NTU to open new alumni house at Marina Square in Nov

SINGAPORE — Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is to open a new alumni house at Marina Square in November, while its house at one-north, currently being refurbished, will reopen next year.

A third house will be located at North Spine Plaza on its campus near Boon Lay, and will open at the end of this year.

The three new houses will not charge membership fees and will be open to all NTU alumni, faculty and staff members, who can gain entry with their employee card or free NTU alumni card, the university said in a press release yesterday.

The new alumni house at Marina Square will have a contemporary restaurant, bar and relaxing spaces for members in a 10,000sqf space.

The restaurant and bar, designed to seat more than 200 patrons, will be managed by French food services and facilities management group Sodexo, which has Michelin-starred restaurants Le Pre Catelan and Le Jules Verne in Paris under its portfolio. Sodexo has also partnered with more than 5,000 educational institutions globally.

Professor Lee Sing Kong, NTU’s vice-president for alumni and advancement, said: “We have had extensive feedback from alumni on how they would like to engage with one another and with their alma mater ... and the three new alumni houses are designed to meet their needs.

“For example, we expect that the alumni house at Marina Square would be ideal for business meetings during the week and in the evenings; and over weekends, for alumni, their families and friends (may) get together for good food and conversation.”

NTU president Professor Bertil Andersson said, “Our students don’t just graduate from NTU and then close that chapter in their lives. All graduates have a lifetime NTU membership ... we want them to continue to keep the precious bonds and friendships they have made at NTU.”

The house at one-north will reopen after its executive centre is renovated to include technology-enhanced rooms for training and meetings, improved recreation facilities, and a new gym extension.

NTU has 80 alumni associations worldwide, with 35 in Singapore and 45 overseas.

All university alumni who are given their alumni cards get to patronise retail and dining outlets on campus, and are offered deals at more than 60 merchants in Singapore and abroad, including hotels and resorts.

They may also use the university’s sports and library facilities by paying a fee, and apply for professional and personal development courses or graduate programmes offered by NTU.