Shaping South Asia 2012 - 02

ISSUE 02 2012 SOUTH ASIA

Special Edition On our projects in the civic sector Learning institutions: New SIM campus, Yale-NUS college, Bangkok Patana School, Sports School Pahang and more First phase of Gardens by the Bay to be unveiled Queen Sirikit Medical Centre goes under refurbishment In Profile: Stanley Low, Group Senior Advisor for Transportation New analytical model developed by Meinhardt and Ir. Professor S L Chan from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University

BANGKOK PATANA SCHOOL, THAILAND

REGIONAL CEO

Q&A

GLOBAL PROJECTS

GLOBAL NEWS

ISSUE 02 2012

SOUTH ASIA

Regional CEO Message

WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF SHAPING SOUTH ASIA

John Pollard Regional CEO, South Asia j o h n p @ m e i n h a rd t . n e t

With civic projects, what usually comes to mind is how the design can improve the social well-being of the users.

Whether it is for a new build or conservation work, civic spaces are no longer designed for a linear experience.

Instead, they are gravitating towards extensive and interconnected uses to encourage greater community engagement.

In the following pages, you will read about how we have helped our clients make the best use of design through smart solutions.

Such solid credentials are one of the many reasons our Singapore business has scooped the top accolade, beating our competitors, at the inaugural Consulting Engineers Enterprise award. This national recognition reinforces us as a leader in the industry - not just on our technical excellence, but also Meinhardt’s organizational developments and enterprise model globally.

What runs deeper throughout the Group is a culture of innovative and collaborative engineering as seen from the newly invented software created by our research arm. Named the Second-Order Design and Analysis, the program dispenses assumptions typically used in a conventional design and analysis method, and keeps any overdesigning work at bay.

With so much going on, including our appointment of Mr. Stanley Low, Group Senior Advisor for Transportation, I strongly encourage you to visit our social media channels today. They are not only a great platform to learn about our latest projects but also a useful source of expert insights for you.

Content

SIM Campus, Singapore

Yale-NUS College, Singapore

Education Resource Centre@ NUS, Singapore

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Bangkok Patana School, Thailand

Sports School Pahang, Malaysia

International School Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Kampong Baru Mosque, Malaysia

Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore

Queen Sirikit Medical Centre, Thailand

Psychiatric Hospital Permai, Malaysia

In Profile: Stanley Low Group Senior Advisor, Transportation

Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong

Second-Order Design and Analysis Software

Consulting Engineers Enterprise Award 2012

Water, Energy and Environment Exhibition, 13 to 15 March 2012

Meinhardt launches Carbon Consultancy in Australia

EDUCATION

High Tech Campus aims for the Prestigious Green Mark rating ‘Ecologically intelligent’ may best describe the upcoming business campus at the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM). Underpinning the design is a strong sustainability agenda that will serve to inspire, delight and enhance the educational experience.

Designed by Architects 61, the new campus will reflect SIM’s values as a modern institution and will provide an integrated front to the whole campus. The planning is focused around the central atrium located at the junction of the existing circulation axis through the Annex building and SIM headquarters. Two building forms will hover above the sculpted ground plane - a rational teaching building of glass and porcelain cladding which acts as a bookend to the campus, and the dynamic curved form of the multipurpose hall and theatre which symbolises the creativity and innovation of the campus.

Scalability and Flexibility

Intelligent Building Systems

The new architectural elements are designed in synergy with the existing compound and built with the flexibility for future expansion. Staying true to its design intent, the building forms and materiality will provide a recognised architectural expression, demonstrating a commitment to environmentally sustainable design, sound buildability principles combined with select material innovation.

Norms will be challenged and structural designs that will improve buildability and flexibility in space planning will be adopted as the project gears up for completion by 2014.

The new SIM campus will incorporate low energy and smart technology systems for environmental control. This includes a ‘cool air distribution’ strategy to drive down the heat level of the building envelopes and a ‘passive air displacement’ design to improve the natural ventilation and indoor air quality.

Currently at the conceptual stage, rooms are planned to be modular in size with operable walls for open plan, break-out areas. This is further enhanced through generous floor to floor heights. The buildings will also be designed to cater for extra loading if new floors are to be added in future.

