{"data":{"news":{"items":[{"title":"Four engineers win BCA Awards 2025 for groundbreaking projects in Singapore","date":"2025-09-01 00:02:43","id":5985,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2025/08/1756654705271_DESA Annex_EMBARGOED-32.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

Four professional engineers in Singapore have won the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Design and Engineering Safety Award (DESA) for their exceptional contributions to five landmark projects that overcame construction challenges with safe, innovative solutions.

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The award celebrates structural and geotechnical engineering ingenuity across five categories – Civil Engineering, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional and Mixed Development. Since its launch in 2008, the award has honoured engineers and their teams for innovative designs and construction solutions that ensure Singapore’s built environment remains safe, resilient and future-ready.

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“This year’s DESA winners exemplify the pinnacle of engineering excellence – their ingenuity and technical applications have turned complex challenges into safe, enduring solutions that will serve Singapore for generations,” said Engineer (Er.) Tan Chun Yong, group director (building engineering) at BCA.

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“Their work reminds us that behind every iconic building or infrastructure is an engineer’s dedication to safety, engineering mastery and innovation. By celebrating their achievements and showcasing the projects, we hope to inspire more young talents to join the profession and shape the future of our built environment together.”

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T226 of Thomson-East Coast Line, Marina Bay Station (SCL Tunnels)

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Building a new MRT interchange in the heart of the city is already complex – but at Marina Bay, the challenge was even greater. The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) tunnels had to be built 40 m underground on reclaimed land, and right next to live MRT lines on the North-South and East-West lines, and through waterlogged soil under high water pressure. To complicate matters, existing foundations and bored piles stood directly in the path of the new tunnels and had to be carefully removed without disrupting train services.

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Er. Chua Tong Seng and Er. Michelle Lew of Kiso-Jiban Singapore Pte Ltd – two of the winners – worked collaboratively as qualified persons for design in civil and geotechnical engineering respectively, delivering crucial engineering solutions for the project. They applied advanced computer modelling to simulate construction and tunnelling sequences. This ensured tunnelling could be carried out safely beside operating train lines.

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Both engineers also customised a purpose-built machine, shaped like a giant rectangular cutter, to carve out space for transfer beam and remove obstructing piles safely while trains continued running. In addition, they had to tackle unstable ground conditions by strengthening soft marine clay using jet grouting and introduced an innovative ground freezing system, which pumped brine chilled to -30°C into the soil. This literally froze the wet ground into solid ‘ice walls’ 1.8 m thick, creating watertight barriers that allow safe and dry excavation.

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Without freezing, water and soft marine clay would have made tunnelling impossible. A network of sensors, including real-time tunnel monitoring and temperature gauges, tracked ground movement continuously to keep everything within safe limits. Through their teamwork, the engineers delivered a critical interchange that now seamlessly connects three major MRT lines while ensuring passenger safety and uninterrupted service.

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Pan Pacific Orchard

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Er. Tan Chin Hock of DP Engineers Pte Ltd is recognised for his work on the Pan Pacific Orchard project. This hotel development brings nature into the heart of a vertical structure, made possible by the engineer’s quiet genius in turning a daring architectural vision into reality. The striking 23-storey building stands on a highly constrained urban site, featuring dramatic multi-level sky terraces that demanded a complex and innovative structural system.

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To maximise underground space, Er. Tan reused and rehabilitated the original basement diaphragm walls as a sustainable and economical solution. He gave them a new waterproof concrete lining, effectively recycling massive structural walls instead of demolishing them. This reduced wastage allowed excavation to be done in a ‘semi top-down’ manner – carefully demolishing and rebuilding while keeping the site and adjacent buildings safe and stable.

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Above ground, Er. Tan introduced long-span steel trusses and precast reinforced concrete to support the hotel’s four distinct sky terraces stacked vertically. By applying design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA), many components were prefabricated off-site and assembled like a kit, improving safety and efficiency.

