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Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) is a mixed-use complex being constructed at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), one of the world’s busiest airports.

The complex is being developed by Jewel Changi Airport Trustee (JCAT), a joint venture of Changi Airport Group and , the shopping mall .

Situated at the heart of the airport, the massive complex will have a total gross floor area of 134,000m² and will comprise a variety of lifestyle offerings including gardens and attractions, retail and restaurants, a hotel as well as facilities for airport operations. Jewel is expected to enable the Changi air hub to capture passenger mindshare and strongly boost Singapore’s appeal as a stopover destination for travellers.

The project, first announced in August 2013, is being developed on a 3.5ha site that was previously an open-air car park in front of Terminal 1 (T1). This development will allow Changi Airport to expand the footprint of T1 and increase its passenger handling capacity to 24 million passengers a year.

The building broke ground in December 2014, the construction is being carried out along with the expansion works for the terminal. Designed by a team led by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie of Safdie Architects, Jewel is scheduled to be completed by end of 2018.

Jewel Changi Airport design

Jewel will be the first building in Singapore to seamlessly integrate lush greenery with other facilities and attractions under the same roof. Jewel’s distinctive architecture features a stunning glass and steel façade that will be a visually striking addition to the airport landscape. In particular, the iconic dome-shaped structure will have five storeys above ground and five basement storeys.

Drawing inspiration from Singapore’s reputation as a ‘City in a Garden’, the complex will contain 22,000m² of landscaped area and will house one of the biggest indoor collections of plants in Singapore.

Jewel’s unique design features include twin centrepiece attractions, the Forest Valley and Rain Vortex, in the middle of the complex and surrounded by retail stores and restaurants.

The Forest Valley is a huge five-storey indoor garden filled with thousands of trees, plants, ferns and shrubs. Walking trails will allow visitors to hike up the valley in air-conditioned comfort.

The Rain Vortex is a 40m-tall waterfall that will cascade from the oculus at the top of the glass dome down to the centre of the atrium. It is expected to be the world’s tallest indoor waterfall when completed. At night, the waterfall will act as a projection screen and become the backdrop for a light and sound show.

Facilities at Jewel Changi Airport

The top level of the complex will contain a roof garden called the Canopy Park. It will feature approximately 13,000m² of gardens, walking trails, playgrounds and dining outlets offering views of the Forest Valley and Rain Vortex.

Approximately 90,000m² of retail space within the complex will house local and international brands. The building will also contain a 130-room hotel operated by YOTEL, providing more accommodation choices for transiting travellers.

Jewel will also include early check-in facilities providing convenience to passengers to check-in for their flights and deposit their luggage ahead of regular check-in timings. There will also be an integrated multi-modal transport lounge that will offer services such as ticketing, issuance of boarding passes and baggage transfer for fly-cruise and fly-coach passengers.

The climate-controlled glass dome will be integrated with the T1 through its expanded arrivals hall. It will also be linked to terminals 2 and 3, as well as the Changi Airport Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station through new pedestrian bridges. A large, five-level basement car park will provide parking space for 2,500 vehicles.

Key players involved with the project

Safdie Architects is the lead design consultant of the development. RSP Architects Planners and Engineers is the architect and engineer for the project while Benoy serves as the interior designer.

PWP Landscape Architecture is the design landscape architect for the project and while ICN Design International is the local landscape architect. Buro Happold is providing facade and structural consultancy services.

Atelier Ten is providing environmental safety design consultancy services while Mott MacDonald is selected as the mechanical and electrical engineer for the complex.

Water feature design company WET designed the central waterfall while Lighting Planners Associates serves as the lighting consultant for the project.

A joint venture (JV) of Woh Hup and Obayashi Singapore was awarded the contract for the construction of the Jewel.