Three commercial buildings that incorporated long-term maintenance features into their design saved manpower and upkeep costs of up to nearly $1 million each year, a new Building and Construction Authority Singapore study has found.
When such “Design for Maintainability” (DfM) elements were integrated into a new residential project, the cost savings were up to $110,000 a year, said National Development Minister Mr. Chee Hong Tat.
Speaking at the Singapore Architecture Festival, or Archifest, on 22 July 2026, Mr. Chee said the study – which assessed the benefits of the design features and is the first of its kind – involved four buildings in Singapore.
