3 project teams conferred inaugural Construction Resilience Recognition for overcoming severe challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

At the HDB Awards ceremony on 22 October 2024, Minister for National Development Mr Desmond Lee will present a total of 26 HDB Design, Construction, and Engineering Awards to recognise the excellent work of architectural and engineering consultants, as well as building contractors in public housing projects. Among the winners are Rivervale Shores and Kim Keat Beacon, which received both the HDB Design Award and Construction Award. A full list of the Award winners can be found in the Annex

2 HDB will present the inaugural Construction Resilience Recognition to the teams of three projects – Marsiling Grove, Waterway Sunrise II, and West Coast Parkview. Amidst the challenging conditions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, these project teams took over BTO projects that had been stalled due to the failure of their previous contractors and demonstrated resilience in overcoming severe challenges to support HDB’s efforts in meeting our delivery commitments of homes to flat buyers.

3 HDB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tan Meng Dui said, “I congratulate all winners of the HDB Awards. Their achievements highlight the excellence that we aspire to for our public housing projects and affirm the critical partnership between HDB and the industry in delivering quality homes safely to Singaporeans. This year’s HDB Awards is especially significant, as it takes place at a time where HDB is close to completing all the pandemic-delayed BTO projects in the next 5 months. We are thus delighted to present three of our exemplary builders with the Construction Resilience Recognition, a first-of-its-kind award to recognise the resilience of our BTO contractors in overcoming the severe challenges posed by COVID-19. This recognition demonstrates both the strength and depth of the BTO construction ecosystem, as well as the ingenuity and resilience of our contractors in overcoming adversity and emerging stronger. HDB is proud of the exceptional standard of excellence demonstrated by our building partners and humbled by their strong commitment to our mission of delivering quality homes to Singaporeans.”

Rivervale Shores – Riverside Living Amidst Lush Greenery

4 Rivervale Shores was awarded both the Construction and Design Awards. Comprising 2,500 2-room Flexi, 3-, 4-, and 5-room flats across 16 residential blocks, the 10-hectare development is HDB’s largest Build-to-Order (BTO) project to date

5 Designed by Surbana Jurong (SJ), Rivervale Shores stood out for effectively blending high-rise living with nature, creating a distinctive urban living experience by the river. The project is designed to seamlessly integrate with the Sungei Serangoon’s waterfront Much of its design is inspired by the area’s rich biodiversity where Grey Herons, Little Egrets, and White-throated Kingfishers are active. For example, the thematic playgrounds in the development are inspired by these bird species

Rivervale Shores is recognised for its biophilic features where a variety of green spaces blend into its naturalistic surroundings. [Credit: Mr Darren Soh for Surbana Jurong]
Rivervale Shores is recognised for its biophilic features where a variety of green spaces blend into its naturalistic surroundings.
[Credit: Mr Darren Soh for Surbana Jurong]

Enhancing Residents’ Well-being

6 A key feature of the precinct is the elevated Environmental Deck (e-deck) that connects all 16 residential blocks, creating a vibrant green space with various precinct facilities that encourage outdoor activities and social interactions among residents. Tucked away beneath the e-deck is the car park. Without the traditional Multi-Storey Car Park, there is better spacing between residential blocks, which helps to enhance air circulation and offers residents more privacy. In addition, the residential blocks are strategically orientated and staggered to optimise residents’ views of the river as well as the lushly landscaped spaces.

Bringing Riverine Landscapes to Residents’ Doorsteps

7 Green spaces make up about 45% of Rivervale Shores’ surface area, offering residents ample opportunities to experience the restorative benefits of nature right at their doorsteps. Capitalising on the development’s waterfront location, many of these spaces, including sky terraces and sky gardens, have been designed to offer vantage points for scenic views. Besides softening the urban environment, these green spaces also reduce the heat island effect by lowering surface and ambient temperatures.

