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Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Celebrating 60 years of nation building, 25 years of our Expand journey
SINCE its founding in 2000, Expand Construction has grown in tandem with Singapore's continued transformation, rising from a one-man startup into one of the nation's leading homegrown names in the built environment. Its progress reflects the country's own bold and forward-looking development. At the heart of Expand's growth is a distinctive planning model structured around 15-year cycles, known internally as 'GSS'. The first cycle (2000 to 2015) focused on Growth, Strength and Sustainability, echoing Singapore's priorities during that period of nation-building. The current cycle, spanning 2016 to 2030, is centred on becoming Great, enabling Succession and achieving Stability. This approach has enabled Expand to contribute meaningfully to Singapore's changing landscape while preparing for the future. 2000-2015: Expand's first 15-year cycle of GSS 2000-2005: Growth From a humble start to a foothold in the industry Started by Von Lee as a one-man operation in 2000, Expand Construction entered the built environment sector at a time when Singapore's older HDB estates were being refreshed under the government's main upgrading programme (MUP). Expand was able to contribute to this key national initiative, helping to upgrade the homes and lives of Singaporeans while gaining a foothold in the industry. Survival hinged on hard work, calculated risks, and winning tenders by outbidding the lowest bidder, a bold move that paid off. These early years were about proving Expand's ability to deliver, no matter the odds. 2006-2010: Strength A period of proving capability and earning trust In the 2000s, Singapore set out to create a new kind of urban green space, and Gardens by the Bay would become a landmark project that would reshape the Marina Bay skyline and reflect the country's focus on innovation and sustainability. At the heart of this landmark development were the towering Supertrees, which would go on to become one of Singapore's most recognisable symbols. LionGrove Supertrees. It was during this pivotal period that Expand, focused on building trust and a solid track record, earned the opportunity to contribute to the national vision. Guided by the values of continual pursuit of excellence and consistently earning the trust and support of clients, consultants, sub-contractors, and suppliers, the company secured two milestone projects: the Supertrees and the Energy Centre at Gardens by the Bay. These were defining moments that elevated Expand's profile. 2011-2015: Sustainability Turning experience into systems built to last In the early 2010s, Singapore ramped up the development of HDB Build-To-Order (BTO) flats to meet rising demand for public housing. This national effort required dependable contractors who could deliver large-scale projects efficiently while maintaining high standards. Fernvale Vines was awarded the HDB Construction Award 2024. It was against this backdrop that Expand took a significant step forward. As the company matured, so did its ambitions. It launched a new vision: 'To be a World-class Builder, with World-class Professionals.' In 2011, the company achieved A1 status under the CW01 Building category and clinched its first HDB BTO contract in Punggol West worth S$157.6 million. By 2013, it had begun systematically building a strong internal talent pool, positioning itself for long-term resilience. Expand was awarded the BCA Construction Excellence Award 2013. 2016-2030: Expand's second 15-year cycle of GSS 2016-2020: Great Defined by values, strengthened by safety When Covid-19 hit in 2020, Singapore's construction sector was among the hardest hit. Projects were halted, timelines disrupted, and some contractors were unable to carry on. In the midst of this uncertainty, Expand stepped up to complete a housing project that had been left unfulfilled by another contractor. Going above and beyond to deliver under challenging conditions, the company was recognised with a Resilience Award from HDB for its efforts. Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum. This commitment to responsibility reflected a broader vision that had been set in motion years earlier. The next chapter for Expand was not only about growing in size, but about becoming a 'Great' company defined by values and a deep commitment to safety. The company introduced a new safety slogan: 'Nothing is more urgent or important than working safely'. Hillock Eco-bridge. In 2018, Expand also made its first major foray into infrastructure with a S$101.8 million project at Changi Naval Base. The experience and systems built during that phase enabled the company to respond effectively during the pandemic. Launching of Von Lee Yong Miang's SUTD Bursary on Oct 10, 2019. 2021-2025: Succession Shaping the next generation of leadership As Singapore entered a period of leadership transition in the early 2020s, Expand too began preparing its next generation of leaders. Succession planning took centre stage, with senior leaders mentoring upcoming talent to ensure continuity and preserve the company's core values. Punggol Waterway Sunrise II was awarded the HDB Resilience Award 2024. At the same time, the team worked tirelessly to navigate pandemic aftershocks, supply chain disruptions and labour constraints. By 2023, the foundations for leadership renewal were firmly in place. Singtel Waterfront Theatre. In 2024, Expand began operating on a dual-engine model to keep its building arm strong while expanding its infrastructure capabilities. The milestone achievement of CW02 A1 Civil status in December 2024 marked a new level of capability for the firm. Expand also began investing in AI and digital tools to further strengthen its readiness for the future. Minister of State Dinesh and MOM officers site visit to NS Square on June 16, 2025. 2026-2030: Stability Securing the next chapter with confidence As Singapore continues to plan for long-term resilience in a fast-changing world, Expand is also looking ahead too. The years ahead will focus on strengthening leadership continuity and ensuring long-term stability. Construction of NS Square @Marina Bay, target to complete in 2027. As the company transitions into the hands of its second-generation leadership, it is sharpening its capabilities in AI, robotics and computational construction methods. The goal is to future-proof the business while remaining steady, sustainable and people-centred.
