Central Manpower Base (CMPB) Recognised at Architizer A+ Awards 2026

Designed by DP Architects, the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) received the Popular Choice Award in the Government & Civic Buildings category and a Special Mention in the Sustainable Institutional Buildings category at the Architizer A+ Awards. CMPB was one of five projects worldwide nominated for the Popular Choice Award and was ultimately selected through a public vote. The Special Mention distinction is awarded to entries that exhibit remarkable achievement, acknowledged by the jury in recognition of the exceptional quality of submissions received.

Situated at the foot of Bukit Gombak Hill, CMPB carries deep symbolic and civic significance as the first point of contact for every citizen entering National Service in Singapore. Rather than perpetuating the conventions of a closed military facility, the design reimagines the campus as an open, human-centred civic environment organised around three ascending zones – Play, Live and Work – linked by a ceremonial stairway that anchors the composition along a central civic axis. Courtyards, daylit halls and shared landscapes introduce airiness and legibility into the heart of a secure compound, softening the threshold between institutional formality and public openness.

Architecturally, the project draws from Singapore’s modernist and tropical heritage. Vertical concrete fins and deep eaves moderate heat gain while offering a measured transparency into the activity within. At the heart of the building, the Beacon façade, composed of ninety prefabricated concrete panels interwoven with interlocking bricks forming the State Crest, gives material expression to themes of unity and national purpose.

CMPB has been certified as BCA Green Mark – Platinum Super Low Energy, achieves 47% overall energy savings, reflecting the seamless integration of environmental performance with civic and architectural ambition and positioning it as a benchmark for sustainable public architecture in Singapore.