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To enhance long-term durability, the design integrated specialised bearings (like heavy-duty joints) and partially prestressed concrete, ensuring the tall structure could safely bear the unique loads of sky terraces and greenery. The result is a structurally efficient, sustainable and safe landmark that realises an ambitious architectural vision in the heart of Orchard Road.

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Another winner, Er. Kam Mun Wai of Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd, is recognised for his outstanding contributions across three projects: SGH Emergency/National Neuroscience Institute (Institutional), The GEAR (Industrial) and The Woodleigh Residences and The Woodleigh Mall (Mixed Development).

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These three projects presented complex challenges, from deep basement excavation, long-span column-free spaces to integrated mixed-use developments. Er. Kam delivered designs that were not only safe and efficient but also balanced functionality and sustainability, demonstrating the high standards of engineering excellence that DESA celebrates.

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Note: Details of the winning projects will be published in the Sept/Oct 2025 issue of SEAC.

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Image 1: Darren Soh
\nImage 2: Taisei Corporation
\nImage 3: Daici Ano
\nImage 4: The Woodleigh Residences Pte Ltd & The Woodleigh Mall Pte Ltd
\nImage 5: China Construction (South Pacific) Development Co Pte Ltd

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Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development (JOIN) and Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly explore and deliver digital and smart city projects in third countries, with a special focus on ASEAN nations.

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The MOU was formalised at the Meinhardt Group headquarters in Singapore by Tatsuhiko Takesada, president and CEO of JOIN, and Omar Shahzad, group CEO of Meinhardt, in the presence of representatives from the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT), the Embassy of Japan in Singapore, and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).

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The signing of this MOU underscores a shared commitment to promoting innovation and sustainable urban development in third countries by leveraging the complementary expertise and synergies of both organisations, and their respective ecosystems. JOIN is able to garner its extensive network and expertise in supporting Japanese infrastructure exports whilst Meinhardt can bring to bear its global leadership in integrated planning, design and project management solutions.

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Together, the two parties aim to advance innovative and sustainable urban solutions, especially in the growing sector of digital and smart cities. By exchanging knowledge and resources, the collaboration aims to catalyse transformative projects that prioritise citizen-centric solutions, digitalisation and sustainability.

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The collaboration is set against the backdrop of the memorandum of cooperation (MOC) signed between MLIT and SCE in November 2024, which fosters the development of digital and smart cities in ASEAN and other regions. Building on this framework, the MOU will provide a platform for JOIN and Meinhardt to share information, identify synergies and collaborate on projects from the early stages to drive meaningful impact across borders.

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“This partnership marks a significant milestone in deepening our engagement with like-minded Japanese partners especially in international markets where Meinhardt Group has strong presence,” said Mr Shahzad. “We see our collaboration with JOIN as an important opportunity to harness our collective capabilities, creating innovative and practical solutions that address urban challenges while ensuring long-term sustainability and commercial viability.”

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“We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Meinhardt and working together to encourage both Japanese and Singaporean companies to participate in digital and smart city projects from the upstream stage,” said Mr Takesada.

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All images: Meinhardt Group

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Singapore-based global design, engineering, project and construction management firm, Meinhardt Group, has appointed Go Yang San as new managing director of Meinhardt Singapore. He will also serve as a board member on Meinhardt’s global board and act as the regional director for infrastructure.

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With over 35 years of experience in the planning, design and management of major civil, structural and infrastructure works projects in Singapore and across the region, Mr Go has been a prominent figure in the built environment industry and brings to bear a wealth of expertise to his new role.

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Mr Go has enjoyed an extensive career with Meinhardt previously. He played a key role in the growth and success of Meinhardt Infrastructure Singapore Pte Ltd, the infrastructure design subsidiary of Meinhardt’s Singapore business from 2004 to 2017. Mr Go was involved in a leadership role in a number of notable projects related to MRT Downtown Line 3, Marina Coastal Expressway, Gardens by the Bay and Thomson East Coast Rail Line, to name a few.

