The Story
Project Dorm @ Sportshub converted unoccupied event spaces in the facility into temporary dormitories for Singapore’s migrant workers, in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19. We were appointed to do the build as we are long-term partners of Singapore Sports Hub, and have a deep understanding of the venue and its people.
The project was time-sensitive, as we were given only nine days upon activation to provide lodging for almost 3,000 migrant workers. With the pandemic surfacing on our shores only around February/March 2020, the build was not something that we had ever done before. There was a real sense of urgency as fears over COVID-19 mounted. We had to leverage on our relationships and experience to successfully complete this project.
Given the high quantities of materials required in such a short timeline, the team had to source for items in bulk from all over Singapore and overseas. Many shops were closed due to the introduction of the circuit breaker in Singapore, where only shops selling essential items were allowed to remain open.
Further, at the time where many venues were being converted into temporary dormitories, the materials we sought were in high demand. Many suppliers could not get new stock from overseas in time, due to the border restrictions. Our good relationships with our suppliers enabled us to secure enough materials to meet our client’s needs.
In the Arena, we built the facilities to house 1,600 migrant workers. They included recreational areas, isolation areas, laundry areas and a sick bay. As the Arena is one of the most commonly used venues for sporting events, we knew exactly how to plan out the space to meet the client’s needs. We had to consider the human flow, government requirements for dormitories as well as how to isolate workers who reported sick.
Once the OCBC Arena was complete, the client decided to convert the National Stadium into a temporary dormitory as well. The National Stadium itself housed 1,400 workers, providing the same facilities as the Arena. We also had to ensure that the Stadium was properly fenced up, preventing the public from entering or taking photos.
The team was on standby throughout the duration of this Project Dorm that spanned six months, rectifying any issues and attending to our client’s requests. At a personal level, our team also had to overcome their initial fears about COVID-19 which was new to everyone. Our team gained great satisfaction from this project as we helped to keep a valued section of Singapore society safe.
