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Two Decades After Raffles City, Ssangyong Beats Out Global Giants For Landmark Marina Bay Sands Project

Advanced Techniques Achieve "Impossible" 52° Inclined Tower

A Symbol of Singapore, and Cornerstone of Ssangyong's Reputation in Overseas Construction

A challenging economic environment for Korea's construction sector, with bankruptcies d among regional and mid-sized builders, has seen industry confidence plummet even lower than during the Asian financial crisis. A series of high-profile accidents have further dampened morale. Nevertheless, belief endures that Korea's construction industry will bounce back. Time and again, it has overcome adversity to showcase outstanding technical prowess in delivering landmark projects - both at home and abroad - that continue to be celebrated today. In this series, we will reflect on these iconic achievements once more, as we cheer on the bold resurgence of K-Construction. [Editor's Note]

[K-Construction Landmarks] Marina Bay Sands Demonstrates Ssangyong E'C's Global Strength

◆ Ssangyong E'C: Unrivaled Technical Skill Sets the Jewel in the Crown of Singapore's Iconic Skyline

The Marina Bay Sands Hotel is unquestionably Singapore's best-known landmark. The awe-inspiring sight of three towering 57-story buildings, brimmed by a ship-shaped SkyPark, never fails to impress. Of even greater surprise to many, however, is the fact that this architectural marvel was built by a Korean construction company - Ssangyong E'C.

Back then, Ssangyong E'C enjoyed both domestic and international renown for its technical expertise. Following its separation from Ssangyong C'E in October 1977, the company swiftly entered the overseas construction market.

In Singapore, a mere two years later in August 1980, Ssangyong made a bold impression by winning the USD 400 million Raffles City shopping center project. Commissioned by the Development Bank of Singapore, the large-scale undertaking included a 73-story, 2,065-room hotel and 42-story office tower. Upon completion in 1986, the Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged it as the tallest hotel in the world at that time.

The Raffles City complex officially opened in October 1986 after a five-year construction period. Notably, Prime Minister of the day, Lee Kuan Yew, praised the project during the 26th Independence Day address in 1985, stating, "Koreans are strong people and we all confirmed it in Raffles City."

Its reputation enhanced by this success, with Raffles City now standing as a symbol of Korea's construction prowess, Ssangyong E'C was entrusted with a new challenge in 2007: the Marina Bay Sands hotel project. Backed by a USD 3.5 billion national investment, the development would deliver a 2,600-room hotel, a convention center holding 54,000 people, a 10,000-capacity public plaza, a pair of 2,000-seat theaters, a casino, and an art and science museum, all situated on reclaimed land adjacent to Singapore's Central Business District.

At the time, Ssangyong was still recovering from the 1997 financial crisis, which prompted the breakup of the Ssangyong Group and debt restructuring in 1998. Regardless, the company built itself up once more before making a triumphant return to Singapore, besting 13 international construction giants from Japan, France, and Hong Kong, to win the USD 686 million contract after a one-year competitive bidding process.

◆ Ssangyong Delivered the Impossible While Rivals Doubted

Winning the bid was just a beginning. The radical design and construction presented an unprecedented technical challenge.

Israeli architect Moshe Safdie conceived three towers leaning or converging inwards, inspired by the concept of two playing cards propped together. The design, resembling the Chinese character for "entrance" (入), called for a tower incline of up to 52° - nearly ten times the tilt angle of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (5.5°). Several competitors balked at this challenge and withdrew, deeming it unbuildable .