RSP celebrates multiple award wins in 2024 with two projects honoured at Prix Versailles

06 Dec 2024

RSP’s outstanding achievements underline the multi-disciplinary architecture firm’s pursuit of human-centric design excellence

Gaia at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Photo credit: RSP

RSP, a leading global multi-disciplinary architectural and engineering design group headquartered in Singapore, celebrates the outstanding achievements of the group recognized by multiple highly commendable international and local accolades, highlighting the incredible work being undertaken across the business through project delivery, sustainability initiatives, technological innovation, and commitment to the group’s people. This culminated in a hugely successful performance in 2024, which helped RSP earn the prestigious Large Firm of the Year Award in Multi-Disciplinary Architecture at the Architecture Master Prize.

Gaia was awarded the Grand Prize (Campuses) at the coveted Prix Versailles 2024, an annual UNESCO award highlighting outstanding architecture and designs that beautify and improve the living environment. Changi Airport Terminal 2 was also recognised with a Special prize for an Interior (Airports).

Gaia is Asia’s largest Mass Engineered Timber (MET) building, located at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), designed by RSP in partnership with Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects. The projects received the greatest number of honours:

  • Prix Versailles: Grand Prize (World’s Most Beautiful Campuses)
  • Architizer A+ Awards: Jury Winner (Sustainable Institutional Building)
  • Golden Pin Design Award: Winner in Spatial Design
  • Singapore Good Design Award: Winner in Sustainable Design
  • Singapore Good Design Award: People’s Choice Awards (Third Prize)

Named after the Greek goddess of Earth, the six-storey structure is home to the Nanyang Business School, covering 43,500m² of gross floor area. Gaia is constructed with sustainability in mind, producing about 2,500 fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide per year – equivalent to more than 7,000 roundtrip flights from Singapore to Hong Kong.

Changi Airport Terminal 2 Expansion, designed in collaboration with Paris-based BOIFFILS Architectures, added to the wins, including Best Refurbished Building (Gold) at the MIPIM Asia Awards, which was announced yesterday. The project also secured the Popular Choice Winner (Transport Interiors category) at the globally recognised Architizer A+ Awards and picked up two awards at the Singapore Good Design Award. The project consists of the expansion and renovation of the terminal, spanning 120,000m² across three levels. Blurring the boundaries between architecture and landscape, the terminal is a serene multi-sensory environment that allows travellers to enjoy the calming effects of nature by journeying across an indoor landscape of minerals, water, and lush greenery.

CapitaSpring, designed in collaboration with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Carlo Ratti Associati, won the International High-Rise Award 2024/2025. Measuring 280 metres in height, CapitaSpring integrates open and green spaces throughout the building to create an open oasis of vertical urbanism in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District. It imitates a diverse neighbourhood of restaurants, offices, service apartments, and sky gardens.

As AI and generative design technology are developing at a rapid pace, RSP has been putting their vision forward for how to leverage the technology and maximise its potential in the design process. The firm claimed three awards at the Arch Hive Design Build Competition, where AI was utilised to create the winning designs.

“We are especially heartened for the recognitions received for our works and people. The winning projects, especially Gaia, Changi Terminal 2 Expansion, and CapitaSpring highlight the creative courage of our architects and designers in responding to clients’ changing needs, our growing climate crisis, and the evolution of technology," delights MrMrg Meng Hui, Managing Director at RSP. "They also illustrate our commitment to building complex and challenging projects that contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient built environment.”

 

Technical sheet

  • Project Name: Gaia
  • Location: 91 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore
  • Local Architectural firm: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd
  • Architectural firm/designer: Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects
  • Construction Value: SGD 125 million
  • Site Area: 36,930 SQM
  • GFA: 41,649.44 SQM
  • Temporary Occupation Permit: 20 February 2023
  • Certificate of Statutory Completion: 20 December 2023
  • Project Consultants: C&S Engineering - Aurecon Singapore (Pte) Ltd, M&E Engineering - Squire Mech Pte Ltd, Quantity Surveyor - WT Partnership (S) Pte Ltd, Main Contractor - Newcon Builders Pte Ltd
  • Project Type: New Development
  • Typology: Education
  • Scope: Architecture, M&E Engineering
  • Project Name: Changi Airport Terminal 2 Expansion
  • Location: Singapore
  • Local Architectural firm: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd
  • Architectural firm/Designer: BOIFFILS Architectures
  • Project Consultants: Contractors & builders: TakenakaTakenaka, Structural engineers: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd, Singapore, Engineers: J Roger Preston (S) Pte Ltd, Singapore
    Lighting consultants: Philippe ALMON PhA Concepteur Lumières, Paris, Botanical design: Patrick Blanc, Paris, Landscape architects: Genesis Nine One Pte Ltd, Singapore
  • Project Type: Refurbishment & Expansion
  • Typology: Transport (Airport)
  • Scope: Architecture, M&E Engineering