Jewel,
Changi Airport
For the last decade, Singapore Changi Airport has showed the world how to elevate the airport visitor experience.
When the construction of ‘Jewel” took that to the next level, we were asked to create a grand opening ceremony of national significance.
The Challenge
The Jewel development is a spectacular retail, leisure and cultural destination attached to Singapore Changi Airport and constructed around the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.
Our opening ceremony had to reflect this bold statement of Singapore’s vision and ambition - guests would include international press and VVIPs. High pressure. High stakes.
But Jewel was a busy, open-plan retail space - its designers never intended for it to be used as a national event venue.
We had to rethink how the space could accommodate a prestigious national celebration.
The Solution
Over five months, we developed a grand opening experience that combined the spectacle of a national celebration with the elegance and intimacy of an exclusive event.
The experience was designed to create media-friendly moments that would ensure key messages were amplified by coverage.
The 40-metre waterfall provided the setting for a formal dinner, speeches and the official ceremonial moment led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
The evening culminated in a waterfall light-and-sound show and performance by Singaporean pop superstar JJ Lin, marking the opening of one of the country’s most ambitious new destinations.
The Impact
This landmark national ceremony welcomed more than 700 guests and brought Jewel’s new destination to life in front of a VIP audience.
The opening attracted national media coverage, with JJ Lin’s live performance and the unveiling of a spectacular new light show among the highlights.
The occasion was subsequently featured in Changi Airport Group’s annual report as part of its milestone 10th anniversary celebrations.