Singapore Polytechnic’s School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE) is a key organiser and strategic partner of the Kajima-SP Built Environment Innovation Challenge, a competition that empowers students to reimagine the future of facility management, focusing on sustainability, smart technologies, and user-centric design.
About the Challenge
The Built Environment Innovation Challenge is open to all university, ITE, and polytechnic students in Singapore, providing a vital platform for creative problem-solving and innovation in the sector. Participants compete for over $6,000 in cash prizes, award certificates, internship opportunities with Kajima, and the chance to further develop and test their ideas at The GEAR Building, a cutting-edge urban living lab.
The finals on 1 October 2025 included opening remarks from Dr Faris Akbar Hajamaideen, Director of ABE at Singapore Polytechnic, and Mr Luke Wu, Managing Director of The GEAR by Kajima. The event welcomed participants and guests to a tour of The GEAR, known for its biophilic workspaces, intelligent building management systems, and net-zero construction features.
Finalists presented their projects at The GEAR Building on 1 October 2025, engaging with a judging panel featuring industry leaders from Kajima, the Singapore Green Building Council, and SIFMA. Their creativity shows how the next generation can shape sustainable, tech-enabled spaces, with bold ideas from AI-driven optimiser for facility management, to a self-monitoring equipment system, and even scent-based spatial zoning to enhance occupant wellbeing.
The winning team, comprising SP, RP, and NUS students, emerged as champions.
Overall, students’ innovative proposals addressed real-world challenges, reflecting ABE’s commitment to blending academic excellence with industry collaboration and hands-on learning. Networking and collaboration during the event paved the way for future internship and partnership possibilities.
