REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC

Tanglin Campus, Strathmore Block DID : 6376 8011 1 Kay Siang Road, Singapore 248922 Fax : 6415 1310

PRESS RELEASE

Date : 29 Aug 2002
Subject : REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC’S PERMANENT CAMPUS
DESIGNED BY AWARD-WINNING ARCHITECT

1. Republic Polytechnic’s permanent campus in Woodlands Avenue 9 will be an Innovative Learning Hub in the north when it is completed in 2006. Conceptualised by renowned award-winning architect Fumihiko Maki of Maki & Associates, together with the team from DP Architects Pte Ltd, the project costs over S$400 million. (Please refer to Annex A and Annex B for more details on Mr Maki and the project team.)

2. As a masterplan strategy, the Republic Polytechnic campus is conceived as a Learning Hub with a central nucleus of main educational programmes serviced by 5 satellites of ancillary programmes. The central nucleus contains 11 identical Learning Pods (8-9-storeys high) and 1 staff administration hub. The 11 Learning Pods house study clusters and dry labs. They are then unified by 2 elliptical decks of common facilities, namely the Lawn and the Agora. These 2 decks are envisioned to be large, continuous and non-hierarchical student / semi-public domain where informal activities could occur.

3. The study cluster - dry lab blocks of buildings are termed Learning Pods as they are the encapsulation of educational facilities where learning, dissemination, exchange and resolution of information and ideas take place. This feature is complemented by the Agora, a student-oriented and experimental public realm which encourages cross-disciplinary interaction. (In ancient Greece, the Agora was a place of public assembly, a forum, marketplace or public square for exchange of information and goods.) A large, continuous and sheltered informal meeting space for students, the Agora is the paradigm and extension of the ground void deck concept, an innovative form of learning environment for the campus. The other common area, the Lawn, is a non-hierarchical green collective meeting space for the staff, students and the public. It has excellent vantage points to the adjacent Regional Park and acts as a unifier and landmark to distinguish this new campus.

4. The campus design is functional yet exciting. It is a timeless design that is very appropriate for a tertiary institution. The extreme flexibility and adaptability of the design, which are important considerations in the polytechnic setting, are possible thanks to the modular 40m x 40m Pods which allow for different combinations and permutation of labs, facilitators’ offices and clusters. The design concept is ideally suited to the polytechnic’s non-traditional learning approach which actively engages students in the learning process. The learner-centric elements of the design facilitate inquiry, discussion and collaboration in user-friendly surroundings.

5. The campus is also designed to be a friendly and dynamic environment for staff-student interaction as well as campus-community interaction. Semi-public and public zones facilitate accessibility of the surrounding community to the campus, reinforcing the idea of an open campus and a ‘campus within the community’. One public zone which we envisage will play a significant role in fostering campus-community ties is the cultural hub – this is where our journey towards becoming a cultural hub of the north will begin.

6. The ‘campus within the community’ is also planned into the existing rustic Regional Park contours. It integrates well with the surrounding greenery, thus promoting a ‘campus in the park’ feel. A meandering jogging track extends from the regional park into the campus, establishing a soft yet defined boundary between the campus and the park. The design therefore complements and creates synergies between the Park and the campus, thus further enhancing the learning experience at the polytechnic.

7. The winning design was selected by a Selection Panel (Annex C). Earlier this year, Republic Polytechnic had pre-qualified 8 firms to take part in a design competition. Members of the public are invited to view the 8 design proposals from Monday 2 Sep 02 to Friday 6 Sep 02 (9am to 7.30pm) and Sat 7 Sep 02 (9am to 3.00pm) at 3rd level, Strathmore Bldg, Republic Polytechnic, Tanglin Campus at 1 Kay Siang Road.

