapt to new technologies and innovative practices.  SMEs can strategically plan their business and workforce transformation, with follow-up support available, including training programmes and funding assistance.
  • For Youth: The learning journey featured progressive companies within the BE sector,  demonstrating that the industry is forward-looking and dynamic. This showcase aimed to inspire current and prospective students by presenting potential career opportunities with leading-edge companies prioritising innovation and sustainability.

 

This immersive experience offers visitors a deeper understanding of the latest advancements shaping the BE sector and how they can participate in this exciting transformation.

 

Ms Georgina Phua, Deputy Principal (Development) of Singapore Polytechnic, said, “Singapore Polytechnic is thrilled to be a key player at BEX Asia 2024. This event underscores our steadfast dedication to advancing sustainability, digitalisation and innovation in the Built Environment sector. Partnering with the British Standards Institution, Kajima Development, and the Soilbuild Construction Group, we aim to revolutionise the industry, empowering SMEs and nurturing future talent. Our integrated approach sets new industry benchmarks, solidifying  our position as a leader in driving industry transformation and fostering meaningful advancements.”

 

 

 

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Kajima Development Launches THE GEAR in Singapore

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On 4 August 2023, Kajima Development Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kajima Corporation, officially launched The GEAR: Kajima Lab for Global Engineering, Architecture & Real Estate, Kajima’s regional headquarters, and R&D and innovation hub. Located in Changi Business Park, the upper echelons of Kajima leadership had long been eyeing an anchor for this region.

 

“We are extremely grateful for the warm welcome that Singapore has extended to us ever since our first project here in 1962. Almost ten years ago, the late Dr. Shoichi Kajima tasked us with a mission to establish our headquarters in Singapore – he admired Singapore’s blueprint for success and impeccable reputation as a business hub and gateway to the region. He thought there was no better place for us to deepen our roots in the region,” said Mr. Shuichi Oishi, Chief Executive Officer, Kajima Development.

 

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Together with Kajima Overseas Asia Singapore, the local construction arm of Kajima, Kajima Development broke ground in August 2020 and completed the building on schedule notwithstanding the uncertainties occasioned by the pandemic and obtained TOP on March 31,  2023. Officiated by Minister Low Yen Ling, Minster of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry as the Guest of Honour, the Grand Opening Ceremony marked a momentous milestone that not only showcased the state-of-the-art facility that embodies Kajima’s commitment to a sustainable, connected and future-ready Singapore but also the beginning of a new chapter in the firm’s history as Kajima’s first global R&D and innovation hub.

 

Designed by Kajima’s team of architects and engineers in Japan, The GEAR building stands as a testament to Kajima’s architectural prowess and commitment to excellence. The sleek and contemporary design seamlessly blends aesthetics with functionality, offering a dynamic and collaborative workspace for Kajima’s diverse teams and partner organisations. The GEAR houses all of Kajima’s local staff and will look at new ways to contribute to the local economy, create more employment opportunities, and nurture local talents. Home to five state-of-the-art laboratories, The GEAR building will serve as a hub for Kajima’s groundbreaking research in sustainable construction materials, advanced building systems, occupant well-being, and smart technologies.

 

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Powered by the Kajima Technical Research Institute Singapore (KaTRIS), the strategic overseas R&D function of Kajima based in Singapore since 2013, this facility will accelerate the development and implementation of innovative solutions that address pressing global challenges, such as climate change and urbanisation. Its eighteen testbed zones are also installed with occupant behaviour monitoring sensors and indoor environment monitoring sensors to compare and verify new technologies and knowledge developed in the labs.

 

The GEAR’s innovation hub also aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among industry players, startups, researchers, and academics. For starters, Kajima has prioritised deepening relationships with both local and overseas universities to apply research to practice, and foster links with the next generation of talent. The initial fruits of these nascent relationships were on display during the ceremony. For example, in-person attendees were greeted by a tethered drone watering the external greenery at the entrance of The GEAR.

 

Developed in collaboration with researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design, the proof-of-concept provides a real-world application for drone technology, which enhances productivity in facility management. Guests who attended the event were also gifted augmented reality (AR) postcards, which act as markers to display 3D models of The GEAR when viewed on a mobile application. Together with the Architecture, Representation and Computation Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture, Kajima supported the development of the group’s current AR visualisation platform by testing it in a real-world professional architectural production process by facilitating tests to evaluate the deployment pipeline and user experience of the tool.

 

Kajima’s collaborations with universities go beyond joint research. Having entered a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore Management University (SMU) in February 2023 with the intent to develop the built environment sector by supporting the growth of startups and cultivating talent.

 

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The GEAR played host to a student conference co-organised by undergraduates of SMU on the afternoon of the official launch. The agenda comprised a keynote by Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer, City Developments Limited, and a panel discussion which explored insights on sustainable innovations from the various players in the sector. By organising more industry events, programmes, and workshops, Kajima hopes to act as a pillar to support stakeholders to enforce their commitment to sustainable smart city development and propel the sector towards a stronger culture of innovation. Through such initiatives, Kajima will connect ecosystem enablers with built environment corporations and startups in Singapore, Japan, and beyond, to encourage potential partnerships. The GEAR will be that hub to connect Singapore to the world.

 

“Singapore is a vibrant hub of innovation and growth, and we are excited to strengthen our presence in this dynamic market. Our goal is that The GEAR will serve as a centre of excellence and allow us to collaborate more closely with industry stakeholders to deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of the region,” said Mr. Keisuke Koshijima, Executive Vice President, Kajima Corporation. “By combining our rich heritage and experience with frontier technologies, we aim to reshape the future through our base in Singapore,” he added.

 

The launch of The GEAR represents a pivotal moment with its innovative design, functional versatility and unwavering commitment to sustainability, which Kajima hopes will position it as a trailblazer in the regional built environment landscape.

 

All images courtesy of www.thegear.sg