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Gardens by the Bay's Children's Festival has 7m-high slide and Lilo & Stitch-themed play spaces
The Stitch-themed outdoor festival is also the first in the Asia-Pacific region. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Gardens by the Bay's Children's Festival has 7m-high slide and Lilo & Stitch-themed play spaces SINGAPORE – Kids can zip down a 28m-long slide from nearly 7m high, circling one of the world-famous Supertrees. It is among the highlights at Gardens by the Bay's 11th annual Children's Festival from May 24 to June 15, featuring free play activities and installations inspired by Disney's Lilo & Stitch. The live-action movie, which opens in Singapore cinemas on May 22, is a reimagining of the 2002 animated classic of the same name. The Stitch-themed outdoor festival is also the first in the Asia-Pacific region. Stitch, the beloved blue extraterrestrial which helps a lonely Hawaiian girl mend her broken family, will likely feel at home in the Supertree Grove. After all, some visitors have described its other-worldly architectural design as resembling an alien landscape. Kids aged six to 12 can zip down The Great 'Ohana Wave, a 28m-long slide that is nearly 7m high, circling one of the world-famous Supertrees. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The Great 'Ohana Wave slide, designed for children aged six to 12, was unveiled in an exclusive preview for The Straits Times on May 21. For safety, kids must wear helmets and use round floats to go down the gentle slope. The other three play spaces are open to kids of all ages. In a nod to Stitch's extraterrestrial origins, Space Adventure engages children in a cosmic mission where they navigate swing cars and compete to strike numerous light beams. Seth Wang (left), five, and Aiden Heng, eight, race in swing cars in Space Adventure during ST's exclusive preview of Gardens by the Bay's Lilo & Stitch-themed Children's Festival. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Forest Of Belonging is a forest-themed inflatable where children can uncover hidden messages and the meaning of 'ohana, a Haiwaiian term for family. Finally, Stitch's Mischief Makers offers a beach-themed play area with kinetic sand to encourage children's creativity and sensory development. Kids can look forward to receiving a free activity booklet which complements the installations. Present the completed booklet at the redemption counter to receive a sticker sheet, while stocks last. They can also meet Stitch and snap a photo with the character on June 7 and 8. Sisters Sophia, nine (left), and Sonia Wang, seven, explore the forest-themed inflatable playscape, Forest of Belonging. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Ms May Yeo, assistant chief executive at Gardens by the Bay, said: 'Through play at the thoughtfully curated installations, we hope that kids will receive a deeper appreciation of the true value of friendship and family, and the confidence to be who they truly are – just like in the story (of Lilo & Stitch).' The play spaces close at 7pm daily, but do stay on to catch a special edition of the 15-minute Garden Rhapsody shows, titled The Way To 'Ohana, at 7.45 and 8.45pm. The lights on the Supertrees are programmed to synchronise with music from the 2002 Lilo & Stitch movie soundtrack. Kids can play with kinetic sand at the beach-themed Stitch's Mischief Makers at Gardens by the Bay's Children's Festival. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI And inspired by the film's Pacific setting, there are Plants On The Move! sessions on May 31 and June 14, led by Gardens by the Bay's Hawaii-born plant researcher. Sign your kids up for the free 35-minute programme, which uses storytelling to teach them about plants brought by early settlers from South-east Asia to the central Pacific Islands. Book it/Gardens by the Bay's Children's Festival featuring Disney's Lilo & Stitch Where: Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive When: May 24 to June 15, 10am to 9pm daily (play spaces close at 7pm) Admission: Free; separate charges apply for carnival games and selected workshops Info: Get the ST Smart Parenting newsletter for expert advice. Visit the microsite for more
Time Out
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
7 best highlights of Asia Pacific's first Disney's Stitch-themed outdoor festival in Singapore
Immersive, larger-than-life installations Playtime just got supersized with colourful, colossal sets that bring Stitch's adventures to life. Fancy surfing without saltwater in your nose? Climb aboard the Great 'Ohana Wave, a swoopy, loopy slide that lets kids catch imaginary curls like Lilo's sister Nani on her board. Then there's the Forest of Belonging, an inflatable playscape where young explorers can wander through interactive zones celebrating family, friendship, and the odd hijinks or two. Dial up the fun with Space Adventure, a mini mission where kids channel their inner space ranger, charging up with glowing light beams to save the galaxy – or at least complete the course. Over at Stitch's Mischief Makers, little hands can scoop, squeeze and shape kinetic sand, turning it into sandy masterpieces. Amp up the fun by picking up a free activity trail booklet at the event counter and collecting stamps at each station. Complete the trail to redeem an exclusive Stitch-themed postcard and sticker sheet set. Just a heads-up: while the festival runs until 9pm, the installations close at 7pm, so don't leave your adventure too late. Space and island-themed carnival games Over at the Stitch-themed carnival, the fun continues with games designed to keep active kids busy and adults very tempted to join in. Charges for carnival games and rides apply. Meet and greet sessions Fans will have the exciting opportunity to meet a special friend from Disney's Lilo & Stitch at the Supertree Grove Lawn. Come in your brightest tropical flair on June 7 and 8, snap a photo, score a hug, and create wonderful memories with your friends and family. Admission is free, but you'll have to be quick as there are only limited meet-and-greet passes per session – there are four sessions a day at 3.45pm, 4.45pm, 5.45pm, and 6.45pm. The queue for the passes opens 15 minutes before each session on a first-come, first-served basis. Terms and Conditions apply. Special edition of the Garden Rhapsody Stay a little longer after the sun sets and witness the Supertrees come to life in Garden Rhapsody – The Way to 'Ohana. This special edition of the nightly light and sound show is inspired by music from Lilo & Stitch. You'll hear familiar tunes like 'Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride' and other nostalgic earworms as lights ripple and shimmer across the Supertree Grove. There are two showtimes at 7.45pm and 8.45pm daily. Either way, it's the perfect, starry-eyed way to wrap up your visit. Retail pop-up with exclusive merchandise Some people come for the fun. Others, for the limited edition merch. And the retail pop-up along the North Colonnade won't disappoint. It's Stitch-core galore, with a curated collection of exclusive Gardens-themed goodies, including those featuring Stitch against a backdrop of Supertrees. Music and dance performances As the sun dips below the Supertrees, the energy kicks up a notch with The Great Island Series, a dazzling live show by Cake Theatre! that fuses music, movement, and plenty of tropical fun. Expect a bit of drama, a bit of whimsy, and a whole lot of crowd-pleasing moves set to the medley of catchy tunes and swaying island rhythms. The performances run from 5pm to 7pm on selected days, and are free. Just kick back and soak up some theatre under the skies. Creative workshops featuring plants Let your curious side take over with creative family-friendly workshops, where art meets eco-awareness in the most adorable, crafty way imaginable. From crafting floral keychains in Circle of Blooms and assembling a lei (flower garland) in Petals & Paradise to designing glowing, space-themed Cosmos Lanterns and smooshing up gooey DIY slime in Goo-ey Fun!, these sessions are both educational and endlessly entertaining. Your kids might even learn about canoe plants in the charming Plants on the Move! workshop that blends botany with play. Workshops are held at the Cannonball Room, and activity fees apply.
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Liverpool'sNorthern Lights art show Borealis - where to see it
An art installation inspired by the Northern Lights is to go on show in Liverpool for the first which means northern in Latin, will be "celebrating the arrival of the longer, brighter days ahead", organisers said. What's on show? The depiction of the Northern Lights, created by artist Dan Acher, will change according to the conditions "depending on the wind variations, humidity and temperature".Music by French composer Guillaume Desbois will provide the soundtrack for the atmospheric performance.A spokeswoman for the Albert Dock said: "The installation is completely unique yet consistently mesmerising every time, inviting visitors to slow down and look up together at the incredible illusion." When can I see it? The free event starts on 20 March – which is the day of spring equinox in the northern hemisphere – and runs every evening until 30 March, when the clocks go forward for British Summer says it will "serve as a symbol of seasonal change". Where will it be? It will be at Hartley Quay, against the backdrop of the Liverpool waterfront, making it ideal "for a romantic evening stroll or a memorable family outing", according to artwork has already been on display in more than 40 cities worldwide, including Tokyo and is also permanently on show at Singapore's famous Supertrees installation. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
