Construction starts on NS Square at Marina Bay
The grandstand at NS Square will seat about 30,000 people, allowing more spectators at the National Day Parade each year.
Artist's impression of the future NS Square. (Image: MINDEF)
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SINGAPORE: Construction on the NS Square venue in Singapore's downtown centre started on Tuesday (Mar 19), with an expected completion date by 2027.
The redevelopment of a floating platform at Marina Bay into NS Square was announced in 2017 and initially slated for completion at end-2025, but faced delays during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once completed, NS Square will become a national landmark for all Singaporeans, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday.
“NS Square aims to be a place for NSmen and their families to enjoy the peace and prosperity of a Singapore which they have protected over the years,” he said.
“It will be another jewel to add to the already impressive skyline around Marina Bay ... and one given over to NSmen and their families to show our country’s deep appreciation.”
When completed, NS Square will house a permanent stage and grandstand for large-scale annual events like the National Day Parade and Marina Bay year-end countdown.
Its circular grandstand bowl with cantilevered structures spanning up to 25m will be a first in Southeast Asia, according to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of National Development (MND).
The seats, which curve around the stage, will accommodate about 30,000 people – more than the 27,000 that The Float @ Marina Bay used to hold.
The space can also be configured for different events such as concerts and sports competitions, or used for recreation and weekend markets, said MINDEF and MND.
Other public amenities include eateries and a water sports centre for canoeing, kayaking and dragon-boating. The centre will also have an elevated swimming pool.
A waterfront promenade will wrap around the stage, forming part of a continuous loop around Marina Bay that will be open year-round, said MINDEF and MND.
As a tribute to all past and present national servicemen and their families, NS Square will also have a gallery themed around National Service.
It will display hardware from the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force, and have an immersive exhibition space and viewing gallery of the city skyline.
The construction tender for NS Square was awarded to Expand Construction last year, while the design consultancy tender was awarded to WOHA Architects in 2020.
The facility incorporates sustainability features like solar panels on the roofs, which will also be planted with greenery for rainwater retention and to keep the building cool.
More than 80 per cent of the development will be ventilated naturally or mechanically. Air-conditioning in remaining areas will come from the Marina Bay district cooling network, which uses an energy-efficient centralised chilled water system.
Concrete and steel from the demolished floating platform will be recycled for NS Square’s construction, and some plastic bucket seats from the former seating gallery will also be repurposed.