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In addition to his vast experience in Singapore, Mr Go was actively involved in various projects in the region and the Middle East. Among the major projects he has led outside Singapore include the Taiwan High Speed Rail, Dubai Metro projects, and several other infrastructure planning and design projects in the Middle East.

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Prior to re-joining Meinhardt, Mr Go was the managing director of Aurecon’s consulting business in Singapore, where he played a significant role in expanding the company’s business and local footprint.

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As the managing director of Meinhardt Singapore, Mr Go will drive the company’s strategic direction, business development and overall operations. He will work closely with the rest of the leadership team in Singapore and the global board to spearhead Meinhardt Group’s growth in the country and overseas, especially in areas such as infrastructure, climate change and digital transformation.

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Dr S. Nasim, group executive chairman of Meinhardt Group, said, “We are delighted to welcome Yang San back to Meinhardt Group as our new managing director for Singapore. His appointment represents another significant step for the group to strengthen and cement our position in Singapore’s built environment industry. His stellar track record and reputation make him a valuable addition to our team. We are confident that under his leadership, Meinhardt will continue to provide cutting-edge technical solutions to our clients.”

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“Yang San’s vast industry experience, leadership skills and business acumen will also help strengthen and enhance Meinhardt’s position to remain at the forefront of key industry megatrends, such as integrated digital design, modular construction, integrated smart cities, climate change and sustainability,” added Omar Shahzad, group CEO of Meinhardt Group. “We will cultivate and leverage our in-house expertise and partnerships with the industry eco-system to lead and implement new ideas and technologies here in Singapore and beyond.”

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“I am thrilled to rejoin Meinhardt, a home-grown global group with a rich history of multi-disciplinary design excellence and innovation, for this exciting challenge,” commented Mr Go. “I look forward to working closely with the Meinhardt team to build on the group’s success and make a positive impact on the wider industry and community at large.”

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Image: Meinhardt Group

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Singapore-headquartered global design, engineering, project and construction management firm, Meinhardt Group, has appointed Eugene Seah as its global board member. He will be helming a variety of senior leadership roles including chief operating officer (COO) of Meinhardt’s Singapore operations and senior director, group CEO office, based in Singapore.

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“We are excited to welcome Eugene into the Meinhardt Group. Eugene has a formidable reputation, endless energy and solid experience in the built environment industry having successfully undertaken various senior leadership roles covering Singapore and overseas markets,” said Omar Shahzad, CEO of Meinhardt Group. “I am looking forward to working closely with Eugene to bolster our business in Singapore, and implement new initiatives and business lines across the group.”

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Mr Seah joins Meinhardt from Surbana Jurong (SJ) where he spearheaded a number of leadership roles. He led SJ’s smart cities business unit as the managing director of Surbana Technologies. His other responsibilities included senior director, group CEO’s office, in charge of the group’s special projects and strategic initiatives, namely the key account management office, digital management office, and sustainability and resilience office. He was also a director on the boards of Threesixty Cost Management and Threesixty Contract Advisory, and an adjudicator in the Singapore Mediation Centre.

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Furthermore, Mr Seah is a Green Mark and Infrastructure Sustainability Accredited Professional. He is an ardent advocate for the greater deployment of digital advancements and technologies in both the design and implementation of projects to achieve better outcomes in terms of sustainability, resilience and efficiency.

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“I am excited to be an integral part of Meinhardt Group, the largest privately-held engineering design firm in Asia. The group is highly renowned for delivering innovative technical and buildable solutions for large and complex urban development and infrastructure projects,” said Mr Seah. “In addition to business related goals, I will also be keen to use the Meinhardt Group platform to encourage students, engineers and young professionals to pursue a career in addressing complex urban development and climate change challenges.”

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Image: Meinhardt Group

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