COVER STORY
INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND MATERIALS
FOR AN INSTITUTIONAL BUILDING Singapore Management University (SMU) Connexion received the BCA Design and Engineering Safety Award 2020 as well as the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2020.
Overview of the completed SMU Connexion.
INTRODUCTION SMU Connexion (SMUC) is an institutional development comprising a five-storey teaching block and a two-storey link building. It is a new addition to the Singapore Management University (SMU) City Campus, that supports experiential learning through real-world projects and cultivates innovation and entrepreneurship. The project sets out to fulfil four key design goals, namely encourage experimentation, enable 24/7 learning, engage the city, and embrace new sustainability initiatives.
student lounges, cafeteria and incubation spaces for start-ups. For maximum flexibility, the building has open floor plates, with minimal fixed walls that can be adapted
The development sits on a tight site of only about 3,544 m2, with no direct vehicular entrance nor access. The site was partly occupied by the old National Library which had since been demolished. The new building will also provide direct connectivity and linkage to the existing SMU School of Accountancy and School of Law, over Fort Canning Link. The 8565.94 m2 GFA (Gross Floor Area) space includes active learning classrooms, brainstorming hubs, collaborative zones, integrated learning studios, makerspace, 08
THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER May 2021
Location plan.