8 Rivervale Shores features five thematic waterfront gardens, each inspired by a specific aspect of a river’s ecosystem. For example, Central Garden is designed to mimic the dynamic activities and green spaces found along a river, while Zestful Garden captures the essence of river features such as boardwalks and natural habitats. Boardwalks within the common green provide recreational paths for leisurely strolls and birdwatching, while educational signage along the route informs visitors about the local ecosystem, encouraging a greater appreciation for nature.

Central Garden (left) and Zestful Garden (right) are two of the five thematic gardens found at Rivervale Shores. [Credit: HDB]

Keeping Our Water Clean

9 The development also features a network of environmentally sustainable Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters design features, such as bioretention basins and bioretention lawns. These were designed to capture and treat rainwater from surface runoff collected from the blocks, before discharging the cleansed runoff into Sungei Serangoon

10 Collectively, the vast network of ABC Waters design features collects and treats runoff from over five hectares (or over 50%) of the site. For its exceptional standards in integrating environmentally sustainable green features, Rivervale Shores clinched HDB its first ever ABC Waters Gold certification in 2018, which is the highest accolade that PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, awards to developers

Enhancing Construction Process for Increased Productivity

11 Given the large size of the Rivervale Shores site, meticulous and detailed planning was essential to ensure that construction could be carried out smoothly. From the outset, LC&T Builder 1971 Pte Ltd (LC&T), the appointed construction firm for the project, identified key challenges and put in place plans across various aspects, including scheduling, quality control, and environmental health and safety management

12 To improve productivity and efficiency on site, LC&T applied new building methods such as using a special steel formwork that stays in place as part of the slab’s base, creating a more effective foundation for double slab construction. They also used a mobile tower formwork for casting the large e-deck. Together, these methods shortened the construction time of the e-deck by at least half

Steel formwork (left) and the mobile tower formwork (right) were some of the ways LC&T applied to increase productivity and efficiency on site.
[Credit: LC&T (left), Doka Singapore Engineering (right)]

13 LC&T also addressed site constraints through innovative solutions. For example, there was limited access to some residential blocks near the centre of the site. To overcome this, LC&T strengthened the site-wide basement car park ground slab, which increased its capacity and durability to support heavy construction equipment, thereby facilitating the efficient transportation of materials across the large construction area

14 With their strong project management capabilities, LC&T and SJ were able to successfully obtain the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) for all 16 residential blocks and car park within a 4-month period This is half the time required for a project of this size, enabling residents to move into their new homes earlier

Kim Keat Beacon – Intriguing Façade Creates Distinctive Silhouette

15 Located along Kim Keat Avenue, Kim Keat Beacon is another project that received both the Construction and Design Awards. Designed by Kyoob Architects, the project comprises 542 3- and 4-room flats across three residential blocks and stands out as a landmark at the edge of Toa Payoh with its distinctive façade.

Kim Keat Beacon incorporates a patterned exterior and stepped levels, which create a distinctive look. [Credit: HDB]

16 Kyoob segmented the façade colours to create striking visual interest and designed the MSCP with cascading terraces stepping down to an adjacent park to reduce the building’s visual mass. Along these steps are pockets of greenery and tranquil spaces for residents to relax and recharge, in addition to park facilities such as playgrounds and fitness corners

17 A unique feature of Kim Keat Beacon is the communal balcony found at the lift lobby of every storey of the residential blocks. These are inspired by traditional corridors where residents used to gather and provide opportunities for neighbours to meet and interact as they go about their daily activities, thereby fostering community bonds

18 In constructing Kim Keat Beacon, Newcon Builders Pte Ltd (Newcon) employed machinery to increase productivity on site. For example, electric trolleys were utilised so workers could transport more materials in a single trip, and electric sanders were used during finishing works, allowing workers to complete 4 units a day, compared to 0.25 units a day with manual sanding. The use of electric sanders also reduced the amount of dust generated.

19 Newcon also demonstrated resilience during the pandemic by successfully procuring doors and door frames from alternative sources despite an islandwide shortage. This minimised setbacks and enabled the construction of Kim Keat Beacon to progress smoothly.

