Forum: Collaboration made Eunoia JC-Marymount CC project a success

I refer to Mr Lim Poh Seng’s letter of recognition for the design of the Eunoia JC-Marymount CC (

Forum: Eunoia JC-Marymount CC design marries form and function brilliantly

, July 1).

I was the adviser to Marymount Grassroots Organisations (GROs) when the project was conceived.

From the moment I started serving there, residents had expressed hope for more community spaces to be made available to complement the much-loved Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

Under prevailing guidelines then, we could only justify a “void deck CC”, which proved to be quite unsatisfactory.

When I became aware of plans to develop a new junior college at the junction of Sin Ming Avenue and Marymount Road, I thought that an integrated development would allow for the sharing of facilities like a sports hall and auditorium. This would not only stretch the public dollar and fulfil the community’s aspirations, but would also create room for closer collaboration between the JC and GROs, contributing to stronger bonds in the community.

But an idea like this is only good on paper unless the people involved are open-minded and willing to accommodate each other’s needs. After all, considerable effort was needed and project timelines could be affected.

Much credit goes to the Ministry of Education and the Peoples’ Association leadership teams, Bishan North GROs, and agencies like the Land Transport Authority, for their responsiveness to review and update their initial plans. The architects, too, were instrumental in translating our needs into workable designs while operating within constraints, such as limited parking availability. 

Although I no longer serve as the grassroots adviser for the area, it remains one of my fondest memories of how vision can become reality when people are aligned and focused on serving the community.

Josephine Teo
Minister for Digital Development and Information
Grassroots Adviser to Jalan Besar GRC (Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng)