Sustainability and resiliency for a better world

Artist impression: NUS School of Design & Environment, SDE 4, has received Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Platinum Certification for Net-Zero Energy Building. (Source: Serie+Multiply)

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY FOR A BETTER WORLD T here is much hue and cry over global warming and climate change worldwide that the United Nations General Assembly was compelled to set a list of Sustainable Development Goals in the year 2015 to be achieved by the year 2030.

In Singapore, sustainable development is part and parcel of its bid to become a smart nation. The country intends to reduce its emissions intensity by 36% (from 2005 levels) by 2030, and make bigger efforts to combat climate change with new opportunities like sustainable energy and clean technology. There is also a national aspiration for all buildings in Singapore to be able to achieve Super Low Energy (SLE) and to accelerate the development of zero energy buildings in the tropics. Surbana Jurong is aligned to this cause and harbours hope of addressing the rising global energy demand and climate change, and strives to become the leading consultancy of sustainable urban development. In January 2019, Surbana Jurong has established the Sustainability and Resiliency Office (SRO) Artist impression: Surbana Jurong Campus has received Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Platinum Certification for Super Low Energy Building. (Source: Safdie Surbana Jurong)

Sustainability roadmap for Singapore Science Park.

Through organic growth in Singapore and strategic global acquisitions, Surbana Jurong has become a multi-disciplinary engineering and design service provider, offering integrated consultancy solutions across the entire value chain of the urbanisation and infrastructure domains. ABOUT SURBANA JURONG

that looks at the complete and holistic approach to Sustainability, which includes the triple bottom line, and that of resiliency approach – be it food resiliency, floor or design addressing climate change.

SRO uses the latest in technology, digital, simulations and management approaches, and is led by a power-packed team of highly qualified professionals of different nationalities and skill sets to come up with a rich mix of climate responsive designs. Be it working with architects, engineers, landscapers and master planners, SRO is versatile in developing ideas and designs on sustainability and resilient concepts into the overall scheme.

THREE-PRONG APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY SRO has three main objectives: good designs, good marketing and networking, and good research and development.

SRO has carried out various talks to share ideas on the subject of sustainability and resiliency, going as far as the US, and has worked in countries like China, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.

When it comes to research and development, SRO leads in the field of digital, simulations and designs research to get the best value for the client. Through Applied R&D approach, innovation and creativity can take place with the data that SRO has collected from these research methodologies. For instance, SRO is leading five research topics in the SJ-NTU Corporate Laboratory namely LIFI, use of Chilled Ceilings, IAQ with Plans and IBMS as well as 3D Flood analysis and visualization. These are certainly trendsetters in the Sustainability and Resiliency space.

In addition, these concepts are put into practice in building designs, that is to say, an applied research approach which value is then brought to the client. This indeed supports the Industry Transformation Map for the construction industry of Singapore.

SRO also looks into design philosophies, which are translated into policies for Master Planning for Sustainable Cities. With the orchestration of Digital in Cities, Liveable Cities and Social & Economic Masterplanning approaches, cities can be much better planned as the fundamentals of the city planning starts from sustainability to resiliency to climate change and other considerations that may affect cities in the future.

Further, SRO looks at the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Goals or SGDs. These SGDs are the guiding light in design and management approaches. Be it climate change to food safe considerations, design will take into account the ethos of these 17 SGDs to ensure a holistic approach to design and management under SRO.

Singapore Science Park One. (Source: ascendas-singbridge.com)

The Interpol Global Complex. (Source: straitstimes.com)

CASE STUDY: NET ZERO APPROACH FOR SINGAPORE SCIENCE PARK SRO has developed a sustainability roadmap for Singapore Science Park One (SP1) to provide guidance for Ascendas-Singbridge Group (ASB) on how to integrate sustainability goals and strategies on resource optimization and operational savings.

The key objective of driving SP1 towards a Net Zero Energy development is to create an enriching experience in overall environments, providing integrated end-to-end solutions for communities, people and engender a vibrant enterprise district that foster collaboration and synergy between academia and business.

The desired outcome of the entire process can be classified into 4 main categories: • Low Carbon Smart District with shared services; • Facilitate open innovation, foster industry and academic collaboration; • Support start-up industries and business; • Improve user experience and catalyse community building.

The sustainability road map for SP1 can be broadly classified into 3 steps: Step 1 – Creating the basis for the Science Park of the future Identify the main driving force; adopt a humancentric approach by early user engagement; identify opportunities and constraints.

Step 2 – Design and implementation Forge a partnership with major stakeholders and the public; implementation and user engagement; establish goal targets and indicators; develop smart sustainable strategies; identify available data and establish an indicate framework.

Step 3 – Outcome and validation Assess impact; validate outcomes and reassess goals and priorities; develop a performance- based design output.

The key design challenges for implementing Net Zero Energy Building: • Engaging the client to be fully committed and involved in the design process; • Engaging future users that allows consultants to design for greater accuracy in terms of energy usage; • Challenge the conventional design and industry practice to create innovative ideas to further reduce energy consumption; • Timeline; • Early PV supplier engagement and performance contract.