Amid the challenges faced by prospective home owners during the Covid-19 pandemic, the residents of one housing project had many kind words for the builder of their future homes. 

In an appreciation letter sent to the Tampines GreenCourt customer relations office (CRO), one resident wrote: “Their attention to detail was commendable, as they meticulously addressed each defect, leaving no stone unturned.” 

The messages of gratitude from the new owners were put up on the noticeboard at the China Construction (South Pacific) Development Co Pte Ltd (CCDC) CRO, while many other residents showed their appreciation for the workers by buying them food and drinks. 

CCDC built 1,064 residential units with an integrated carpark and an environmental deck at Tampines GreenCourt. PHOTO: CHINA CONSTRUCTION (SOUTH PACIFIC) DEVELOPMENT CO

Another resident of the Housing Board (HDB) Build-To-Order (BTO) project recounted his family’s difficulties in installing a washing machine hose. After a call to the CRO, a plumber was brought in to resolve the issue within half an hour. 

Such high levels of customer service and satisfaction earned the CRO a Certificate of Commendation from HDB. CCDC also snagged the Construction Award at the HDB Awards 2024 for delivering a good-quality project within the time frame, as well as adopting innovation and winning communal appreciation. 

Meeting customer satisfaction against time constraints

In the past three years, CCDC has completed six BTO projects while handing over more than 6,000 HDB flats. In fact, all the projects awarded to CCDC before the pandemic have been handed over successfully to the owners.

One of these is Tampines GreenCourt, which is located at the junction between Tampines North Drive 2 and Tampines Avenue 12. It was completed in April 2023, after delays faced during the pandemic and work closures due to the circuit breaker. 

CCDC was in charge of building nine residential blocks of 1,064 units, together with an integrated carpark and an environmental deck. 

Tampines GreenCourt was completed on time by CCDC and also received a Conquas star rating for top-notch quality. PHOTO: CHINA CONSTRUCTION (SOUTH PACIFIC) DEVELOPMENT CO

After the circuit breaker ended, CCDC quickly implemented an intensive catch-up plan to scale up its construction work. To mitigate the shortage of manpower, CCDC even built approved temporary quarters, housing hundreds of workers to make up for lost time. 

A CCDC spokesperson says: “Thanks to the effective catch-up plan, we were able to finish the project on time with excellent workmanship and allow home owners to move into their homes.” 

Despite the rush, the builder did not compromise on quality. The project met the standards of the Building and Construction Authority’s Construction Quality and Assessment System (Conquas), which awards points for various aspects of construction works. 

The project was lauded for its workmanship, earning the Conquas Star – the highest rating given to developments with scores above 95. 

Adopting technology early in the industry 

CCDC’s engineering excellence was one key reason for the project’s success. The firm is an early adopter of building information modelling (BIM) and virtual design and construction, which allow project planning, changes and execution to be done quickly and shared among all stakeholders. 

At Tampines GreenCourt, CCDC also led the early adoption of full prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) for HDB projects. 

This technology involves prebuilt components to be transported and assembled at the worksite. In total, the developer put together 4,944 individual 3D precasts to form the buildings. 

“This is one of the first HDB projects to adopt the full PPVC construction method. We appointed a PPVC manufacturer with 100 per cent local production which helped to ensure precast resilience compared to precasts from overseas,” says the spokesperson.  

To lift the heavy precast components, CCDC used a self-balancing lifting frame supplemented by a secondary lifting belt. PHOTO: CHINA CONSTRUCTION (SOUTH PACIFIC) DEVELOPMENT CO

Another innovation the company adopted was a new lifting method for PPVC installation. It used a proprietary self-balancing lifting frame and as a safety precaution, implemented a secondary lifting belt to guard against lifting point failure due to the weight of the precasts. 

One other challenge faced by CCDC was the many concurrent construction work near the project site, including public road works. “As all the projects there were delayed due to the pandemic, each of us faced tremendous pressure to complete our works. 

“We coordinated closely with neighbouring projects, including re-designing sewer systems for our buildings to make sure that the construction progress was not delayed,” explains the CCDC spokesperson. As a result, the development was successfully completed with zero safety accidents despite the compressed timeline. 

A striking feature of Tampines GreenCourt is the massive environmental deck on the second storey that links the nine residential blocks and creates a green space with playgrounds and community facilities for residents. 

The environmental deck on the second storey connects residents to the rest of the development while offering them a space for community building. PHOTO: CHINA CONSTRUCTION (SOUTH PACIFIC) DEVELOPMENT CO

To minimise delays and ensure the timely completion of the communal space, CCDC implemented a meticulous planning and coordination strategy, aligning the construction timeline seamlessly with that of the residential blocks.

This strategic foresight was instrumental in the successful and efficient completion of the two-storey carpark, featuring an environment deck that links all blocks. 

To optimise workflow, CCDC divided the construction area into 17 smaller zones which could be constructed independently. 

This approach allowed construction to proceed in unaffected zones earlier while deferring work in impacted areas. 

As a result, CCDC significantly reduced the workload at the handover stage, focusing efforts on smaller remaining sections rather than rushing to complete the entire slab at once.

This innovative method enabled the company to maintain steady progress in construction activities while delaying certain tasks without compromising the overall schedule.

Today, residents of all ages enjoy their “garden in the air”, which is easily accessible from their homes and safe from motoring traffic. 

At the end of the day, it is the happy residents that make Tampines GreenCourt an accomplishment for CCDC. As another enthused in a letter of appreciation: “I can now settle into my new unit with peace of mind, knowing that all defects have been efficiently resolved. I am grateful for the unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.”