Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of Singapore’s New Science Centre

Singapore’s Science Centre Board celebrated a significant milestone today with a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Science Centre, located adjacent to the Chinese Garden MRT station. This new facility is poised to revolutionize STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in Singapore, offering a host of innovative programs and cutting-edge facilities.

As a prominent landmark attraction within the Jurong Lake District, the Science Centre will occupy approximately 55,000 square meters, designed collaboratively by Zaha Hadid Architects and Architects 61 Pte Ltd, and will be 25% larger than the current center. Construction is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2024, with an anticipated opening around the end of 2027, coinciding with its 50th-anniversary celebration.

Dignitaries present at the groundbreaking ceremony included Mr. Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Patron of the Science Centre Board, Mr. Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education, Ms. Tan Yen Yen, Chairman of the Science Centre Board, and Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng, Chief Executive of the Science Centre Board.

The new Science Centre promises to provide immersive learning experiences for visitors of all ages, equipped with state-of-the-art technologies. KidsSTOP, which will be more than double its current size, will offer hands-on, interactive exhibits designed to encourage exploration for young children. Moreover, the Science Centre aims to promote dialogues on real-world issues such as sustainability, climate change, and emerging technologies like generative Artificial Intelligence through various workshops, exhibitions, and seminars, catering to the interests of youths and adults.

In an effort to provide a novel experience for visitors, the Science Centre will explore new concepts beyond science, as demonstrated by the successful Comic Art and Sci-Fi Expo in September 2023. Moving forward, the Centre will continue to offer unique experiences from a scientific perspective. Additionally, the popular fire tornado show will have a new and more spectacular home at the Outdoor Amphitheatre, welcoming the public.

Starting from 2024, visitors will have the opportunity to engage in an immersive virtual reality (VR) experience of the new Science Centre and view a physical 3D model of the facility at the current Science Centre. Exhibitions showcasing potential offerings at the new Science Centre have already been displayed at select schools this year and will be showcased at various public libraries during the upcoming school holidays.

Designed to serve as the heart of the community, the new Science Centre will be seamlessly integrated into the surrounding landscape. It will feature lush gardens and spaces for public enjoyment. Visitors can explore science exhibits along curated nature trails, interact with the secondary forest through a scientific lens, and participate in co-developed learning trails and programs with organizations like the National Parks Board (NParks), national water agency PUB, and nature groups.

Visitors will be treated to picturesque views of Jurong Lake and the surrounding gardens, whether through the expansive windows of the building, on the rooftop gardens, or along the 30-meter-wide outdoor activity plaza connecting Chinese Garden MRT station to the Jurong Lake promenade. Furthermore, the rooftop garden atop the easternmost block will serve as an event space available for public bookings.

Stargazing enthusiasts will have the opportunity to observe celestial wonders at the Observatory during the evening hours.