Central Manpower Base (CMPB) is an institutional building in Singapore, designed by DP Architects, a multidisciplinary design practice headquartered in Singapore, and its architecture-related specialist arms, DP Design, DP Façade, DP Green, DP Lighting and DP Sustainable Design.

Conceived as an open civic campus rather than an introverted military facility, CMPB transforms a traditionally bureaucratic process into an experience grounded in dignity and belonging. Recognising how CMPB carries deep symbolic and civic significance as the first point of contact for every citizen entering National Service in Singapore, the design reimagines the campus as an open, human-centred civic environment, where individual journeys transition into collective identity. 

A series of courtyards, community spaces and daylit halls introduce airiness, clarity and life into the heart of a secure compound, softening the threshold between formality and openness. Situated at the foot of Bukit Gombak Hill, the development is structured 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, while guiding enlistees, families and staff through the campus with clarity and ease.

CMPB’s architectural language draws from Singapore's modernist and tropical heritage. Vertical concrete fins and deep eaves temper heat gain, animate the façade with light and shadow while offering glimpses of within,
reinforcing the campus's open, civic character.

At its core, the Beacon façade gives material expression to this vision. Composed of ninety prefabricated concrete panels interwoven with interlocking bricks forming the State Crest, it anchors the campus as a symbol of national unity, embedding collective identity directly into the material language of the building.

This confluence of civic purpose, architectural heritage and material symbolism is what elevates CMPB beyond an administrative facility into a shared civic experience – one that softens the boundary between institution and community, at once transparent and resolute.

Environmental stewardship is woven throughout this civic ambition. CMPB has achieved the Singapore Building Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Platinum – Super Low Energy certification, attaining 47% overall energy savings through a combination of passive design strategies and high-performance, energy-efficient building systems. Reflecting the seamless integration of environmental performance with civic and architectural ambition and positions CMPB as a benchmark for sustainable public architecture in Singapore

More than a building, CMPB stands as a gateway to national service, a new paradigm of government architecture defined by transparency, sustainability and empathy.