Recognition for Project Teams who Overcame Severe Challenges Posed by COVID-19

20 This year, HDB conferred the project teams of Marsiling Grove, Waterway Sunrise II, and West Coast ParkView with the inaugural Construction Resilience Recognition. The construction firms for these projects had taken over the projects at various stages of construction, after the failure of their previous contractors. Amidst the challenging conditions posed by Covid-19, coupled with compressed timelines, the teams displayed strong partnership and dedication as they adapted to the evolving situation, and implemented innovative solutions to resume and accelerate construction activities on site.

Marsiling Grove – New Project Team Resumed Works Efficiently

21 Marsiling Grove, comprising 1,246 flats across five residential blocks, was one of five projects that was initially awarded to Greatearth Corporate Pte Ltd and Greatearth Construction Pte Ltd (collectively referred to as Greatearth). The project, which was originally expected to complete in 4Q2022, was delayed following the liquidation of Greatearth during the pandemic.

Marsiling Grove was among the projects that was affected by the failure of their previous contractor, Greatearth. [Credit: HDB]

22 To expedite the resumption of work, HDB assisted in sourcing for suitable contractors to take over the project through novation as the former contractor had ceased operations. CES Engineering & Construction was brought on board as the new main contractor in September 2021, about one month after works stopped on site. The project team, consisting of CES Engineering & Construction and SJ as the consultant, took over the project when it was about 50% completed

23 Right from the start of taking over the project, the new team resolved to resume works on site as soon as possible. Within a month, they had assessed the site condition and work status, and developed a comprehensive plan to complete the remaining scope. This included the construction of 10 more storeys of the residential blocks and the MSCP, as well as the installation of extensive underground services. Their quick planning was complemented by their resourcefulness in securing building materials so that the project schedule could remain on track, despite global supply chain disruptions

Since works resumed in October 2021, the project team, consisting of the new main contractor CES Engineering & Construction and consultant Surbana Jurong, worked closely to ensure Marsiling Grove would be delivered within the revised timeline. [Credit: Surbana Jurong (left), CES Engineering & Construction (right)]
Since works resumed in October 2021, the project team, consisting of the new main contractor CES Engineering & Construction and consultant Surbana Jurong, worked closely to ensure Marsiling Grove would be delivered within the revised timeline.
[Credit: Surbana Jurong (left), CES Engineering & Construction (right)]

24 To ensure works could proceed smoothly, the team hired the original sub-contractors and workers, as they were already familiar with the site. With this, CES was able to resume structural works of the residential blocks in October 2021 – their third week on board. The project team also extended working hours on-site and obtained special permissions for less noisy construction activities to be carried out on Sundays and Public Holidays. These efforts helped to accelerate progress and reduced delays by two to three months.

25 CES also collaborated closely with SJ, who helped CES resolve issues quickly and keep the project moving forward. A Common Data Environment (CDE) by SJ enabled the teams to access and share data in real-time, which aided in resolving discrepancies across technical disciplines and improved the overall project delivery schedule. Their close partnership enabled the project team to complete all five residential blocks at Marsiling Grove within a compressed timeline of less than two years from the time they took over the project. The flats were delivered to flat buyers by March 2023, a delay of just one quarter from the completion date before CES came onboard, despite the disruption caused by the collapse of Greatearth and subsequent novation process.

26 In addition, SJ is also awarded a Certificate of Merit (Engineering) for their adept handling of the engineering and site constraints. For example, they proposed an earth retaining system that ensured soil stability, when past building records showed scant details for an existing retaining wall separating Marsiling Grove from the adjacent Marsiling Secondary School. This minimised the impact of construction and excavation works to both the school and the retaining wall, while fulfilling requirements for the earth works.

Continuing the Close Collaboration with Industry Partners

27 As we continue with efforts to complete all the remaining pandemic-delayed projects by early 2025, HDB is also ramping up our new flat supply to meet sustained housing demand. We will continue to work closely with industry partners to explore innovative solutions and deliver well-designed, quality homes to Singaporeans

Rivervale Shores and Kim Keat Beacon Projects Recognised for Design and Construction Excellence at HDB Awards 2024