Sixth Gold Medal Recipient: Tan Cheng Siong 2013

Involvement in SIA

A Fellow (Life) of SIA, Mr. Tan Cheng Siong was involved actively in SIA in the 1980s, having been a Vice President of SIA from 1984 to 1986, Chairman of SIA Constitution Committee from 1982 to 1984 and a Council Member from 1982 to 1985. Besides giving lectures and talks organised by SIA he was the Guest-of-Honour and delivered the keynote address at the SIA first Practice Convention. He was appointed by SIA to lead a team to prepare the Jurong East DGP in 1991/1992 and another team to prepare the Pasir Ris 21 DGP in 1997, both DGPs were commissioned by MND.

Involvement in other professional organizations

Over the years, Tan Cheng Siong had been involved with other organisations like the Singapore Institute of Planners, Infrastructure and Architecture Export Advisory Board, Shenzhen Planning Committee.

Involvement in Academia

In the area of Academia, Tan Cheng Siong was an External Tutor, School of Architecture, NUS and also Adjunct Professor and External Examiner, Architecture Department, NUS. He had shared his knowledge and rich experience through many lectures, talks and papers on topics related to architecture and the building industry, which involvement had enabled him contribute towards imparting his experience to the next generation of architects

Architectural Awards

Over the years, Tan Cheng Siong had received many accolades both in Singapore and China. In Singapore, the VITB Jurong East and the Bugis Street Recreation were prize winning projects, his Kew Gate, Redevelopment of SRC and Water Place projects were recognized for BCA Construction Excellence Awards. In China, many of his projects were award-winning projects such as West Coast Bay, Shenzhen (World Class Housing Project Award), Fu Yuan Hua Cheng, Chanchun (People’s Congress of PRC Model Living Environment Gold Award), Zhonhai Ming Du Guangzhou (Gold Medal: 5th Zhang Tian You Award), Emperor Bay, Shenzhen (United Nations Global Human Settlements Model Community Award), Great China International Exchange Square (United Nations 3rd Global Settlements Architecture Design Award)

In China, he had been instrumental in introducing the concept of condominium housing in the mid-90s and he continues to design pioneering landmarks in Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Shanghai, Sanya, Beijing and other cities. His contributions in China was honoured with the title “Father of Luxury Housing”

Design Competition Won

Tan Cheng Siong’s projects had won many design competitions such as VITB Jurong East, Bugis Street Recreation, D&B Woodland N5 C2, D&B Bedok N7 C10, Master Planning, Urban Design and Architectural Proposals for Liu Xin Cun New Town (Shenzhen) 

Other Awards/Appointments

Other honours Tan Cheng Siong received include the Distinguished Alumni Award, NUS in 1999 and the President’s Design Award in 2012 the highest award for designers.