Singapore – The German European School Singapore (GESS) held an official launch ceremony on 13 September 2018 to mark the opening of its brand-new 30,500 square metres campus at Dairy Farm Lane. 

The guests of honour – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and State Secretary, The Federal Foreign Office, The Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Andreas Michaelis, together with 10 European ambassadors and country representatives, officiated at the launch, marking a new chapter of GESS’ 47-year journey in Singapore.

The GESS campus, which has a capacity for 2000 students, caters to the strong EU community, which has over 10,000 companies operating in Singapore. The launch reaffirmed the strong ties between the EU and Singapore, with a pledge from GESS to forge strong bonds with the local community, while providing a creative and conducive place for students to thrive in. The new campus, which cost S$135 million to build, features a wide range of facilities that will act as an incubation space for students of varying interests and talents. These range from creative spaces, performing arts facilities to sports amenities like an Olympic-sized swimming-pool and football field. As part of efforts to give back to the community, the Cooking Lab, swimming pool, auditorium and football field are open to the local community based on availability. 

In line with the school ethos of caring for the environment, GESS received the GoldPlus Award in 2016 even before it was built, as it had exceeded the standards of Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark. Features include an energy-efficient water cooled chiller plant and energy-efficient light fittings. In support of the school’s sustainability initiatives, the canteen will also feature green-practices, with investments in re-usable serving plates, bowls and biodegradable plastic.

As the new campus is located near two nature reserves, GESS will also be stepping up its environmental education, weaving it into its curriculum, and will be working together with the community on environmentally oriented activities in surrounding areas.