Jurong Consultants: Leading the way through innovation

The architecture firm’s new projects are a testament to its innovative design approach

Singapore’s architecture business is booming, driven by the almost 5% per year growth in the construction industry up to 2015.

To get a better understanding of the architecture scene and the trends emerging in this flourishing sector, Singapore Business Review has recently caught up with one of the leaders in the industry - Jurong Consultants.

The firm is ranked 10th in the inaugural listing of largest architecture firms in the city based on the number of employed architects.

About Jurong Consultants

Jurong Consultants is one of the largest multi-disciplinary consulting services providers in Singapore, offering integrated services such as architecture, master planning, engineering, quantity surveying and project management. Besides Singapore, Jurong Consultants also has operations in China, India, and the Middle East.

A member of the Jurong International Group which was formed in April 2001, Jurong Consultants is a product of the merger between the technical arm and the international business arm of JTC Corporation, a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

With a large team of creative professional architects and urban designers, Jurong Consultants prides itself as being the pioneer in offering innovative and functional designs that go beyond conventional architecture.

“Adopting a philosophy of designing from the inside-out, our architects are committed to delivering economically relevant, innovative, eco-friendly, and culturally sensitive solutions,” according to Jurong Consultants’ Senior Vice President (Architecture) Daisy Hia.

Due to the rising competition in Singapore, Ms Hia admitted that recruiting the right talents is becoming tougher than ever, but Jurong Consultants continues to attract the top talents with its strong emphasis on innovative design, robust training and continual development programs for all staff. Ms Hia said staff training for both new recruits and veterans is a crucial investment to ensure that Jurong Consultants pegs its designs at world-class standards.

Market Competition

Ms. Hia said one of the perennial challenges facing Jurong Consultants is that the Singapore market is small and competitive. In addition, customers are looking for more value-added services beyond design, she said.

In order to grow effectively, Jurong Consultants expanded its business overseas and diversified its portfolio while still focusing on core competencies.

Jurong Consultants is constantly striving to incorporate innovation into its design, and going beyond conventional architecture in order to meet customers’ needs. The firm sets itself apart by focusing on new architectural building typologies, emphasising on Green technology, and devoting resources towards research and development to stay ahead of competition.

“Our design has a high sustainability focus and we strive to become a Green Champion,” said Ms. Hia.
In terms of capabilities, Jurong Consultants has expanded its expertise beyond industrial parks and projects to new areas such as underground infrastructure, low carbon buildings, laboratories and Green technology buildings.

Jurong Consultants’ major local projects include Medical Technology Hub Building (MEDTECH) and Clean Technology Building (Cleantech 2). These are new typology projects with high emphasis on sustainability.

Overseas, Jurong Consultants is also extending its reach by offering innovative solutions, and this is evident from the first Low Carbon Living Lab in Tianjin Eco City. The Low Carbon Living Lab is the first low carbon building to achieve the Building and Construction Authority (BCA)’s Green Mark Platinum and the Green Building Evaluation Standard (GBES)’s Platinum (Tianjin Standard). Jurong International Group now has projects in 150 cities across 47 countries.