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Amphitheatre, expanded gym part of S$20m SMU makeover

SINGAPORE — With its current student population exceeding its campus capacity by a third, the Singapore Management University (SMU) is spending S$20 million on a makeover.

Singapore Management University. TODAY FILE PHOTO

Singapore Management University. TODAY FILE PHOTO

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SINGAPORE — With its current student population exceeding its campus capacity by a third, the Singapore Management University (SMU) is spending S$20 million on a makeover.

On the cards are plans to convert concourse spaces into new teaching and learning facilities, add larger seminar rooms that can seat about 70 and eke out more group study spaces.

The work will be completed by the third quarter of 2017, and will include an expanded gym and a new 240-seat amphitheatre to be built on the lawn between the Singapore Art Museum and National Museum of Singapore.

A 400m jogging route around the lawn, called Campus Green, will be built and opened for public use.

Altogether, the facilities will add a total seating capacity of 1,185. These redevelopment plans follow several initiatives the university has undertaken to create more space for its students, including renovating its Li Ka Shing Library to increase seating capacity and leasing the former Vanguard Building to create a 24-hour study space.

Speaking at a briefing today (May 15) on the redevelopments, SMU president Arnoud de Meyer said the university is committed to providing adequate and flexible learning and teaching spaces.

He also pointed to the addition of spaces for students to collaborate, network and carry out recreational activities.

“These days, students learn in a much more experiential way. They do projects and learn from discussions with one another. They have all the information at their fingertips through websites and the Internet. Their way of learning is very different and we need to ensure we have the right facilities to support that learning,” said Prof De Meyer.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, the Office of Campus Development’s director Sundaravadivelan Selvam said the university had staggered the timeline of the work to ensure spaces are not taken away entirely from students. 

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