Bird Paradise in Mandai Wildlife Reserve awarded SITES Silver
Peter Templeton, President and CEO of USGBC and GBCI recently visited Mandai Wildlife Group to present the SITES Silver certification and tour Bird Paradise with the project team. The award recognises the park’s landscape performance and the long-term commitment by Mandai Wildlife Group and its partners to conservation, visitor wellbeing and resource efficiency.
SITES evaluates how landscapes perform across water, soil, habitat, materials, governance and community benefits. Bird Paradise met rigorous criteria while creating a richly immersive experience for visitors and world-class habitats for birds.
Atelier Ten has supported Mandai since 2014, shaping the sustainability strategy from masterplan to operations. As a trusted adviser to the client and design team, our work included climate and outdoor comfort studies, water budgeting and reuse, materials guidance, certification pathways, and measurement and verification so outcomes can be tracked over time.
Designing for Singapore’s climate
Singapore’s conditions set clear priorities: shade, airflow and all-weather resilience. We shaped roofs, decks and planting around prevailing breezes and deep canopy to lower radiant heat, then targeted cooling only where people gather. Heavy rain informed drainage, raised walkways and covered links, while careful night lighting protected the reserve edge. Detailing and maintenance access were selected for durability and easy cleaning in high humidity, with vector control and water quality designed in from day one.
Designing for Singapore’s climate
- Holistic water management supported by two dedicated wastewater treatment plants supplying about 21% of non-potable demand since 2023; one plant is located within Bird Paradise
- Solar PV on the carpark rooftop in support of Mandai’s goal to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030
- Internal electric fleets, including shuttles that move visitors to and from nearby train stations
- Appropriate and native planting tailored to each aviary to support behaviour and biodiversity
- Thermal comfort analysis, including future-climate scenarios, to guide outdoor comfort through shade, orientation and ventilation
- A 50 m ecological buffer along the reserve edge that ties into the Mandai Wildlife Bridge, improving habitat protection and safe fauna movement
- Salvaging site timber for reuse as benches and bird perches to reduce waste and embody place
The result is a resilient park where comfort, conservation and resource efficiency sit side by side. This outcome reflects a sustained, collaborative effort with Mandai Wildlife Group, RSP and Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl. The certification also sits alongside LEAF Platinum for Bird Paradise and Green Mark Platinum for the Penguin Building.
Welcoming GBCI to site for a tour of Bird Paradise, alongside Mandai Wildlife Group and Atelier Ten
Bird Paradise in Mandai Wildlife Reserve with eight walk-through aviaries reflecting different biomes of the world.
Explore more: Visit the MWG Environmental Sustainability site for more images and further details about Sustainability at Mandai Wildlife Reserve.