For more information, please contact:

Ms Hamida Zam Zam
Office of Corporate Communications
Republic Polytechnic
DID : 6376 8011
Email : hamida_zam_zam@rp.edu.sg

ANNEX A

CV OF MR FUMIHIKO MAKI

Current Position

Principal Director, Maki and Associates

Qualifications
1954 Master of Architecture, Graduate School of Design, Harvard
University
1953 Master of Architecture, Cranbrook Academy of Art
1952 Bachelor of Architecture, University of Tokyo
Registered Architect, Japan
1956-58 Assistant Professor, Washington University
1958-60 Graham Foundation Fellow
1960-62 Associate Professor, Washington University
1962-65 Associate Professor, GSD Harvard University
1965-85 Visiting Critic, Universities in United States and Europe
1979-89 Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Tokyo
Registered Architect, Germany
Member, Japan Institute of Architects
Honorary Fellow, American Institute of Architects
Honorary Fellow, Royal Institute of British Architects
Honorary Fellow, Czech Institute of Architects
Honorary Fellow, Mexican Institute of Architects
Honorary Fellow, Bund Deutscher Architekten
Honorary Fellow, American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Honorary Fellow, Academia Scientiarum et Artium Europaea
Honorary Fellow, French Academy of Architecture
Architectural Awards
1963 Japan Institute of Architecture Prize for Toyota Memorial Hall
1969 Mainichi Art Prize for Rissho University Campus
1980 Japan Art Prize for Hillside Terrace
1992 The Asahi Prize
1985 Japan Institute of Architecture Prize for Fujisawa Municipal
Gymnasium
1987 Reynolds Memorial Award for SPIRAL
1988 Wolf Prize, Israel
1988 Chicago Architecture Award
1990 Thomas Jefferson Medal in Architecture, Charlottesville,
Virginia
1993 The Pritzker Architecture Prize
1993 UIA Gold Medal
1993 Prince of Wales Prize in Urban Design, Harvard University
(for Hillside Terrace)
1994 Arnold Brunner Memorial Prize in Architecture, American
Academy of Arts and Sciences
1997 Togo Murano Award, Murano Memorial Foundation
1999 Praemium Imperiale, The Japan Art Association
2001 The Grand Prize of Japan Institute of Architecture

Project Specific Experience in Education Buildings

1960 Steinberg Hall at Washington University St. Louis St. Louis, USA
1962 Nagoya University Toyoda Memorial Hall Nagoya
1962 Chiba University Memorial Auditorium Chiba
1968 Rissho University Kumagaya Campus Kumagaya, Saitama
1972 St. Mary's International School Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
1972 Kato Gakuen Elementary School Numazu, Shizuoka
1974 Tsukuba Academic New Town Tsukuba, Ibaraki
1974 Nobe Kindergarten Yokohama, Kanagawa
1978 Namiki Elementary School Kanazawa, Kanagawa
1980 Kawawa Lower Secondary School Yokohama, Kanagawa
1981 Keio University Library (renovation), Mita Campus Minato-ku, Tokyo
1982 Keio University Main Library, Mita Campus Minato-ku, Tokyo
1985 Keio University Graduate School, Mita Campus Minato-ku. Tokyo
1985 Keio University Hiyoshi Library Yokohama, Kanagawa
1988 Tsuda Hall Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
1992 Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Fujisawa, Kanagawa
1993 Nakatsu Obata Memorial Library Nakatsu, Oita
1994 Graduate Research Center Keio University, SFC Fujisawa, Kanagawa
1994 Seminar Guest House Keio University, SFC Fujisawa, Kanagawa
1996 Fukuoka University Student Center Jonan-ku, Fukuoka
1996 Kanagawa University Auditorium Yokohama, Kanagawa
2000 Fukushima Prefectural Women's Center Nihonmatsu, Fukushima
2002 Fukui Prefectural Library and Archives Fukui Prefecture
2004 National Language Research Institute Tachikawa, Tokyo
2004 MIT Media Laboratory Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2004 Washington University Visual Arts and Design Center St. Louis, Missouri, USA
2000 University of Tokyo Research Building Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
 
Current Projects
2002 Harmonic Drive Extension Complex, Nagano Prefecture
2002 Fukui Prefectural Library and Archives, Fukui Prefecture
2002 Japan Rolex, Tokyo
2003 Yokohama Bayside Tower, Kanagawa Prefecture
2003 TV Asahi Broadcast Center, Tokyo
2003 Niigata International Convention Center, Niigata Prefecture
2004 MIT Media Laboratory, Cambridge, USA
2004 National Language Research Institute, Tokyo
2004 Washington Univ. VADC, St. Louis, USA
2004 University of Tokyo Research Building, Tokyo
2005 Nakatsu City Museum, Oita Prefecture