Skin Deep

Aside from a well integrated building management system, the team will also employ extensive conservation strategies to manage and to recycle water resources.

From the curved screens to warm copper cladding and masonry walls, the new campus will be clothed in various interesting textures, whilst staying connected to the surrounding landscape and green terraces.

The façade systems are designed to be durable and permeable, effectively optimising natural ventilation and daylighting into the campus areas.

Kam Mun Wai

kmw@meinhardt.com.sg Deputy Managing Director, Singapore

The project has given us a broad canvas in exploring new ways of thinking and in particular, how sustainability can serve a larger purpose.

We will be assessing the ecological impact at every stage of the development and Meinhardt’s experience in ESD will be a great asset to the team.

Architects 61

SIM Campus, Singapore Client: Singapore Institute of Management Architects: Architects 61 in collaboration with FJMT Civil, Structural, MEP, Façade and ESD Consultants: Meinhardt Meinhardt Team: Kam Mun Wai, Chin Yeu Tong, Mathieu Meur, Lim Kheng Guan, Tse Chun Kwong, Cheng chin Fook, Masatoshi Takahashi, Henry Hsu

EDUCATION

Social Learning The campus of Yale-NUS College is designed to blend the cultures and traditions of Singapore and New Haven, and to build an academic village for living and learning. Social learning among peers is fundamental to a liberal arts education and will take place within three residential colleges – each exuding its own character and each featuring bedroom suites, dining commons, nested communities, signature courtyards and sky gardens. Every residential college will allow students, faculty, and staff to experience the intimacy and character of a small school while still enjoying the resources of a large university.

One of the highlights of this liberal arts college is the 350-seat, multipurpose auditorium designed with exceptional acoustic capabilities. Special considerations are undertaken from both the structural and mechanical aspects to achieve a high level of acoustic excellence (NR25).

Designed in collaboration with the acoustics consultant, a ‘box-in-box’ structural approach is adopted to support the acoustic soundproofing of the auditorium. This requires double columns around the perimeter of the room with a truss structure holding up a layer of acoustic ceiling that is completely isolated from the roof above.

To reach the ideal acoustic environment, an intricate air flow system is conceived. The system will supply air at slow velocity from a mechanical plenum below. The cool air is then channeled through the floor diffusers located under the seats and hot air is returned to the system at the ceiling level.

Tan Chin Hock

tch@meinhardt.com.sg Joint Division Manager & Director (C&S) Singapore

Liu Chi On

lco@meinhardt.com.sg Joint Division Manager & Director (MEP) Singapore

Yale-NUS College Singapore Client: National University of Singapore and Yale University Architects: Forum Architects and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects Civil, Structural and MEP Engineers: Meinhardt Meinhardt Team: Tan Chin Hock, Liu Chi On, Dhany Harjanto, Neil Tumbaga, Jefferson Lim

EDUCATION

Meinhardt receives a Positive Report Card Tasked to complete the project within a 20-month timeline, Meinhardt took on the challenge of a fast-track design for the renovation of a three-storey primary school in Bangkok. The THB650 million exercise created new teaching and learning spaces such as a library, smaller breakout zones and thinking pads that were previously unavailable at the Bangkok Patana School. The vibrant, fresh colour schemes have received praise from the school community since completion.

Meinhardt’s remit involved major structural modifications to the existing buildings, the conversion of the existing auditorium to a new library, and a new wing to provide classrooms for the fifth and the sixth graders at the Bangkok Patana School.

The project’s main challenge was the site constraint. As the existing building foundation was unable to support the load of an additional new floor, the team designed steel trusses spanning 18 to 21 metres across the building widths to carry the weight of the new floor plates.

Fitting in extensive renovation works within an extremely constrained site, within an operating school and a compressed timeframe, was in itself quite a challenge.

This required a structural design that was ‘construction-savvy’ and I believe the team has genuinely succeeded in helping the architect realize their vision. It reminds us again that learning can be fun.

John Anderson Director Thailand

John Anderson

johna@meinhardt.com.sg Director, Thailand

Bangkok Patana School Thailand Client: Bangkok Patana School Foundation Architect: The Beaumont Partnership Civil and Structural Engineers: Meinhardt Meinhardt Team: Theera Wattanasup, Supol Akkara-areesuk

EDUCATION

Former Mining Site in Pahang turns into a New Sports Academy Designed to contain multi-sports facilities of international standard, the latest sports academy located in Pahang is divided into two development phases.

