Singapore – International design, engineering and advisory company Aurecon has won the Innovation and Sustainability awards at the 2022 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards Southeast Asia for its Nanyang Technological University Academic Building South (NTU ABS), Singapore project – which will soon be one of Asia’s largest mass engineered timber (MET) buildings.

To bring the NTU ABS to life, Aurecon was engaged to deliver civil and structural engineering services, including consultancy services for the demolition of the existing Innovation Centre, conceptualisation and detailed design of all structural elements, preparation of tender documents, and construction support.

Inspired by the environmental benefits and versatility of timber, the building epitomises the adept and innovative use of MET. Aligned to the Building and Construction Authority’s push for Design for Manufacturing and Assembly as part of the Construction Industry Transformation Map, the Aurecon team adopted a modular design approach and prefabricated timber components.

Given that the timber had to be manufactured to precise specifications and thus had to have design details finalised ahead of construction, Aurecon undertook early, detailed 3D-digital documentation and utilised Building Information Modelling (BIM)-Revit to create floorplans and isometric views for easy visualisation for the client. With each component manufactured through precise digital design, the construction process has been simplified significantly, focusing mainly on assembly at the site. As a result, this innovative approach significantly increased construction productivity and led to a cleaner, quieter and safer construction site.

Jean-Marc Girard, Chief Operations Officer, Asia, who is currently leading Aurecon’s Singapore business said, “We are honoured to have won the awards. This affirms the strong technical acumen and deep experience of our engineers to deliver an iconic building that will inspire and shape the growth of students for many generations to come.”

Andrew Maher, Group Managing Principal, Eminence, Digital & Innovation at Aurecon shared, “Innovation is truly part and parcel of all that we do at Aurecon. It is heartening to see the industry recognise how our people go above and beyond what is possible, to bring about groundbreaking solutions that create a more sustainable future for our clients and communities.”