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14 Oct 2025
The official opening ceremony of the new Central Manpower Base (CMPB) at Bukit Gombak was held on 14 October 2025, officiated by Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing. As the overall programme manager, the DSTA team worked closely with counterparts from MINDEF/SAF and contractors in the development and delivery of the facility. The facility was designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly right from the onset. For their efforts, the team was recently awarded the Building and Construction Authority’s Project of the Year Award (Institutional Category).
DSTA senior management and the project team involved in delivery of the new CMPB celebrating
the facility’s opening on 14 October.
The team also adopted innovative construction methodologies such as Virtual Reality simulations, on top of Building Information Modelling and Integrated Digital Delivery tools to enable safe and efficient planning of construction sequence. From concept to design, the facility was built digitally before construction physically on-site, reducing close to 30% in manpower and producing less waste from mistakes or reworks. The result is the first-of-its-kind suspended complex steel structure auditorium which optimises space utilisation by doing away with columns underneath the structure. Even the state crest in the front façade was built using this method. Rather than massive formwork and casting in-situ, it is made up of precast Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) panels of ‘bricks’ tilted at different angles.
A view of the front façade, where the state crest was built by tilting GFRC panels of ‘bricks’ at different angles.
“The flexibility afforded by this simple yet effective construction method allowed us to iterate until we reached the version we were most satisfied with,” said Programme Director (CMPB) Pang Lu Kit from Building and Infrastructure Programme Centre.
Speaking at the event, Mr Chan said, “It is not just about the building itself, but the processes behind it…what is different in this building are the people behind it. The people who are constantly evolving their processes to be more efficient, more servicemen- and servicewomen-centric, and more effective in delivering the outcomes. That is our commitment in our ethos to stay ahead of the challenges and evolving needs.”
Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing (centre) officiating the new CMPB, with Permanent Secretary (Defence)
Mr Chan Heng Kee (left) and Chief of Defence Force VADM Aaron Beng (right).
The new CMPB is a one-stop hub that consolidates NS-related services under one roof, serving both pre-enlistees (PEs) and national servicemen. It houses a Medical Classification Centre for pre-enlistment medical check-ups, SAF’s Second Regional Health Hub that centralises various SAF healthcare facilities, an all-weather fitness conditioning centre and a lifestylemart with RFID self-checkout kiosks. MINDEF and SAF staff also enjoy the benefits of a smart digital workplace with a one-stop employee centre, IT concierge and productivity apps on the go. The integrated ops centre allows for more efficient management of events and facilities. It is also equipped with video analytics capability which enhances security operations while requiring less manpower.
Conveniently located with direct linkage to Cashew MRT station, the new CMPB is the only publicly accessible MINDEF/SAF building to date. Since its soft launch earlier this year, members of public are able to access a range of community amenities including the outdoor exercise facilities, food court and café, convenience store and childcare centre.
“I’m thankful for the dedicated team who brought the New CMPB to life. This achievement is a testament to the close collaboration among our MINDEF counterparts as well as partners, and an affirmation of the innovative design and sustainable practices that went into this project,” Lu Kit shared.