Marina Bay Sands™ : Inching closer to the top

The three hotel towers of Marina Bay Sands™ have been topped out. P@SSPORT catches up with Mr Nigel Roberts, President of Marina Bay Sands™ on the progress of a project that will transform our city's skyline.

The cheer and anticipation was evident on the faces of those gathered to witness the topping out ceremony of its three 55-storey hotel towers on July 8.

Declared Las Vegas Sands Corp's Chairman, Mr Sheldon Adelson, who was present for the event, "Topping the hotel towers at Marina Bay Sands is a milestone in an exciting construction and engineering project. We're pleased to be another step closer to delivering on our promise to Singapore and we remain committed to creating the landmark premier integrated resort in Southeast Asia".

Ground breaking speed and concept

The architects and construction managers employed industry-leading construction solutions for this 55 storey mega structure. The construction team used steel trusses to link the east and west legs of each tower about half way up and used innovative methods to seal the atriums in each of the three towers and in-between them.

After the steel trusses were in place, the team was able to build one new hotel floor every four days, an unprecedented pace for skyscraper construction in Singapore.

The Sands' SkyPark is the next critical phase of construction. The 7,000-tonne structure will be hoisted 200 meters to the top of the towers using technology usually employed in building bridges. The process of lifting each of the individual sections can take up to a full day.

Mr Nigel Roberts, President of Marina Bay Sands™ , for one, is looking forward to the lifting of the SkyPark. "The SkyPark will make these beautiful buildings an icon. It will be one of the most talked-about elements of our entire project due to its sheer size and concept."

When it is completed, the horizontal length of the SkyPark will be longer than the Eiffel Tower and will be the largest cantilevered public observation deck in the world.

Delivering a landmark experience

This is Mr Roberts' second stint in Singapore. "The whole environment has evolved. The physical landscape has changed dramatically. From many vantage points in Singapore, we can see Marina Bay Sands™ redefining the city skyline and I'm very proud to be part of this historic milestone."

"Singapore has done a tremendous job in planning and developing the city for Singaporeans and for tourists. My role is to build the best team for Marina Bay Sands™ . We've hired a top team of veterans to set a new standard for luxury and service."

He has no doubt that Marina Bay Sands™ will have a tremendous positive impact on Singapore tourism. "Both our facilities and the design of the building will deliver a new level of experience for tourists at our integrated resort.

The unique design of Marina Bay Sands™ will make it a true landmark on the face of Singapore. Whether it's the three cascading hotel towers that are linked by the magnificent SkyPark, or the lotus-shaped museum resembling a 'welcoming hand', Marina Bay Sands™ will reshape the Singapore skyline.

"Marina Bay Sands™ will bring tourists to Singapore for our world-class Sands Expo and Convention Centre, our theatres with Broadway shows and live musical acts, and our fantastic shopping and restaurants, all under one roof."

Singapore government is committed to growing tourism

Mr Roberts said that with the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) keen focus on the future, Singapore was well placed for growth in tourism. "That's demonstrated by the planning that went into developing the Singapore Flyer, the integrated resorts, and the Gardens by the Bay that will stretch from Marina Bay Sands™ hotel towers to the sea."

"There is a strong focus on making Singapore a superior location for events. The FORUMULA ONE is a major annual event and next year Singapore will host the first Youth Olympics Games. These are excellent examples of the government's commitment to tourism."

He said Singapore's investments in infrastructure placed it in a strong competitive position. " Singapore is in great shape as a choice tourism destination. Transportation is just one example. The airport here is second to none. The MRT is extremely efficient and taxis are easy and abundant. That is a huge advantage for Singapore and it's only one of a long list of things that Singapore has done right to attract tourists."

"The integrated resorts will generate interest from a great variety of tourists in the region and a different profile of tourist as well. That's why a key task of Marina Bay Sands™ will be to attract the right quality of staff and set new benchmarks that will give that extra sparkle to the industry."

See related articles:
Watch videos of Marina Bay Sands™ on YouTube