Arup Newsletter Issue 1 2014 MCI (P) 168/07/2013 Profile 01 | Victoria Concert and Theatre Hall Issue 1 2014 Content The makeover of a The rolling over of the year 01 | Victoria Concert and Theatre Hall 3 is a time for reflecting and The makeover of a cultural cornerstone taking stock of the year past- cultural cornerstone have we managed to live 02 | Design Story: High-speed rail 4 up to our ethos of shaping a The future of inter-city travel better world? We hope that 03 | Project Showcase: some of the stories presented one-north developments 6 in this edition show you that Smart spaces we have. 04 | Innovation 8 A part of Singapore that Breaking new ground we have had a big hand in Russell Cole, Office Leader shaping is one-north. As our 05 | Cool Stuff You Didn’t Know Arup Does 10 cities become increasingly SUTD: The Library Pavilion space and resource constrained, our new projects need to be efficient and have a low impact on the environment. 06 | Arup News/Events 12 Our projects there (pages 6 to 7) are guided by these Project wins + Award wins + Events principles and should stand the test of time. 07 | Arup People 14 Every year we seem to have the pleasure of being involved Peter Hoad + Lau Ching Luan in a creative project, and this year we enjoyed a delightful collaboration with SUTD to create a simple but innovative pavilion. Although a temporary structure, the design approach is a forerunner of future techniques that brings life to an otherwise barren corner of the campus (pages 10 to 11). © Darren Soh In the New Year, I will be embarking on a new adventure One of the most majestic national monuments located in the heart of Singapore’s CBD. by moving back to the UK. Peter Hoad, a Principal with Arup will be taking over the leadership in Singapore (page 14). Peter has been with the firm for 35 years and is The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, an iconic heritage landmark, is no stranger to Singapore. I am confident that there will be receiving a $158 million dollar makeover as part of the government’s plan to transform Singapore into a global city for the arts by 2015. a seamless transition. Feel free to drop us a note on what you have enjoyed about the Singapore Profile. We welcome any thoughts on how we can make this a more informative read for you. While I would miss the warmth (both people and climate) Arup was tasked with refurbishing the venue, improving acoustics, staging, Editor, Jenny Lie seating and sight lines, whilst preserving the building’s heritage and and the dynamism of the ‘little red dot’, I am also excited [email protected] to take on a new challenge in our London office. It’s hardly The inside of the concert hall slowly emerges as the reducing its environmental footprint. scaffolding is removed. good bye – I’d say farewell for now and see you soon. Image © Arup | Christopher Dales Other upgrades include a glass-roofed atrium for natural lighting and unique Wishing you a prosperous year of the Horse! Client: National Arts Council views of the Palladian clock tower, and a mixed-use central atrium that Key switches between a non-air-conditioned space for the public to relax and collaborators: W Architects Pte Ltd an air-conditioned one for events. Open spiral stairs provide improved air T.Y. Lin International Pte Ltd circulation and pedestrian movement, and serve as emergency exits. Arup scope: Acoustics, Final stages of construction are underway – the Concert Hall’s new sound- Cover: Envisioned as a ‘third space’ for faculties to mingle and work together, Theatre consulting, Russell Cole, Office Leader the SUTD Library Pavilion is an exceptional gridshell jigsaw structure that was insulating ceiling is in place and the finishing touches are being applied to [email protected] achieved with readily available materials and a streamlined assembly process at Fire engineering, the Victoria Theatre’s staging system, which will enable silent and quick set minimal cost. Image © Arup Environmentally sustainable design (ESD) transformations during performances. Project dates: 2009 – 2014 Built in 1856 as a town hall, the national monument located in the heart of Singapore’s civic district will become one of Singapore’s most prestigious MCI (P) 168/07/2013. The Singapore Profile is published by Arup in Australasia, part of the global Arup Group. Publisher: Arup Singapore Pte Ltd. performance venues. Printer: Dominie Press Pte Ltd (L029/09/2012). Published by Arup’s Marketing & Communications team. Editor: Jenny Lie. Writers: Celia Choong, Contact: Nick Boulter / Chirstopher Dales Mutant Communications and Dorothy Tan. Photo contributions: Christopher Dales, See Lin Ming, and Frank K. [email protected] / [email protected] 2 | Singapore Profile Issue 1 2014 Singapore Profile Issue 1 2014 | 3 02 | Design Story: High-Speed Rail The future of inter-city travel Gone are long and slow journeys as high