Phase one has been successfully delivered and comprises a mix of architectural components such as the administrative and academic blocks, a large multipurpose hall, a 50-metre competition pool, an eight-lane running track, a stadium, a recreation lake and two hostel blocks. The remaining buildings within the residential zone will be rolled out in phase two.

“Huge emphasis was placed on land survey during the pre-construction phase,” said Meinhardt’s Deputy Managing Director, Ir. Sobri, who led in the geotechnical design and structural framework of the new Sports School in Pahang. In what was previously a tin mining site, the team had to deal with complex environmental issues at the beginning of the project.

“With the assistance of the contractor, the land was properly rehabilitated and cleaned up of ex-mining deposits with minimal environmental impact. This sets the backdrop for a safe construction and restores the landscape for biodiversity.”

Mohamad Sobri Bin Abd Ghani sobri@meinhardt.com.my Deputy Managing Director Malaysia

A signature piece of the academy is the 86,434-square feet stadium, a multifunctional space which can be adapted for football or track and field sports. The two-storied grand stand has a seating capacity of 200 people. Integral to the stadium structure is a three dimensional truss spanning seven metres long and cantilevered over the main roof.

At RM127 million, the sports academy is one of the largest institutional investments to date. This newly completed school boasts an impressive array of athletic and training facilities specifically for football and gymnastics, and will play an important role in grooming the country’s future sporting talents.

Sports School Pahang Malaysia Client: Ministry of Education, Malaysia Architect: BZ Architect Sdn Bhd Contractor: Binaan Desjaya Sdn Bhd Civil and Structural Engineers: Meinhardt Meinhardt Team: Ir. Mohamad Sobri, Noorashikin binti Mat Jali, Balqis binti Abu Bakar, Isaac Chua Shyi Shen, Nor Hidayah binti Hazali

EDUCATION

International School of Phnom Penh Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The International School of Phnom Penh is set to embark on a US$20 million development.

Meinhardt has been appointed as the engineers for the project, along with a consultant team led by architect The Beaumont Partnership.

The development is divided into campuses intended for Primary, Middle and International Baccalaureate diploma programs within a site area of 5.4 hectares. In tune with the local setting, the buildings will take on a tropical design with simple lines, forms and accents of the traditional Khmer architecture. To this end, water features prominently in the design.

Each building will have a specific identity and its own courtyard to cater for the different age groups from students in the early years of Grade 1 through to Grade 12.

Reflecting a modern administration, it will house Music, Media and IT learning resources, including a variety of sports amenities. The school will cater for an intake of 1,000 students when it is completed in 2014.

All components of the project are to be designed to comply with the minimum standards set out by the International Code Council. ESD principles are being incorporated throughout the project design such as recycling of waste water, the use of low flow fixtures and natural day lighting.

John Anderson

johna@meinhardt.com.sg Director, Thailand

EDUCATION

Education Resource Centre @ National University of Singapore Located at the University Town of the National University of Singapore, the Education Resource Centre serves as a 24-hour activity hub which enables and fosters collaborative learning within the school community. Meinhardt was engaged to develop sustainable and innovative solutions for the building’s façade.

The design of the Education Resource Centre was focused around the existing Tembusu trees of the site, resulting in an organic arrangement of clusters that housed the university facilities. These curved forms have a facetted, high performance facade using double-glazing with fritted glass and horizontal sunshades to achieve a Green Mark Platinum award. Combined with outdoor study areas and lush green aspects, the project maintains natural ventilated areas that also helped to contribute to the Green Mark award.

Mimi Daraphet

mmdi@meinhardt.com.sg Senior Façade Consultant Singapore

One of the facade design feats was designing a 10.5-metre tall facade to showcase the red ochre concrete wall of the lecture theatre with a slender aluminium mullion frame. Our façade team worked closely with W Architects to maintain a 2:1 ratio mullion frame that concealed a steel member inside to provide the structural integrity for the large span.

COMMUNITY SPACES

Gardens by the Bay, Bay South Singapore At 54 hectares, Bay South Gardens is the largest of the three themed gardens planned within the Gardens by the Bay project.

