http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/arch...glory-20130819

Published August 19, 2013

Restoring buildings to former glory

Conservation firm ASR advises private developers on specific measures that must be taken to preserve them, reports ANNABETH LEOW


'CHAPALANG contractors", or half-baked contractors, are the bane of Ong Jian Long's existence.

According to his definition, these are the contractors who use emulsion paint instead of mineral paint on conserved shophouses, thus damaging the exteriors, or those who paint the facades in garish shades instead of the prescribed pastel colours.

In his worldview, there are chapalang contractors on the one hand, and conservation specialists like ASR Building & Conservation on the other.

Mr Ong is the business development manager at ASR, a two-year-old firm which specialises in the rehabilitation and repair of historic buildings.

With increased interest in redeveloping these buildings for modern use, ASR is a niche player that acts as the main subcontractor advising private developers on the specific conservation measures that must be taken to preserve the building exterior, paint coat, tiles, and so on.

"They (the private developers) are strong at construction, but not so at conservation," says Mr Ong. "We are the only ones who can come in and cover everything for them."

ASR was incorporated in October 2011, when Singapore-based Aegis Building & Engineering, which has experience in additions and alterations work, tied up with Malaysian firm Structural Repairs to complete a $13.5 million contract for the restoration of the former NCO Club as part of the South Beach mixed development.

Structural Repairs' Robert Yong became the new company's director, while his long-time pal Yeong Wai Teck of Aegis took on the role of managing director. Since then, the company has handled five contracts with a combined value of $21 million.

These include restoring the old Capitol Theatre's facade, as well as the former Chinese Protectorate Building which now houses the Family and Juvenile Court.

Last year, after its first full year of operations, ASR turned in a net profit of $1.20 million, with a revenue of $7.37 million.

The company's management has set its sights on doubling its turnover to $15 million by next year, with potential projects including conservation work on the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, party place CHIJMES, and the former Tanjong Pagar railway station.

Having already refurbished the facade of the Capitol Theatre, ASR is also hoping to score the contract to clean up its interior as well, in a deal that would net the firm $5.5 million.

Owing to the scarcity of conservation specialists in Singapore, ASR's services are in high demand.

Mr Ong and Mr Yeong recount how, during the tender process for the cathedral project, the majority of the contractors planned to hire ASR to handle the specialised, conservation-specific aspects like replacing the original studio lapis tiles with close replicas.

"Not any Tom, Dick, or Harry can do the job," says Mr Ong confidently. "Only specialists like us can."

Tools of the trade include 3D laser scanning machines to create computer-generated models of buildings under evaluation, as well as paint-stripping machines which operate so delicately that they can remove newsprint without tearing the paper.

But Mr Yong, who has been in the building repair business on both sides of the Causeway for over three decades, says that technology is not a quick fix.

"I believe manpower is our greatest asset in the company. That makes things happen," he says.

ASR currently operates out of a leased three-storey building in Ubi, which comprises an equipment store, an office of 16 staff, and a 55-man dormitory for workers. The company also owns property at Tradehub in Boon Lay, which it rents out.

The company plans to expand into neighbouring countries within the next few years.

"I put it to you that there is indeed a market in this field," says Mr Ong. "There are a lot of heritage buildings and sites in the region."

He believes that ASR has a homegrown advantage in that it is familiar with the tropical climate's effects on building weathering, and it works more cheaply than conservation experts from Western countries.

ASR goes to China and Vietnam to seek out materials and artisans for its conservation projects. But it intends to play it safe when it comes to market conditions in South-east Asia.

Calling the situation in Myanmar and Cambodia "too volatile", Mr Ong says that the company is not willing to go into these markets alone. Instead, the management prefers to work under the umbrella of a consortium with other Singapore firms.

"We have links or networks to companies which are going up there already," he says. "We want to be sure it's safe before we go in."

Similarly, ASR recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia's Sasic Holding to pursue its conservation mission there.

Beyond that, says Mr Ong, ASR might invest in local real estate with a focus on conserved buildings.

He says: "In the longer term, we wish to purchase conservation shophouses." These shophouses will be touched up and leased out.

Mr Yong also foresees an initial public offering for ASR within the next eight years, with Aegis to become a wholly owned subsidiary.

"In view of our Malaysia turnover and Singapore turnover," he says, "we can combine our resources and list together as a group."