speed trains serving cities such as Beijing, Tokyo, Making HSR a success Taipei, Seoul, London, Paris and more, provide direct intercity connectivity as quickly as With several HSR projects under his belt, Stewart shares the following airplanes, and at a lower cost. attributes that make HSR a success. Not only does High Speed Rail (HSR) present a better “Future generations will wish to minimise their time 100km-wide stops quality of life for passengers, but it also cuts down travelling and use it wisely,” says Stewart. “HSR provides NEXT HSR trains use significantly more energy accelerating and STOP on traffic congestion. Fuel-efficient HSR trains are speedy journeys and comfortable environments where braking than running at a constant speed. 100km between major significantly more environmentally-friendly than other passengers can stay connected on their smart devices, stops is optimal for superior energy-efficiency of HSR travel. modes of transport, such as car and short-haul flights, socialise and have refreshments.” in terms of passengers per kilometer travelled. To top it HSR faces several engineering challenges. Stewart shares off, HSR systems create jobs, increase productivity and that HSR systems are complex safety critical systems and provide better access to transportation of goods and people Colin Stewart, many factors have to be considered, such as incorporating Easy transfers for local businesses. Global Rail Leader major tunnels, viaducts, and high stability tracks to HSR lines should stop at locations with speedy and convenient The successful implementation of HSR requires detailed provide high capacity and ensure safety at high speeds. ways for passengers to transfer to other modes. HSR trains can Colin Stewart is experienced study and planning to maximise the benefits and bring real in the creation, procurement, “Certain HSR systems also face political challenges, carry close to 1,300 passengers and take a major load off existing value for money. design and implementation of such as routes that run across borders, which require transport systems. City centres and airports are prime locations. infrastructure projects around the With more than three decades of experience in engineering fast immigration systems to be installed,” says Stewart. world. In the past 33 years, Colin design and consulting for global infrastructure projects, “Passengers will expect fast service for their total journey has been involved at the highest Arup’s director and global rail leader, Colin Stewart, says and not merely a fast train ride.” Efficient customs and immigration systems levels of engineering design and HSR is far from one-size-fits-all. Linking Cities Cross-border HSR systems require efficient customs and advice across a huge spectrum “HSR requires customisation to meet a particular country’s immigration systems to reduce time lost waiting. Government of infrastructure projects. One of culture, city spacing, complimentary modes, connectivity, Arup has been involved in HSR projects across authorities need to balance high checkpoint standards with tried the biggest and most successful and for ease of the journey,” says Stewart, who has been North America, Europe, Australia and Asia for the past and tested processes for seamless journeys. UK Infrastructure projects he has involved in rail projects such as High Speed 1 in the UK, two decades. worked on in recent years is the Express Rail Link in China, and more. High Speed 1, which carries passengers between London Channel Tunnel Rail Link (HS1). Risk analysis In Asia, the spotlight has recently been cast on the and Paris in just two hours and 15 minutes, is one of Having delivered many successful proposed HSR link between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Arup’s most iconic HSR projects. The £5.8 billion line The level of security required has to be determined with a risk projects, Colin has become an expected to shrink the journey from city centre to city opened in 2007 as the first new railway in England in more ! analysis – breaches or intrusions are that much more dangerous expert in high speed rail and centre from over four hours to less than two hours. than 100 years, and the first built to operate at a high speed on trains traveling at 350km/h. Streamlined security checks oversees the Arup work on such of 300km/h. must be in place to ensure safe cross-border journeys, without projects in many countries, The Winding Track A HSR station and transportation interchange with 17 full- compromising the speed of the journey. including UK, Hong Kong, China, Given the sheer scale of HSR construction, many length platforms was designed by Arup in Beijing in 2008. Portugal and America. challenges of perception, engineering and politics arise One of the largest stations in the country, the Beijing South Future-proofing Colin also has first-hand over the course of a project.