The Gardens will feature two cooled conservatories - the Flower Dome (cool dry biome) and Cloud Forest (cool moist biome), that will house exotic plant species found in the Mediterranean and tropical montane regions respectively. Â

Cloud Forest

58

metres high A cool moist biome

Photograph courtesy of Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Due to receive the public this June, the two conservatories at Bay South Gardens will be a spectacular addition to Singapore’s Marina Bay. The new downtown horticultural gardens will showcase among others, Supertrees between 25 to 50 metres tall, interactive themed gardens and an event lawn.

Conservatory Complex Gardens By the Bay, Bay South Singapore Client: National Parks Board, Singapore Architects: CPG Consultants and Wilkinson Eyre Landscape Architect: Grant Associates Civil & Structural Consultants: Meinhardt Infrastructure and Atelier One MEP Consultants: CPG Consultants and Atelier Ten Facade Consultant: Arup Facade Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon & Seah Main Contractor: Woh Hup Flower Dome

38

metres high A cool dry biome

Structural Engineer (Roof Faรงade NSC): Meinhardt Singapore Meinhardt Team: Meinhardt Infrastructure - KS Chan, Foo See Lim Meinhardt Singapore - Tan Chin Hock, Sergio Toro

COMMUNITY SPACES

Photograph courtesy of Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Façade Steel Roof Design for Gardens by the Bay, Bay South As the structural engineer, Meinhardt worked in collaboration with Atelier One (UK) to design the two conservatories and devised a safe methodology for their construction. Each of the conservatories is designed as a hybrid structure made up of a gridshell system combined with steel arches.

The team undertook extensive analytical studies which involved the use of some of the latest engineering softwares right down to the study of the foundation system. Cast-in-situ bored piles were eventually adopted as the foundation to support the structures and transfer the loads to competent soils at deeper depth.

The structural interaction between the gridshell and the curved arches is effectively attained through the triangulated hangers.

Other key elements incorporated within each hybrid structure include the ‘nose bracing frame’ for the gridshell, and the steel cables that run perpendicular to the curved arches and are anchored into the foundation.

COOL DRY BIOME - EAST ELEVATION

Tan Chin Hock

tch@meinhardt.com.sg Joint Division Manager & Director (C&S) Singapore

COMMUNITY SPACES

Gardens by the Bay, Bay South, Singapore Together with the main contractor, Meinhardt introduced a detailed construction sequence to ensure that the faรงade steel works and gridshell were structurally stable throughout the erection and also minimised the built-in stresses of the gridshell and arches interface.

COMMUNITY SPACES

Kampung Baru Mosque Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Drawing on Meinhardt’s extensive experience and understanding of the unique architectural design of religious sanctuaries, the client has commissioned the team to provide structural and MEP engineering in the landmark redevelopment of the Kampung Baru Mosque.

The project will involve the construction of a new mosque and additional areas designed for a multipurpose hall, a two-storey office block, underground parking and a community kitchen. Â A quintessential characteristic is the 85-foot tall minaret as well as a prominent steel dome which will crown the roof of the main prayer room. The new mosque will be substantially bigger to ease the crowd, accommodating up to 5,000 people. The entire development is due for completion in 2014.

Mohamad Sobri Bin Abd Ghani sobri@meinhardt.com.my Deputy Managing Director Malaysia

Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall Singapore

Meinhardt was appointed by W Architects as the façade consultant for the refurbishment of the historical Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall. These heritage buildings have played a pivotal role in Singapore’s early political and cultural landscape.

In June 2010, the 151-year-old icons were closed for a S$180 million makeover, which will preserve its heritage elements while providing new facilities and technologies to improve the acoustics. Key façade elements that will be added are a high-performance window wall system on the exterior façades and a glass skylight located above the central atrium passageway between the two buildings.

The two performing arts venues are expected to reopen in early 2014 and rejuvenate the arts precinct for Singaporeans and international visitors.

Mimi Daraphet

mmdi@meinhardt.com.sg Senior Façade Consultant Singapore

HEALTHCARE

Medical Spaces Reinvigorated The refurbished Queen Sirikit Medical Centre will facilitate new methods of care and provide an exceptional healthcare environment in the area of bone marrow disease.

