Chung Cheng High School: history of buildings and environment

Chung Cheng High School was opened in 1939 at Kim Yam Road by Aw Boon Haw and other businessmen. The school is named after Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of China from 1948 to 1975, who is also known as Chiang Chung-cheng. Chung Cheng High School has a branch school, now known as Chung Cheng High School (Yishun) located at Yishun St. 61. The main school is now located at 40–56 Goodman Road. 

 

Chung Cheng High School main gate

Chung Cheng High School (Main) is renowned for its lake, known as the Chung Cheng Lake; its size has been reduced by about two-thirds by several school-expansion programmes since the 1950s.

The latest phase of upgrading cost Chung Cheng High School (Main) around $70 million, and saw the renovation of several buildings, such as the Administration Building. The new extension is built on a portion of the lake, with part of the building extending into the lake. The main building has the auditorium which was the largest in the whole Southeast Asia region when it was opened.

Chung Cheng Lake

The student population increased so much that Lin Shi wan, Chairman of the Management Board, bought a piece of land at Goodman Road, naming it Chung Cheng High School (Main) while calling the one at Kim Yam road Chung Cheng High School (Branch).
In 1953, Chen Wenque took over as Chairman of the Management Board and improved upon the school facilities.  
In 1965, Goh Tjioe Kok was appointed Chairman of the School Management Committee. This period saw the independence of Singapore. The period saw the completion of the auditorium in 1968 and the Science and Technology Block in 1975.

Science and Technology Block

 Work on the building of the Craft-cum-Technical Complex (Gewu Building) began in 1990, and was completed by 1992.  Gewu Building – ‘Gewu’ means deriving wisdom and knowledge through relentless pursuit of truth and the study of nature.

Crafts-cum-Technical Block

32 Classroom Blocks

Gewu Building

 

The second phase of the school development ended in 1999. To complement the 32 classroom block (Hongdao Building)which had been completed in 1995, a 320-seater lecture theatre was added together with other facilities such as computer laboratories, a Media Resource Library, Science Laboratories, a music room, complete with learning hardware and software, with other special rooms. Facilities such as tennis courts, a street soccer court and a lake amidst a lawn added character and style to the sprawling campus. The Grand Hall was also refurbished with new seats and parquet flooring, increasing its seating capacity to  2000.  Hongdao Building – ‘Hongdao’ represents the propagation of wisdom and moral values.

Hongdao Building

  A canteen and a multi-purpose hall (HaoranBuilding)was also added in 1997 (2^nd phase) redevelopment. Haoran Building – ‘Haoran’ depicts having an awe-inspiring sense of moral courage, righteousness and magnanimity through self-cultivation.

Haoran Building

The 3rd phase of school redevelopment ended with the completion of the 16-classroom block in 1999 (ZhuopuBuilding).  Zhuopu Building – ‘Zhuopu’ describes the polishing of uncut gems into the finest jade, akin to nurturing each child’s talents and potential.

Zhuopu Building

The school embarked on a project to develop a heritage gallery that would not just be for people associated with Chung Cheng High School but for anyone interested in Singapore's history. In July 2003, the school's heritage gallery was opened by Chan Soo Sen, Minister of State of Education. It has historical artefacts, photographs and IT presentations.

Heritage Gallery

  

       In April 2005, Chung Cheng was selected to serve as the Centre of Excellence for Chinese in the East
        Zone (COE). The renovation of our CCA block began in July to make way for the centre.

In 2006, Innosphere, the name coined for the new Centre of Excellence (COE), was opened with its facilities such as a library for Chinese language resources, teahouse and auditorium. It serves as a venue for seminars, workshops, exhibitions and performances. The Centre houses all the aesthetics CCAs under one roof, in conjunction with the plan to develop the school's niche areas in the aesthetics programmes.  (Rixin) Innosphere – ‘Rixin’ means continuous improvement in the pursuit of excellence.

Rixin (Innosphere) Building

         In 2007, the I-Cafe was also launched showcasing the strong partnership between the School and the
         Parent Support Group.

Besides all the above mentioned, Chung Cheng High School Main has also added a few main buildings. Chung Cheng students were very actively involved in performing arts, in particular drama, since the early days. The completion of the Zhulin Building which houses the Grand Auditorium, helped consolidate its niche in this area. Zhulin Building was named after the founding Principal Dr Zhuang  Zhulin.  Zhulin building – ‘Zhu’ or bamboo denotes impeccable character of integrity and resilience.

Zhulin Building

The school embarked on the “Programme for Rebuilding and ImprovingExistingSchools” (PRIME) in 2010. New facilities added included the Indoor Sports Hall (NayunBuilding), expanded classrooms, numerous linkways connecting all buildings in the school compound and others.  Nayun Building (Indoor Sports Hall) – ‘ Nayun’ depicts soaring high to achieve peaks of excellence.

Map of Chung Cheng