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FROM ELECTRIC LIGHTING TO FUTURE AVIATION: MOTT MACDONALD’S JOURNEY IN SINGAPORE
This year, Mott MacDonald, a global management, engineering and development consultancy, is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary of operating in Singapore and commemorating 100 years of heritage in the city-state.
The Mott MacDonald journey began in 1902, when Sir William Henry Preece, an electrical engineering visionary, conducted a feasibility study for electric lighting in the region. His legacy was carried on by his son, Arthur Henry Preece, who helped design the first major electric power station in Singapore, the St James Power Station, in 1923. Fast forward to 1973 and Mott MacDonald was invited by the government to explore alternative solutions for a bridge over the Kallang River, as part of Singapore’s first metro project - the East-West and North-South Line. This marked the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration with Singapore and regional clients, which continues to this day.
Making an indelible mark on Singapore’s cityscape through global collaboration
Today, Mott MacDonald has a team of over 270 talented professionals based in Singapore, who work on iconic and complex projects in Singapore and across the Asia Pacific region. The engineering complexity of Mott MacDonald’s projects, and sheer volume of data, size and location of the multiple design teams across the globe has meant that the old ways of delivering projects had to be abandoned and a new model for delivery developed with major emphasis on a collaborative, innovative and digital first approach.
Over the past year, Mott MacDonald has taken impressive strides in innovation on the North-South Corridor tunnelling project. To overcome space constraints along Thomson Road, an inventive approach was used to stack the tunnels instead of a traditional side-by-side construction. This unique arrangement involved developing the world’s first underground bridge and has been designed by Mott MacDonald’s transport experts in Singapore, UK and Australia. Incorporating an innovative concept knows as the Vierendeel Truss, the design allows the bridge to span across live MRT tunnels and covers an impressive 30 metre distance – that’s about half the length of an entire 3-carriage MRT train.
Mott MacDonald brings global aviation expertise to the shores of Singapore using experience garnered from working on transformative projects at the world’s major airports, including London Heathrow and New York’s JFK. As Jewel’s building services engineer, their commitment to sustainable practices has been instrumental from initial competition to detailed design engineering with CapitaLand and Changi Airport Group. Air conditioning systems were strategically placed and designed such that they blend in with the environment. Try figuring out where the cool air came from when you are at the roof garden. Currently, the team is working on the development of Changi Terminal 5 through the provision of engineering and consultancy services for the terminal building, ground transportation centre, airfield, and landside and airside facilities. The dedication and design innovation required to support the architect’s design and re-imagined vision of an ‘Airport city’ is both incredibly challenging and something Mott MacDonald is extremely proud to undertake.
Sustainability is a key focus for Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald’s strength lies in its ability to combine global expertise and local knowledge to deliver innovative solutions that prioritise people, safety, and sustainability. At this years’ BritCham Annual Business Awards, Mott MacDonald was awarded Sustainability Champion of the Year for its tremendous efforts both within the organisation and the work it does with clients and partners.
Globally, Mott MacDonald strives to go beyond legislative requirements. It has committed to achieving net zero by 2040 and is amongst the first group of companies to have its targets validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As part of a global carbon reduction plan, the local Singapore office is tracking operational emissions using a carbon footprint dashboard. The dashboard allows for a detailed breakdown of Scope 2 and 3 emissions focusing on emissions associated with purchased electricity, employee commuting, business travel and making sure its value chains have carbon reduction plans. These operational emissions are monitored monthly to identify opportunities for potential carbon savings. Annual events and initiatives such as an internal Sustainability Week, Active Travel Challenge, clean up days, and devising incentives and support packages are also used to bring awareness about sustainability in the community and to encourage employees to rethink ways to reduce their own carbon footprint.
Beyond carbon, Mott MacDonald is actively pursuing initiatives that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In Singapore its commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and alignment with SDG 8, on inclusion of people with disabilities in workplace, meant that it recently underwent an office transformation to ensure its workspace is fully wheelchair accessible. This includes flat surfaces, accessible doors, and wheelchair-friendly toilets. Aligning with SDG 12, on responsible consumption and production, the Singapore team has also successfully implemented a single use plastic avoidance policy in the office which has involved working closely with suppliers to avoid any potential single use plastic, especially when catering corporate events.
Mott MacDonald also prioritises low-carbon development across the various sectors it works in. The organisation is investing in its own carbon digital platform, Moata Carbon Portal, to create localised carbon databases allowing more clients to track embodied carbon emissions associated with infrastructure assets. A Mott MacDonald representative sits on a Carbon Committee with the Singapore Green Building Council to help raise industry awareness of embodied and operational carbon. Its work in carbon advisory and focus on a regional net zero initiative has been successful in promoting a shift in design thinking internally and is now making strides in the market as a trusted advisor to major clients. This is evident by a recent collaboration with large-scale asset owners and developers such as CapitaLand, Lendlease, GuocoLand, ESR Group and Mapletree where Mott MacDonald’s carbon advisors have been working to support carbon baselining and reduction planning for their asset portfolio.
Over five decades, Mott MacDonald has enhanced the quality of life and connectivity for Singaporeans, offering efficient commutes, reliable power, seamless airport experiences, and sustainable city growth. Its commitment to reducing its own environmental impact and supporting its clients in achieving their sustainability goals is admirable. Looking towards the digital future, Mott MacDonald is driving the use of cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions to further enhance Singapore’s infrastructure. A strategic business focus is allowing Mott MacDonald to harness global digital expertise with local insights as it continues to push boundaries to create a brighter, more sustainable future.
About The Company
Mott MacDonald is a global management, engineering and development consultancy headquartered in the United Kingdom. Employing over 19,000 staff across 140 countries, Mott MacDonald is one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world and second largest in the UK. Visit mottmac.com for more information.