Completed Projects

1966 Rinkai Center Building Osaka, Osaka
1966-92 Hillside Terrace Apartment Complex Phases I-VI Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
1969 Senri Civic Center Building Senri, Osaka
1969 Mogusa Community Center Tokyo
1970 Senboku Archeological Museum Senboku, Osaka
1971 Kanazawa Ward Offices Kanazawa, Yokohama
1972 Osaka Prefectural Sports Center Takaishi, Osaka
1973 Hiroo Homes & Towers Minato-ku, Tokyo
1974 Toyota Kuragaike Memorial Hall Toyoda, Aichi
1975 Public Housing Project in Lima Lima, Peru
1975 Embassy of Japan in Brazil Brazil
1975 Marine Life Park for Expo '75 Okinawa
1976 Austrian Embassy Minato-ku, Tokyo
1978 Kanazawa Seaside Town Kanazawa, Kanagawa
1979 Iwasaki Art Museum Ibusuki, Kagoshima
1979 Royal Danish Embassy Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
1981 Toranomon NN Building Minato-ku, Tokyo
1981 Mitsubishi Bank Hiroo Branch Minato-ku, Tokyo
1981 Kyoto Craft Center ABL Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
1982 Kota Kinabalu Sports Center Sabah, East Malaysia
1982 YKK Guest House Kurobe, Toyama
1983 Dentsu Osaka Office Kita-ku, Osaka
1984 Minami Osawa Housing Project, Tama New Town Hachioji, Tokyo
1984 Garden Plaza Hiroo Minato-ku, Tokyo
1984 Fujisawa Municipal Gymnasium Fujisawa, Kanagaw
1985 West Plaza at Yokohama Central Station Yokohama, Kanagawa
1985 Spiral Minato-ku, Tokyo
1986 National Museum of Modern Art Kyoto Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
1987 Iwasaki Art Museum Annex Ibusuki, Kagoshima
1989 Dai-Tokyo Fire & Marine Insurance Shinjuku Building Shibuya, Tokyo
1989 Toyama Shimin Plaza Toyama, Toyama
1989 Tepia Minato-ku, Tokyo
1989 Nippon Convention Center Makuhari Messe Chiba, Chiba
1990 Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium Shibuya, Tokyo
1993 Sandoz Tsukuba Research Institute Tsukuba, Ibaraki
1993 YKK R & D Center Sumida-ku, Tokyo
1993 Center for the Arts Yerba Buena Gardens San Francisco, USA
1994 Kirishima International Concert Hall Makizono, Kagoshima
1995 Isar Büropark Munich Germany
1995 Tokyo Church of Christ Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
1995 Floating Pavilion Groningen, Netherlands
1996 Kaze-no-Oka Crematorium Nakatsu, Oita
1997 District Community and Care Center Yokohama, Kanagawa
1997 Natori Performing Arts Center Natori, Miyagi
1997 Nippon Convention Center Makuhari Messe Phase II Chiba, Chiba
1998 Hillside Terrace West Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
1999 Toyama International Congress Center Toyama, Toyama
2001 Bürogebäude in Düsseldorf-Hafen (Maki Solitaire) Dusseldorf, Germany

