Pre-Project Innovation Consortium

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EDB LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PRE-PROJECT INNOVATION CONSORTIUM TO
DRIVE BUILDING INNOVATION AHEAD OF DEMAND
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) officially launched the Pre-Project
Innovation Consortium (PPIC) - the first-of-its-kind in the building industry worldwide, at the
annual International Green Building Conference in Singapore.
The conference, organised by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore, is
held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore from 1 to 3 September
2014.
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The PPIC is a platform for international and local companies across Singapore’s building
industry ecosystem – developers, architects, engineers and building solutions providers, to
come together to develop and test green technologies in Singapore’s tropical environment, at
the pre-project stage.
The integrative design process required in PPIC will accelerate the building innovation cycle and
enable Singapore to lead the commercialisation of green building technologies, customised for
the tropical climate.
This is the first time globally, that complementary players in the building industry are working in
consortia and ahead of demand, to co-create cutting-edge solutions for buildings of the future.
For instance, a few companies in the PPIC plan to use Singapore as a Living Lab to test the use
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of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) . As the CLT technology was initially developed using
Austria-imported wood, it needs to be adapted for Singapore’s hot and humid weather using
regionally-sourced wood, customised coatings and adhesives.
CLT is built cleaner, quieter and up to 40% faster than counterparts such as concrete and steel
structures. In addition to being a good insulator of heat, the structure of the wood panels in CLT
also prevents air leakage from walls, roofs and windows, thereby generating a stabilised
temperature within the home, and in turn, lowering air conditioning costs.
Mr Yeoh Keat Chuan, Managing Director, EDB said, “Singapore is well positioned to serve as a
Living Lab where companies can develop, trial and commercialise innovative urban solutions in
a real-life setting, before scaling up for regional markets. We are pleased that the PPIC initiative
has attracted strong participation by key players in the building sector, comprising developers,
architectural, engineering and building solutions companies. First-of-its-kind in the world, the
PPIC is well aligned with Singapore’s intent to foster inter-disciplinary innovations and
integrative design in green buildings.”
“The PPIC initiative reinforces the importance of doing things right from the start in the
construction process. Incorporating the fundamentals of sustainability at the pre-project design
and planning stage will lead to cost-effective and high performance green buildings. This
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For more details about the PPIC, refer to Annex A
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Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is an engineered mass timber with the equivalent structure integrity of concrete. It is
formed by binding layers of timber with non-toxic adhesives and then hydraulically pressing the layers together (For
more details, refer to Annex B)
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initiative complements BCA’s 3 Green Building Masterplan, which aims for Singapore to be a
global leader in green buildings in the tropics and subtropics” added Dr John Keung, Chief
Executive Officer, BCA.
The PPIC brings together its first two consortia that are led by three bellwethers in the building
industry - Singapore-based DP Architects, New Zealand-based engineering consultancy Beca
and Lend Lease, Australia-based leading integrated property developer.
These two consortia are projected to spend S$10 million in research over the next three years.
Francis Lee, CEO of DP Architects, said, “The PPIC initiative will greatly facilitate access to
manufacturers of innovative building material with established R&D facilities in Singapore. This
will accelerate the process to bring new solutions to realisation.”
“We look forward to driving innovations of building solutions localised for Singapore and the
region, that push beyond the current benchmarks in sustainability through this PPIC platform,”
added Lee Ang Seng, Asia Managing Director of Beca.
Companies participating in these two consortia include 3M, Asahi Glass Company, Bosch,
Holcim, Johnson Controls, Philips Lighting and United Technologies’ Building and Industrial
Systems, with discussions underway for more industry players to join in.
Students and faculty from the National University of Singapore (NUS) at the Departments of
Architecture and Building, School of Design and Environment, will also participate in the PPIC
through developing commercially viable green building solutions for the future in their upcoming
research partnership with Lend Lease’s consortium.
Rod Leaver, CEO Asia, Lend Lease, said, “Following Lend Lease’s experience developing,
constructing and managing the world’s tallest timber apartment and Australia’s first 6-star Green
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Star rated community centre, we are excited to introduce Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) to
Singapore. CLT could revolutionise the built environment in Singapore by delivering a quantum
leap of up to 40% improvement in construction productivity, in a sustainable way. Through this
consortium, we hope to create a CLT Living Lab to partner with the industry and academic
partners in further creating smart, innovative and sustainable buildings for the future.”
-END-
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Green Star is Australia's national environmental rating system. 6 Star is the highest recognition for
environmentally sustainable places.
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About the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is the lead government agency for
planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s position as a global business centre.
EDB dreams, designs and delivers solutions that create value for investors and companies in
Singapore. Our mission is to create for Singapore, sustainable economic growth with vibrant
business and good job opportunities.
EDB’s ‘Home’ strategy articulates how we are positioning Singapore for the future. It is about
extending Singapore's value proposition to businesses not just to help them improve their
bottom line, but also to help them grow their top line through establishing and deepening
strategic activities in Singapore to drive their business, innovation and talent objectives in Asia
and globally.
For more information on EDB, please visit www.sedb.com
For media queries, please contact:
Ms Rachel Gong
Senior Officer, Marketing and Communications
Singapore Economic Development Board
Tel: (65) 6832-6252
Email: [email protected]
Annex A: Pre-Project
Innovation Consortium_
Enabling Innovation in the
Building Ecosystem
By 2050, Asia’s urban population is projected to
increase from 1.9 billion to 3.3 billion, with China
and India accounting for about 60% of the increase.
