Tag: Sustainability

Improving patient safety with sustainability-driven design

Woodlands Health Campus (WHC)
Cross sections of the medical facility, indicating sustainability response strategies such as daylighting, natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting and noise buffering

The Sustainability team played an important role in shaping the design of Singapore’s upcoming Woodlands Health Campus (WHC), in cooperation with Surbana Jurong’s Mechanical and Engineering team and the project’s architects.

A paramount consideration in the design of the healthcare facility is patient safety. One area that the team looked at was how to ensure that open corridors and other exposed communal spaces will not be inundated by rain. This in turn will help prevent falls and fall-related injuries and even fatalities.

To do so, the team analysed wind-driven rain using a state-of-the-art simulation method. The use of advanced technology to simulate wind-driven rain is a first for the team.

“This project offers an eye-opening experience to the use of complex computer simulations in detailed yet time efficient environmental analyses. By simulating potential wet and dry areas to help drive the design of façade screens, external shades and location of communal furniture, we were able to create usable all-weather outdoor spaces within the campus,” remarked Zeng Xiaoshan, who is the team’s lead Engineer for the WHC project.

sustainability

Other sustainable strategies the team designed for the WHC include enhanced energy savings through heat recovery from the air-conditioning systems, solar photovoltaics and rainwater harvesting for non-potable use.

Sustainability lead architect Astee Lim said, “We are very fortunate to have been engaged from the early design stages of this future-ready and cost effective hospital development. We were able to successfully achieve a sustainable and holistic outcome by working closely with the design team for various detailed environmental building analyses.”

 

In conversation with Tan Szue Hann, Surbana Jurong’s Head of Sustainability

tan szue hann

Tan Szue Hann, M Arch, heads Sustainability at Surbana Jurong. He is also a Registered Architect, Council Member and Chair of Sustainability at the Singapore Institute of Architects, and is Singapore’s 2015 Young Green Architect of the Year, awarded by the Building & Construction Authority and the Singapore Green Building Council.

Szue Hann has been involved in several award-winning design projects, including the ParkRoyal on Pickering hotel and the SPACE Asia Hub with his previous office. His passion is in sustainable environments and integrated design, exemplified by recent projects with the SJ Sustainability team. These include the recently-launched BCA SkyLab, a state-of-the-art rotatable test bed for future smart and sustainable building technologies, as well as a new cycling park network in Singapore.

Szue Hann is excited that with SJ Group becoming a more global organisation, the prospects are positive for sustainability to pivot environmental, infrastructural, urban design and building projects across the world. He believes that projects can indeed be driven by sustainability, along with value, innovation and passion.

See below a brief exchange with Szue Hann.

To date, what is the most interesting project you have worked on at SJ Group?

EVERY PROJECT poses a different challenge.

Ok, to actually answer the question, the BCA SkyLab was a rather interesting project. It’s a very small building, but it is also very experimental. Being a building that rotates on the roof of another building posed quite a few technical challenges that, through an integrated cross-disciplinary process, we managed to solve. The building is also a test case for the future of smart, sustainable high-rise buildings in Singapore, so it’s rather impactful, even if small in size.

At the other end of the spectrum, we are currently working on turning a mature district in Singapore into a cycling-friendly one. While challenging, this is also an exciting project as it will go a long way towards achieving the nation’s sustainable transport and active mobility goals.

What opportunities are you excited about for SJ Group within your function?

I think the opportunity to create a unique selling point for projects, to be designed with sustainability in mind, is very enticing. Sustainability will no longer become an ad hoc service offering, but will be ingrained in our proposals, across the board from infrastructure to building projects.

To be able to influence a culture where we can design sustainably, and use our technical skills to preserve our environment even while building new cities, is an exciting prospect.

What makes you tick? (Professionally, of course)

Working with passionate, proactive, motivated teams and individuals who bring new ideas (and value) to the discussion table. The positive energy from such interactions always gets me going!

Surbana Jurong wins Land Transport Authority cycling park network tender

ang mo kio cycling path network
Extent of the cycling path network, with the CTE towards the east, Lower Peirce Reservoir towards the west, Bishan-AMK Park towards the south, and Yio Chu Kang Road towards the north-west

Surbana Jurong is happy to announce that we have won the LTA tender to develop a cycling path network and linear park in the northern part of Singapore. The park will be part of the Ang Mo Kio Cycling Network and will connect people from Yio Chu Kang MRT through Ang Mo Kio MRT to Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park.

The proposed linear park is approximately 3 km long, and runs parallel to the North-South Line (NSL) MRT viaduct, with Yio Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio MRTs as important nodes for public commuting. The park will eventually facilitate seamless connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians within Ang Mo Kio.

yio chu kang cycling path network

The extent of the feature Linear Park, connecting Yio Chu Kang Stadium in the north, traversing Nanyang Polytechnic, Cheng San Community Centre, Ang Mo Kio Central and Teck Ghee Community Centre to the south.

cycling park network singapore

The cycling path network could include overhead cyclist- and pedestrian-only crossings across major roads. (Concept impression only)

sustainability singapore

Segregation of routes and right-of-way prioritisation will be designed into the cycling path network. (Concept impression only)

Our Sustainability team led the tender submission with strong support from our Infrastructure, Landscape and Business Generation teams.

“We are proud to be awarded this tender, what a timely Christmas gift for Surbana Jurong! The linear park will cater to both cyclists and pedestrians with landscaped nodes at various locations that serve as rest points with facilities and access to adjacent amenities that will enhance the cycling and walking experience. We also hope to incorporate sustainable features along the way, such as solar lighting and passive cooling solutions.”

-Tan Szue Hann, Head, Sustainability