To maintain cohesiveness with the exterior façade, the refurbishments are centred around the inside courtyard, which called for a new façade and landscaping, to tie in with the refurbished areas on levels six to nine.

Instrumental to the healing process is a soft and lively interior, where an abundance of greenery is introduced, to maintain a tangible connection between the patients and nature.

Upon refurbishment, the Medical Centre will have 47 inpatient rooms and eight intensive care units. In particular, there will be dedicated rooms for organ and bone-marrow transplant patients.

The Medical Centre will also be well-supported by specialized facilities for organ storage, laboratories and class 10k clean rooms, to enable research.

The refurbishment raises three design principles - comfort, hygiene and cleanliness. Meinhardt’s design services are focused on preventing cross contamination and eliminating high humidity, particularly in the clean rooms.

“As the medical centre will be accredited, the design has to pay close attention to every single detail. Despite the high standards attained, smart strategies recommended by Meinhardt have helped keep the overall renovation costs low,” said Wuthichai Leelavoravong, Senior Interior Designer at dwp.

Currently in the last phase, the 9-storey building will be fully operational by late 2012, after a THB200 million facelift.

The entire scheme is delivered by a project team comprising of dwp as the architect and interior designers, and Meinhardt as the mechanical and electrical consultant.

As the medical centre will be accredited, the design has to pay close attention to every single detail. Despite the high standards attained, smart strategies recommended by Meinhardt have helped keep the overall renovation costs low.

Wuthichai Leelavoravong Senior Interior Designer dwp | design worldwide partnership

Client: Queen Sirikit Medical Centre Architect and Interior Designer: DWP MEP Engineers: Meinhardt Meinhardt Team: Kittisak Pulviwatchaikarn, Matthew Silvester

Boonchon Tuntirattanasoontorn boonchon@meinhardt.net Director, Thailand

HEALTHCARE

Psychiatric Hospital Permai Tampoi, Malaysia Works for this brand new psychiatric facility located within the existing Hospital Permai compound at Tampoi, Johor Bahru, have since completed.

Meinhardt was engaged as the civil and structural consultant for this 724-bed government hospital.

The hospital occupies 151 acres of land and will provide comprehensive mental care for the local community in addition to the existing services provided by Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Bahru. It will also extend specialized mental care for cases referred from hospitals in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

The development is divided into several components comprising 26 medical blocks ranging from one to two storeys, and up to 16 storeys for the staff apartments. Designed by Perunding Alam Bina (PAB), the settings will support, maintain and improve the healing process for the psychiatric patients. It will also house a range of support facilities for the staff working in this community-based psychiatric hospital, as well as facilities that can be used by the surrounding communities.

Eddie Ng

edng@meinhardt.com.my Director (C&S), Malaysia

Q&A

In Profile

Having spent the bulk of his career with German-based Daimler-Benz Group, Stanley has a long and varied body of work in rail systems. Not someone to rest on his laurels, he is back on track with his recent appointment as Meinhardt’s Group Senior Advisor for Transportation.

SHAPING finds out what he thinks about Singapore’s new public initiatives to reduce traffic congestion and the conservation of its historic railway stations.

Stanley Low stanleylow@meinhardt.com.sg

Photo by: linkway88

Station Square, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Photo by: Nicole Fontanella

Q1

In the last few months, there has been a lot of public discussion on the state of our transportation networks. The Singapore Government has announced a public investment to boost the bus capacity and plans to extend the rail network. What more do you think the city can do to improve the travelling experience?

Einstein was quoted as saying everything is relative. Actually, the overall travelling experience in Singapore is not so bad, relatively speaking. But of course, we can do more. We can improve on how we get from our homes to the bus stops or stations. There are many areas without covered link ways. These are not very expensive to provide and can be built rather quickly.

We should also improve on the frequency of services, not just during peak hours but at other times too. Station facilities should be upgraded like adding more escalators-older folks will tell you it is more difficult to walk downstairs than up! At the end of the day, let’s not forget all these come at a price and we must be prepared to pay for it.

So much for the hardware, the software is equally important. Aside from a good public transportation system, we need to inculcate a gracious and considerate culture. I have travelled on many metro systems and the one I admire most is Japan’s.

