Exploring Arup: Pioneering Engineering and Design Excellence
Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of over 18,000 designers, consultants, and experts working in 141 countries. For over 75 years, Arup has collaborated with clients and partners using imagination, technology, and rigor to shape a better world.
Established in 1968, Arup has over 50 years of experience in Singapore. Bringing together its global resources and leadership in sustainability to the local market, the firm has over 350 members in Singapore, offering a range of specialist disciplines.
Arup is proud to have delivered several iconic and award-winning developments in Singapore, including Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, Helix Bridge, Jubilee Bridge, Singapore Flyer, and Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade.
The firm’s ability to achieve sustainable solutions for Singapore’s tropical climate is showcased in the open-air canopy that spans South Beach’s entire development and across the tallest building in Singapore, Tanjong Pagar Centre.
Below ground, Arup’s infrastructure team is contributing to the expansive rail network such as the Downtown and Thomson-East Coast Lines, meeting the vision of developing a transport system with rail facilities within close walking distance.
Fortunately for us, we had an opportunity to interview Arup Singapore’s team leader for the Infrastructure group, Wong Ling Chye, who was also invited to be one of our judges at our Bridge Design Competition 2024. He shared some valuable insights about the company’s values, sustainability initiatives, and risk management. Two prominent local bridge projects, Ling Chye has been involved in at Arup are the Helix Bridge and the Jubilee Bridge. These two projects incorporate innovative designs with unique structural solutions to overcome design challenges. The Helix Bridge adopts a helix structure form for aesthetics and the structural skeleton, which is a different structural solution from the conventional steel bridge structure. Meanwhile, the Jubilee Bridge, which connects Merlion Park and The Esplanade, uses high-strength concrete to optimise the structural depth of the overall bridge to achieve an elegant and architecturally pleasing appearance.
In its projects, Arup is always committed to ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Some of the safety measures in place include Design for Safety meetings, where all key stakeholders are constantly involved to review any potential safety and health risks that may arise from the concept, detailed design, through to the construction stages. They also have to ensure additional comprehensive review and safety sessions with the contractors to see what needs to be improved on the safety issues to eliminate these risks. Furthermore, they also have an assembly of Resident Site Staff (RSS) teams who have regular meetings with Qualified Person (QP) Design, QP Supervision, and project managers to highlight any accidents, suspected foul play, and non-compliance.
Arup's Community Engagement Initiatives
According to Ling Chye, Arup's commitment to community engagement extends beyond client projects, with a focus on delivering sustainable solutions that empower communities. In Indonesia, Arup partners with Solar Chapter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving water access and quality in rural areas. Recognizing the challenges posed by manual water pumps, which are both physically demanding and time-consuming, Arup collaborates with Solar Chapter to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of rural water supply systems. By studying water source quality and optimizing transmission and distribution methods, the company ensures resilient, long-lasting operations that benefit local residents. Similarly, in Singapore, Arup partners with Engineers Without Borders to organize workshops for underprivileged children. Held in collaboration with Tava, a youth enrichment center serving Bukit Batok rental flats, these workshops focus on robotics, coding, and hotwire engineering, providing valuable educational opportunities over two days. Through these initiatives, Arup strives to make a meaningful impact on communities, fostering sustainability and empowerment for a brighter future.
For a Green Future
Arup's dedication to a green future permeates every aspect of the firm’s work, with sustainability being at the heart of everything that they do. Ling Chye shared about some of Arup's initiatives which demonstrate the firm's focus on sustainability. First, Arup adopts Circular Economy Principles, a concept that promotes minimizing waste and pollution, reusing products and materials, and regeneration of nature. Hub Synergy Point project is an example where Arup transformed a two-storey basement into a single basement, leveraging existing structures and materials to reduce costs and minimize disruption to the surrounding neighborhood.
In addition to reusing and repurposing existing assets, Arup prioritizes the use of environmentally sustainable materials in its projects. In tunnel construction, for example, they opt for steel fiber-reinforced concrete over traditional steel bar reinforcement, reducing both material consumption and pollution. Arup’s commitment to efficiency is further exemplified by the utilization of green concrete, which lowers cement content and environmental impact across the firm’s underground projects.
For Hub Synergy Point, a 27-storey slender commercial building located in Tanjong Pagar, Arup performed a wind tunnel test to derive accurate wind pressure results to optimise project design and minimise resource usage. The test results showed that a 20% reduction in design force assumptions could be achieved. This translated into a sizing down of vertical elements resulting in significant construction savings for the client. In addition, with smaller structural members, the useable and profitable floor area was maximised.
Finally, Arup’s focus on building long-term value underscores its commitment to sustainability. Projects like the Circular Bridge in the Netherlands demonstrate Arup’s dedication to creating infrastructure that can be reused and recycled for future endeavors, ensuring that its impact on the environment remains positive and enduring. Opportunities in Arup
Arup is an excellent place for undergraduates and graduates to cultivate their professional growth and development with a culture of continuous learning and mentorship. As a senior staff himself, Ling Chye explained that Arup is an ideal environment for junior engineers to grow. Recently, Arup managed to secure a number of major projects including Changi Airport Terminal 5 and Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort Fourth Tower. Through hands-on involvement in projects, team members are able to engage with senior consultants and colleagues, gaining invaluable insights and expertise directly from the field. Arup’s approachable senior staff actively mentors and coaches juniors, nurturing talent and fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Arup is one of the first five companies in Singapore to receive the Platinum certification for BCA-HPB Green Mark for Healthier Workplaces. © Daniel Swee
Moreover, Arup prioritizes investing in the ongoing education and training of its team members. With dedicated budgets allocated for formal courses, seminars, and workshops, juniors have access to a diverse range of learning opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge. Additionally, Arup actively participates in events hosted by professional associations, providing further avenues for networking and professional development.
Lastly, Arup provides a comprehensive platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration via a technical portal. Team members can seek guidance, share insights, and collaborate on projects, facilitating continuous innovation and growth within the organization. Arup recognizes that people are its greatest asset, and is committed to providing its employees with the resources and support they need to thrive and excel in their careers.
Factors to Success
At the core of Arup's success lies a combination of key factors that drive excellence in project execution. Ling Chye stressed the point that having a capable project leader with a deep understanding of multidisciplinary skills is essential. This leader is adept at managing diverse teams and leveraging their collective expertise to deliver total design solutions that meet both functional requirements and client expectations. Effective communication and collaboration between clients and contractors are also critical components of success. Maintaining a clear understanding of client needs while navigating constraints and requirements ensures that projects are delivered with precision and agility. By prioritizing skilled leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and client-centric approaches, Arup consistently achieves success in delivering innovative and impactful solutions.
Once again, Arup is one of the most significant contributors to Singapore's built environment. Arup is a role model for executing a well-systemized sustainable development consultancy through its innovations and steadfast commitment to sustainability. NTU is grateful to have Ling Chye in our interview as we got many meaningful insights in the realms of civil engineering and sustainability.
Learn more about Arup and its sustainable solutions here:
Learn more about Arup's Graduate Development Programme here: