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

With its current student population exceeding its campus capacity by a third, SMU will be spending S$20 million on a makeover. Concourse spaces will be converted into new teaching and learning facilities, and larger seminar rooms and more group study spaces will be added. A 400m jogging route around the lawn, called Campus Green, will also 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 SMU has undertaken to create more space for its students. Speaking at a briefing on May 15 on the redevelopments, SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer said that the University is committed to providing adequate and flexible learning and teaching spaces. Professor De Meyer also pointed to the addition of spaces for students to collaborate, network and carry out recreational activities. He said: “These days, students learn in a much more experiential way… Their way of learning is very different and we need to ensure we have the right facilities to support that learning.”