Mark Teo is a Senior Engineer at BCA and a recipient of the MND EDGE Scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) with Honours (Highest Distinction) from the National University of Singapore.
When you think of construction, skyscrapers and cranes might come to mind. But behind every building in Singapore is a team of engineers and regulators working hard to ensure structures are safe, sustainable, and built to last. Scholar Mark Teo is one of them.
Mark began his career overseeing the maintenance of building façades and structural elements, a role that gave him a strong foundation in the nuts and bolts of the industry. Today as a Senior Engineer at Building and Construction Authority (BCA), he continues this important work while also contributing to CORENET X, an innovative platform that improves the regulatory process for building works.
We caught up with Mark to learn how the Ministry of National Development (MND) EDGE Scholarship kickstarted his career and to get a glimpse into the exciting and dynamic world of Civil and Structural Engineering.
To start off, what inspired you to start pursuing engineering?
My fascination with Civil Engineering began in childhood, watching backhoe loaders at work. This interest grew during secondary school, sparked by National Geographic’s Megastructures series, where I learned about the engineering behind iconic structures like the Golden Gate Bridge, Itaipu Dam, and Marina Bay Sands. I was captivated by how complex engineering concepts translated into real-world construction.
Today, as a public service officer at the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), I’m privileged to play a role in Singapore’s Built Environment sector, ensuring the structural safety of our buildings. It’s fulfilling to see how my childhood fascination with construction has evolved into a meaningful career contributing to Singapore’s development.
How has the MND EDGE Scholarship supported your engineering journey?
I was drawn to the MND EDGE Scholarship in my final year of studies for its comprehensive professional development and the opportunity to explore aspects of Singapore’s built environment, both within BCA and across government agencies.
The scholarship has been transformative for my career, connecting me with passionate professionals who share my commitment to improving Singapore’s built environment. Through rotations across BCA departments, I’ve gained valuable insights into the entire lifecycle of building safety—from upstream design considerations to downstream maintenance requirements.
These experiences have not only deepened my technical expertise in Civil Engineering but also developed my soft skills, especially leadership, stakeholder management, and organisational effectiveness. The scholarship has provided me with a holistic perspective of the sector, enabling me to contribute more meaningfully to Singapore’s development.
As BCA scholars, we are part of transformative projects that directly shape the future of Singapore’s built environment. Prospective scholars can look forward to opportunities to lead major initiatives—from implementing policies to spearheading technological innovation in construction.
What does a day in your life as a Structural Engineer look like?
The morning’s prime hours are dedicated to high-priority matters including addressing public feedback about structural concerns, handling time-sensitive requests from industry professionals and working on the various developmental projects including developing guidelines for CORENET X (CX), reviewing building regulations and policies, and creating industry training materials.
After lunch with my colleagues, I focus on processing structural plans and permits. This involves analysing structural drawings and engineering calculations to ensure building safety and compliance. There are also regular meetings and impromptu discussions with internal teams, industry practitioners, and professionals seeking technical clarification. This mix of planned work and dynamic interactions makes each day both challenging and rewarding!
Sounds exciting! Could you tell us more about CX?
CX is a One-Stop Integrated Digital Shopfront that enables early collaboration between project parties, reducing downstream abortive work and design iterations.
My role involves developing guidelines for part-structural plans (ST) submission for CX, enabling structural details of large projects to be submitted and approved in phases. This approach enables better manpower allocation for the design engineers and facilitates site progress while ensuring structural safety.
To prepare the industry for these changes, BCA actively engages different stakeholders in the Civil and Structural (C&S) industry to address their queries and feedback. Workshops are also conducted to deliver role-specific essential information on CX. We also prepare bite-sized videos and Code of Practice for project parties to find solutions when performing submissions in CX. We are constantly enhancing the guidelines by incorporating insights and feedback gathered from the industry.
You work in a highly dynamic environment. What part of your job do you find most enjoyable, and why?
The element of problem solving in both regulation review and guidelines development is what I enjoy most. Change is never easy, and much of our work involves helping the industry evolve.
Identifying the core underlying issues or gaps and designing effective policy changes that improve the safety and efficiency of the construction industry keeps me excited!
Mark Teo
What’s something about the C&S Engineering industry that might surprise people?
Many still see C&S Engineering as a ‘dull, dirty and dangerous’ industry stuck in the past, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. The sector has undergone a remarkable transformation, emerging as a dynamic hub of innovation.
Today, we’re seeing fascinating developments that seemed like science fiction just a decade ago—from AI-powered drones inspecting façades to high-rise components being 3D-printed off-site.
It’s now a multidisciplinary field that merges technology, sustainability, and creativity to revolutionise how we design, build, and maintain infrastructure. This technological renaissance has not only enhanced safety and efficiency but has also made civil engineering one of the most innovative fields to work in today.
Engineer by Day,
Gardener by Passion
Mark is an avid gardener—a hobby that might surprise some, given his work in Civil Engineering. But to him, both worlds share common ground: soil, structure, and sustainability. His gardening projects have sharpened his problem-solving skills and deepened his appreciation for the environment, while helping him cope with stress.
What opportunities can prospective scholars look forward to at BCA?
BCA scholars engage in transformative work that directly shapes Singapore’s built environment. You’ll have the opportunity to drive significant initiatives, from reviewing and implementing policies to influencing industry practices and spearheading technological innovation in construction.
Our rotation programme offers a comprehensive understanding of the Built Environment sector, covering everything from building safety and maintenance to green building initiatives. What makes the BCA scholarship experience unique is our vibrant scholar community, where you’ll collaborate with talented individuals from diverse technical backgrounds, including architects, engineers, and digital specialists. This diversity creates a rich learning environment where ideas flourish and cross-disciplinary solutions emerge.