Coupled with the emphasis on sustainable
development, there has never been a more
pressing need to develop smart, sustainable and
cost-effective building solutions for the Asian urban
environment.
Innovation in the building industry is often done in
silos, with companies focusing on technologies
within their own field. In addition, given the cost and
contractual obligations in property development,
there is usually insufficient time to carry out any
meaningful innovation once the project is awarded.
Thus, the Pre-Project Innovation Consortium
(PPIC) initiative was launched by the Singapore
Economic Development Board (EDB), to help
building companies address the above challenges
and be more effective in developing smart and
sustainable building solutions to meet the needs of
Asia’s rapid urbanisation.
The PPIC functions as a platform to bring
complementary players from different parts of the
building industry ecosystem, to innovate together
on a pre-project basis. This accelerates the
innovation cycle and enables integrative design
ahead of time, by holistically taking a “whole
building design” approach.
The PPIC is the first-of-its-kind in the building
education and healthcare facilities, while the
of sustainable building solutions in the tropics and
Beca, will be focusing on commercial (retail) and
industry worldwide and intends to push the frontiers
subtropics by integrating leadership, sustainability
performance and collaboration with industry
second consortium, jointly led by DP Architects and
healthcare facilities.
stakeholders. It also supports the 3rd Green
Companies participating in these two consortia
Authority (BCA) which outlines Singapore’s vision
Johnson Controls, Philips Lighting and United
Building Masterplan by the Building & Construction
to be a global leader in green buildings, with
special expertise in the tropics and subtropics.
include 3M, Asahi Glass Company, Bosch, Holcim,
Technologies’ Building & Industrial Systems.
How PPIC works
About the Singapore Economic
Development Board
identify problem statements and research topics.
(EDB) is the lead government agency for planning
lead the consortium because their job scopes
position as a global business centre. EDB dreams,
In the PPIC, there will be a Consortium Lead to
The Singapore Economic Development Board
Developers and architects are usually selected to
and executing strategies to enhance Singapore’s
require them to set the vision for building projects.
designs and delivers solutions that create value for
Each Consortium Lead will partner building
is to create for Singapore, sustainable economic
R&D and engineering capabilities in Singapore to
opportunities. EDB’s ‘Home’ strategy articulates
research outcomes could then be deployed in
is about extending Singapore's value proposition to
across the region.
bottom line, but also to help them grow their top
Through the PPIC, building technologies and
activities in Singapore to drive their business,
commercialisation prospects for their innovative
globally.
time, the Consortium Leads will be able to
For more information on EDB, please visit
www.sedb.com
investors and companies in Singapore. Our mission
technologies and material players with meaningful
growth with vibrant business and good job
co-develop prototypes. The prototypes and
how we are positioning Singapore for the future. It
projects of the Consortium Leads in Singapore and
businesses not just to help them improve their
materials companies will improve the
and sustainable building solutions. At the same
differentiate their development projects. This
creates a win-win situation where all players in the
building ecosystem can benefit from their
participation in the PPIC.
Companies Involved in the first two
consortia of PPIC
To date, two consortia have been confirmed to kick
start the initiative. Lend Lease will be leading one
consortium to focus on commercial (offices),
line through establishing and deepening strategic
innovation and talent objectives in Asia and
For more information, please contact
Ms Rachel Gong
Senior Officer, Marketing & Communications
Singapore Economic Development Board
DID: (65) 6832-6252
FAX: (65) 6832-6498
Email: [email protected]
Annex B: Cross Laminated Timber Factsheet
About Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)
CLT is a form of engineered timber, manufactured with wood harvested from sustainably
managed forests and fabricated by binding layers of timber at 90 degrees with non-toxic
adhesives to produce a solid timber panel.
It is digitally designed and prefabricated ensuring minimal waste from production. It improves
efficiencies, safety and speed in construction.
CLT is already successfully used across Europe and North America for apartments and
educational buildings. In Melbourne, Australia, Lend Lease was the first to introduce the use
of CLT in the construction of Forté, the world’s tallest timber apartment building, and Library
at the Dock, Australia’s first 6-star Green Star rated community centre
In Singapore, Lend Lease is the first to obtain authorities’ In-Principle Acceptance to use
CLT as a building technology.
Benefits of Using CLT in Construction:
1. Improved construction productivity with faster construction and fewer labour needed on
site compared to conventional construction methods. The high degree of prefabrication
facilitates the quick installation of both the CLT panels and follow-on trades (e.g.
mechanical and electrical works).
2. Reduced waste generated onsite as a result of the high degree of prefabrication. The
resulting positive impact on the surrounding community includes reduced construction
noise, truck movements and reduced concrete / general dust emission.
3. Sustainability benefits throughout a building’s lifecycle: timber has the lowest energy and
water consumption of any building material and it is a renewable structural building
material. CLT also provides a higher level of thermal performance, reducing heating and
cooling costs for occupiers.
4. Safety benefits resulting from reduced working from heights and elimination of injuries
associated with formwork and reinforcement-related activities.
5. CLT as a construction material is 80% lighter than concrete offering a lightweight
construction solution which results in savings in foundation and piling.
CLT Building Examples:
Construction using CLT for Forté, a residential
development in Melbourne
Interior of Forté
World’s tallest CLTapartment building Forté
Library at The Dock constructed using CLT, in
Melbourne
The interiors of Library at The Dock

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