Project Team ANNEX B

CONSULTANTS ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
DP Architects Pte Ltd Local Lead Architects who will be responsible and involved in all phases of the project from inception to completion, as well as in all consultations and submissions to all Authority bodies. DPA was also the Lead Architects for both the Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic.
Maki & Associates Design Architect who will be responsible for all matters concerning design (exterior and interior) and involved in all phases of the project from inception to completion. Maki and Associates will provide design leadership in consultation with DP Architects and the specialized consultant team.
Meinhardt (Singapore) Pte Ltd / MVA Singapore Pte Ltd Civil & Structural Engineers who will be involved in all phases of the project and responsible for design documentation and construction supervision of civil, structural, geotechnical and traffic engineering works.
Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SE Asia) Pte Ltd Mechanical and Electrical Engineers who will be responsible for design from inception to completion, authority consultation and approvals and construction observation for M&E Services. The M&E scope also includes Security (by CCD Australia as below), Audio Visual, Building Intelligence, Energy management, External and Special Lighting and IT and Structured Cabling systems. Bassett Applied Research (Australia) will provide design input and simulations to Beca from concept to detailed design phase for sustainable design features of the buildings. Beca are currently the M&E Engineers for the Singapore Management University.
Davis Langdon & Seah Singapore Pte Ltd Quantity Surveyor responsible for cost estimating, cost checking as design develops and cost control during the construction phase. Responsible also for the contractual aspects for the procurement of the project. DLS was also the Quantity Surveyor for Nanyang Polytechnic.
Kenn Fisher Kenn Fisher will work closely with the academic staff of the Polytechnic to ensure that the problem based learning approach is properly interpreted by the architects and planners. He will examine alternative room arrangements, functional relationships and affinities, and detailed 'blocking and stacking' arrangements for all functional units on the campus. He will also develop a detailed schedule of accommodation for all room requirements, including room data sheets. All this will be included in a return architectural brief. During schematic design and design development stage he will be responsible for reviewing planning and designs to ensure that the briefed requirements are met.
DP Design Pte Ltd DP Design (DPD) will be involved in the full scope of the interior and signage design of the various phases of the project i.e. from brief formulation to handover of premises. DPD will work closely with the client and the architects to develop an interior together with its signage that is compatible and sensitive to the architecture .DPD will also coordinate and collaborate with all other consultants and specialists with regards to these areas of work.
Theatre Projects Consultants London and Singapore based consultants who will be responsible and involved in all phases of the project from inception to completion, for theatre planning, production lighting, production sound, stage engineering and AV equipment. TPC were the theatre consultants for The Esplanade, NUS cultural centre and Nanyang Girl’s High School.
Arup Façade Engineering Arup Facade Engineering will provide specialist advice on technical issues related to the building envelope. Performance aspects considered include structural, weatherproofing, solar penetration, light and energy transmission, buildability and durability of performance and finishes. AFE have completed several Singapore projects including MOE Headquarters and Dhoby Ghaut. They are currently engaged on the National Library and Supreme Court projects.
ACLA Pte Ltd Landscape consultant who will be responsible and involved in all landscaping works in all phases, as well as will assist Architects in liasing with Npark on planting requirements and preparing planting submission drawing to obtain clearance from Npark. ACLA was also the Landscape consultant for Nanyang Polytechnic.
Acviron Acoustics Pte Ltd Responsible for the acoustics, noise & vibration design for the project as well as the Audio-Visual system design for the special areas such as auditorium, LT etc. The work scope extends till the successful completion of the project.
CCD Australia (S) Pte Ltd Specialist Security Consultants providing full conceptual, design and project management of all security services applying proved security principals and theories within a security philosophy of Management – Planning & Design – Technology. CCD Australia (S) is currently engaged as the specialist security consultant for the new Singapore Management University and the New National Library Building. Our past projects in Singapore as security consultants include the Singapore Turf Club at Kranji and the new Board of Commissioners of Currency.

ANNEX C SELECTION PANEL

Chairman Mr Lee Hsien Yang Chairman Board of Governors Republic Polytechnic
Member Mr Philip Ng Chee Tat Chairman Development Committee Republic Polytechnic
Member Prof Goh Thong Ngee Deputy Chairman Development Committee Republic Polytechnic
Member Prof Low Teck Seng Principal/CEO Republic Polytechnic
Member Mr Liew Choon Boon Director Corporate Services Ministry of Education
Member Mr Lu Cheng Yang Member/Board of Governors Republic Polytechnic
Member Mrs Teh Lai Yip Deputy Director (Conservation & Urban Planning) Urban Redevelopment Authority
Member A/Prof Heng Chye Kiang Acting Head Dept of Architecture School of Design & Environment National University of Singapore
Member Mr Zahidi Abd Rahman Member/Board of Governors Republic Polytechnic