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State Courts, Singapore, Image Credit: Finbarr Fallon
The design of the State Courts takes inspiration from the terracotta roofs in Chinatown, Image Credits: Finbarr Fallon
The twin towers of the State Courts are linked by 39 linked bridges, Image Credit: Finbarr Fallon
State Courts, Singapore, Image Credit: Khoogj
Illustration by CPG Consultants for State Courts, Singapore
Illustration by CPG Consultants for State Courts, Singapore
3.0 State Courts, Singapore_Image Credit Finbarr Fallon
3.1 State Courts, Singapore_Credit Finbarr Fallon
The twin towers of the State Courts are linked by 39 linked bridges, Image Credit: Finbarr Fallon
State Courts, Singapore, Image Credit: Khoogj
3.4 Illustration by CPG Consultants for State Courts, Singapore
3.5 Illustration by CPG Consultants for State Courts, Singapore
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State Courts

In 2011, an open design competition was held for the new State Courts, with CPG assisting the evaluation panel with its technical and design expertise. CPG then collaborated with the winners, Serie + Multiply Architects, to develop the new State Courts. As the Principal Consultant and Architect, CPG was entrusted to develop the winning design and make it operational for the client.

The new State Courts design features an innovative two towers strategy. One tower is dedicated to the courtrooms, hearing chambers, and court supporting functions while the other tower is to house the judges’ Offices, staff offices and support functions. The 2 high-rise towers are linked by a series of link bridges that enable the controlled circulation necessary for the courtroom process. 

The courtroom tower is an open frame supporting a series of shared terraces on which the courtrooms are placed: it has no external facade. In a metaphorical sense, this represents the openness and impartiality of the judicial process. The outdoor terraces feature high rise greenery and are designed to allow views across the city thereby reinforcing the civic role of the building.

The project site sits in the dense urban setting of Chinatown and is near the original State Courts and Family Justice Courts, both of which are protected historic buildings. CPG’s engineers thus had to work closely with their project management colleagues from PM Link to plan and coordinate the construction. Many components were prefabricated offsite because of a lack of storage space, and these had to be properly scheduled and delivered directly to the floor for installation.

Project Details

Project country

Singapore

COMPLETION DATE

2019

SERVICES RENDERED

Architectural Design, Civil & Structural Engineering, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Project Management

AWARDS / YEAR

BCA Green Mark Award (Singapore) – Building (Platinum) 2018

BCA Green Mark Award (Singapore) – Data Centre (Platinum) 2018

BCA Universal Design Awards (Gold Plus) 2018

Tatler Design Awards (Best Innovation Award) 2021

BCA Design and Engineering Safety Excellence Awards (Institutional and Industrial) 2021

Key Features

Building Height

178m

Building Material

Concrete, Aluminium, Glass

Innovative technology used

The slender Office Tower needed a structural design that could withstand high wind speeds, a wind tunnel study of the building model was conducted to capture the forces acting on the towers and the link bridges. These forces were applied in the 3D structural model, and the building was designed to ensure that its sway and human comfort are within acceptable limits.

The engineering team worked out various innovative solutions to cool the large, tall buildings more quickly and efficiently. The State Courts utilises a highly efficient water-cooler chiller plant system that serves its towers with two separate high and low zones. The main air-conditioned zones were strategically placed towards the centre of the building, which is more shaded and thus minimises heat exchange with the external environment. Each floor also has individual air-conditioning units for better control when zoning is not used.

Project Member Quotes

CPG has historically designed and constructed many of Singapore’s present court buildings, such as the Supreme Court and Family Justice Courts. Our familiarity in Court Complex Design and Planning in Singapore helped us in designing the programmatic spaces, operations, and security requirements for this first, high-rise court complex. Our aim in this project was to ensure there is clear segregation in the programming of the three primary user groups, the Judges, Persons-in-Custody, and the Public.

Colin Wu

Lead Architect of State Courts Project and Senior Vice President (Architecture), CPG Consultants

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