Despite the daily crush, they remain civil and caring especially to the children, the women and the elderly. Speaking of which, in Shanghai and Beijing, I had a pleasant experience where the young people gave up their seats for me. It is still not too late to start inculcating a culture in Singapore where we can all enjoy using the public transport.

It can start with you and me, and we don’t need to wait for another national campaign to do our part to improve the overall travelling experience.

Companies can also encourage social conscience through their employees. One idea could be if our employees see a courteous act on a public transport, they can nominate this exemplary person for our company’s courtesy award. Through such initiatives, companies can also do their part to improve the overall travelling experience.

Q2

The public has been calling for the two Malayan-Singapore railway stations to be gazetted as historical monuments. Are you inspired by any conservation projects which you think can be successfully adapted here?

We Singaporeans like to eat and shop! As long as a conservation project has these two elements, it will be successful. Of the two Malayan-Singapore railway stations, the Tanjong Pagar station is situated mid-way between the Sentosa island and the CBD area at Marina Bay and so integrating a hotel within the site would be a plausible idea.

This brings to mind a place I visited in Pittsburgh, when I was living in the United States. It’s called the Station Square, a 52-acre mixed-use development that includes among others an amphitheatre and a mid-size luxury hotel.

The complex was redeveloped from a former railway station and some of the original structures have been converted into restaurants and retail elements. In the same way, I believe Tanjong Pagar station can be successfully conserved and brought to life as a popular tourist attraction.

GLOBAL PROJECT

Prince of Wales Hospital Hong Kong

Located at Shatin, the Prince of Wales Hospital functions both as the main acute-care hospital serving the New Territories’ east cluster, and as a medical teaching facility for the Chinese University of Hong Kong. An integrated team comprising of Meinhardt’s civil, structural and geotechnical specialists, has breathed a new life to the hospital.

The concept was to produce an extension block that will house 800 in-patient beds, an accident and emergency department, operating theatres and ancillary facilities. To maximise the use of space, an underground basement was constructed to house the water tanks and to link it to the main building by a service tunnel. The tunnel is designed as a reinforced concrete boxed-structure suspended from the ground beams, allowing noise from this plantroom to be effectively screened out.

This underground service tunnel will also provide flexibility for the connection to other future developments within the hospital compound.

To connect the new wing to the main hospital block, a link bridge was incorporated into the structure. By applying the vierendeel trusses, the team improved the constructability of the link bridge which required two basic structural spans.

Reuben Pui-kwan Chu

reubenchu@meinhardt.com.hk Managing Director, China - C&S, I&E, Atech Hong Kong

GLOBAL NEWS

New Analytical Model has brought a Sweeping Change to the Engineering Landscape The complex nature of the two iconic conservatories at Gardens by the Bay has demanded a rigorous design review using a program that adopted the Non-linear Integrated Design and Analysis (NIDA) theory authored by Ir. Professor S L Chan from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This spurred a collaboration between Ir. Prof. Chan and Meinhardt Advanced Technology (MAT), the research and development arm of Meinhardt Group led

by Ir. Professor Reuben Chu, to further develop a new high-tech software that adopts the same design theory. SHAPING catches up with the two collaborators on this new software named The Second-Order Design and Analysis (SODA).

How does SODA work and why is it better than the conventional type?

In Meinhardt’s case, how effective has it been using this high-tech method?

Ir. Prof. S L Chan:

Ir. Prof. Reuben Chu:

The Second-Order Design and Analysis (SODA) is a revolutionary analysis and design method for steel, steel-concrete composite, reinforced concrete and other structures including bamboo and pre-tensioning steel truss systems. In SODA, the structure is designed by a simulation process in a truly performance-based approach. Unlike conventional design method, the global stability (P) and the member stability (P) effects are used in SODA so that there is no need to assume the effective length (Le) for buckling effects.

By applying SODA, material and costs can be reduced compared to conventional design and analysis method.

In our experience, the average cost savings in steel usage could amount to 15 to 20% of the cost of the structure.

We are able to apply SODA in the analysis and design to complex structures that can resist seismic effects, fire and progressive collapse-that wasn’t always possible in the past with the conventional linear analysis. The fact that we can cut out the tedious and risky assessment for effective length has also helped Meinhardt to speed up the whole design process.

