Case Study: Arup Singapore achieves optimized, compliant foundation design for Singapore's tallest tower with Bentley's gINT and PLAXIS

Arup Singapore Utilizes 3D Soil Simulations to Design the Foundation of the Tallest Tower in the Country

Arup Singapore was engaged to design the foundations for the SGD 3.2 billion Guoco Tower, the tallest tower in the country, but faced highly variable, permeable soils (dolomite, limestone, mudstone, sandstone, shale) and strict limits on movement of nearby infrastructure (MRT movement limited to 15 mm, historic shophouses to 25 mm) under a tight schedule. To manage complex subsurface data and accelerate analysis, Arup used Bentley’s geotechnical applications, notably gINT and PLAXIS (including PLAXIS 3D).

Bentley’s gINT handled geotechnical data and reporting while PLAXIS/PLAXIS 3D delivered integrated soil–structure simulations and calibration with field sensors and load tests. The approach produced a full interpretive report within a week, kept MRT movement to just 10 mm and surrounding ground settlement to 20 mm (both below authority limits), cut bored-pile loads by 30–35%, saved resource hours by avoiding multiple software platforms, and removed the need for additional impact assessments or strengthening works.

Arup

Ei Sandar Aung Win

Senior Geotechnical Engineer