Lendlease and Surbana Jurong partner on digital platform Podium for Development
Lendlease is partnering with Singapore’s Surbana Jurong to provide a digital platform, Podium for Development (P4D), with the goal of boosting construction productivity and promoting sustainable building practices.
In addition to the new residential project, the Tampines North MRT Condo development will deliver retail and community amenities that will enhance the convenience of its residents. This will include a childcare centre, food outlets, supermarkets, retail stores and more. With the convenience of Tampines North MRT Station, commuters can enjoy direct transport to Singapore’s Central Business District. This project will not only offer quality residential units but also demonstrate the property development credentials of CapitaLand, UOL and SingLand.
The platform aims to counter inefficiencies between stakeholders along the value chain by streamlining and improving the decision-making process in property development – from feasibility to design and construction. Using P4D’s digital tool, it is possible to generate building designs taking into account various factors like regulations, kit-of-parts, estimated costs and timeframe.
P4D also has the potential to automate 70% of the design process. This allows human designers to focus more on the complex and subjective aspects of creativity. Richard Kuppusamy, chief product officer for Podium, explains, “By generating a structural design in 15 to 20 minutes instead of the months involved in design using current methods, P4D leverages what is replicable and repeatable in building design via computational algorithms and AI.
Lendlease is working with Surbana Jurong to market P4D and is in negotiations with other developers and building authorities to leverage the platform in future projects. Bill Ruh, CEO of Lendlease digital, comments on the goal of the platform: “Our ambition for P4D is to reimagine how we create by changing entrenched methodologies and behaviours…We are inviting other developers and players in the built environment industry to join us in this journey as we promote best sustainable building practices that can be replicated and benefit other communities globally.”
Yeo Choon Chong, Asean CEO at Surbana Jurong, is optimistic about the potential of P4D. “We are excited about the prospect of collaborating with multiple project stakeholders on the cloud at the design stage,” he says, adding that it will help “drive higher productivity in the built environment sector, as well as net zero and zero waste outcomes at the earliest stages of a project life cycle to reduce embodied carbon levels.”
As recent reports suggest, inadequate communication and collaboration between stakeholders along the value chain can lead to design errors and cost overruns for construction projects. In addition, the construction industry’s annual productivity has grown by only 1% over the past 20 years, while contributing 40% to global greenhouse gas emissions. P4D by Lendlease and Surbana Jurong provides a promising solution that could revolutionize the industry and drive sustainable outcomes.