So far, Meinhardt has applied this revolutionary second order analysis and design method to the design of the Amphitheatre in Hong Kong Science Park Phase 2 and the TAMAR government complex which currently holds a record of the longest-span roof in Hong Kong.

The second order analysis and design theory is already recommended in the codes of practice for structural use of steel in Hong Kong, LRFD (North America) and Europe. It can also be used in other countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and India where Meinhardt has presence in and can readily support our clients with the use of this new software.

For more information on Ir. Professor Chan, visit his website here.

Reuben Pui-kwan Chu

reubenchu@meinhardt.com.hk Managing Director, China - C&S, I&E, Atech Hong Kong

The design review of Gardens by the Bay adopted the Non-linear Integrated Design and Analysis (NIDA) which spurred the development of a new high-tech software, named the Second-Order Design and Analysis (SODA).

The savings demonstrated here is an illustration of application by SODA.

01 The conservatory structure is made up of a gridshell system supported by giant steel arches.

02 These arches are stabilized by tension rods.

03 A typical setting of the Second-Order Design and Analysis (SODA) software. Global stability (P) and member stability (P) effects are computed into the SODA software instead of the effective length (Le) for buckling effects.

04 480 load cases were analysed for the conservatory. Results indicated additional capacity in the member sizes, which can be reduced.

GLOBAL NEWS

Meinhardt wins inaugural Consulting Engineers Enterprise Award 2012 Our engineers have worked on the Marina Bay Financial Centre and Gardens by the Bay - structures that have reshaped Singapore’s skyline, economy and sustainability standards.

Meinhardt Group and Meinhardt Infrastructure were among the three companies recognised for their outstanding achievements by the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore, at the inaugural Consulting Engineers Enterprise Award 2012.

What won the hearts of the jury were Meinhardt’s commitment to business innovations, new initiatives to address energy and urban challenges, and its overall organizational excellence. Dr. Shahzad Nasim, Meinhardt’s Global CEO, said the award has reaffirmed Meinhardt’s technical edge and its enduring success made possible through people development.

“While we undertake projects that address long-term sustainability, we also need to take steps that address the development needs of our staff. The past two years have been transformative. We hope the engineering and business communities have felt our impact positively.”

Dr. Nasim Global CEO, Meinhardt Group

Dr. Nasim, Meinhardt’s Global CEO, received the award from Mr Tan Chuan Jin, Singapore’s Minister of State for Manpower and National Development at the ACES award ceremony on 28 March 2012.

Strengthening Partnerships in Dubai’s Infrastructure Market Who Meinhardt participated as a main exhibitor in one of the most prominent infrastructure events in the Gulf region-the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2012). Our Environmental Engineering Director, Arsad Hossain, hits the scene together with the local team based in Dubai.

When The exhibition was held from 13 to15 March at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which drew more than 12,000 visitors from over 30 countries.

“Given that the Government of Dubai is planning on investing US$7.5 billion in next two years in energy and water expansion, the WETEX exhibition was an excellent platform for international consultants like Meinhardt to showcase their capabilities in these fields.

Over the three-day event, we conducted several meetings with key industry players such as the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority - both of whom we have very good existing relationships with. In our dealings with other developers, consultants and technocrats, there have been much interest particularly in the areas of conservation, demand management, asset management and capacity building.

It was overall a fruitful experience as we had the opportunity to network, and build on the goodwill and potential business relationships in the region.”

Arsad Hossain

ah@meinhardt.com.sg Director, Environmental Engineering Singapore

GLOBAL NEWS

Meinhardt launches Carbon Consultancy in Australia In a bid to address climate change, the Australian Government has introduced the Clean Energy Act which will come into effect this July. Direct Green House Gas (GHG) emissions will be taxed and emitters will pay AUD$23 for each tonne of carbon dioxide. This carbon tax is set to gradually increase and will eventually be determined by the market.

Australia, China, Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea and India are beginning to introduce or are planning market-based emissions trading schemes and carbon taxes. As more and more countries put in environmental protection laws, what will it mean for your business or in your overseas expansion?

Wherever your business is located, we can help you. Download this flyer and contact our Meinhardt representative for more details.

DOWNLOAD

Dr Mirek Piechowski

Mirek.Piechowski@meinhardtgroup.com Head, Building Science Group Australia

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