Bukit Panjang Centre Renewal
The smallest will become a clan, the least one a mighty nation; I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.
— Isaiah 60:22
We thank God for almost 30 years for Covenant EFC at Bukit Panjang, since we moved into 10 Jelapang Road in September 2000. With the growing needs of the congregation and our desire to foster deeper connections with the community as we look forward to the next lease of 30 years, we have embarked on this major renovation (Additions & Alterations) project from 2026 to 2028.
The renewed BPJ Centre will have about 60% more space compared to the original building, enabling us to better fulfil the mission to disciple the generations, Singapore, and the nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why don’t we tear down the building and rebuild everything?
A full teardown and rebuild would be significantly more costly and less environmentally sustainable. The existing main structure and sanctuary are structurally sound; demolishing them would generate substantial construction waste and embodied carbon. By renovating and building around the existing structure, we can reuse what is already sound, reduce waste, and gain additional space in a more financially responsible and environmentally sustainable way.
2. When will construction start, where will services be held, and when will we return?
Since June 2026, English and The Next Generation (TNG) services have relocated to ACS Independent, while Chinese and Hokkien services have moved to a Korean church at Gangsa. The renovation is expected to take about two years, with completion and return projected around mid-2028. Details of our current locations can be found here.
3. How much more space will we have?
We will have 60% more space. The original building was built to a plot ratio of 1.0 on a plot of 3,000 sqm as this was the maximum allowed then. New regulations now allow us to build to a 1.6 plot ratio, which means 4,800 sqm of space in total.
The new building will provide a greater number of worship spaces—including a larger capacity sanctuary, more rooms, new mid-sized chapels, and a new 400-seat multi-purpose hall (MPH)—to support concurrent services such as Youth, Mandarin, All Nations, Filipino fellowship, and others.
4. Why is the 400-seater MPH on the top floor, and how are safety and accessibility (especially for seniors) addressed?
Only the top floor can structurally support a large, pillar-free hall, which is important for visibility, flexibility, and multipurpose use. If a 400-seater hall were placed on a lower level such as Level 2, structural pillars would be required in the middle of the hall to support the weight of the floors above, significantly reducing sightlines and usability.
To ensure safety and accessibility, the new design includes two large-capacity lifts (about 24 pax each), replacing the current single smaller lift. This greatly improves daily circulation and evacuation capability, including for elderly members and wheelchair users.
5. How will different congregations (Mandarin, dialect, youth, Filipino, etc.) be accommodated?
The renovated building is designed to support multiple congregations and concurrent services. Support spaces during overlapping services may be tight, but some flexibility exists, including rooms near the Level 4 staff lounge, close to the Level 5 MPH. Dedicated rooms are also planned for fellowships such as the Filipino congregation.
6. How secure will the building be, especially with a more open Level 1?
Security will continue to be robust. Measures include 24-hour security (which we have always had), CCTV, good lighting, and closable gates restricting access to upper levels after hours. While Level 1 is designed to be more open and welcoming, upper levels will remain secured.
In addition, not all the walls will be demolished. Two sections of the existing perimeter wall—the side facing the HDB flats and the side facing the multi-storey car park—will be retained for safety reasons due to the significant level differences between the church grounds and the adjacent roads.
7. What is the vision for common spaces like the original Connections Corner, benches, and reception area?
The ground-level and common spaces are intended to be welcoming, functional, and relational. We received feedback for quieter areas for conversations, benches with power points and fans, storage options, small reading corners, and clearer wayfinding (such as directional maps) and will take them into consideration during detailed design.
8. What will the coffee corner be like?
The new coffee corner is intended as a hospitality space, not a full commercial café. Design details such as display cases, sinks, power points, and security shutters are being explored. Operationally, it is unlikely to function as a full-fledged café due to licensing constraints.
9. How does the renovated building integrate with St Luke’s Eldercare and the wider community?
Level 1 serves as the main integration point. St Luke’s main walkway leads directly into the church’s lift lobby area, creating natural interaction. There is potential for shared community and active-ageing activities in the future, and a connecting walkway allowing the public to walk in between the two buildings has been built by HDB.
10. Why has the childcare centre moved out, will it come back?
Operating a childcare centre has become significantly more expensive due to the recent removal of government subsidies for childcare centres operating on religious premises. To keep childcare affordable, NLCS now operates centres at subsidy-eligible locations. The BPJ centre will instead host NLCS after-school student care services on the new fourth floor rooms.
11. What about operational details such as coffee corner operations, sports usage, and service turnover?
Operational matters—including coffee corner (hospitality) operations, MPH usage for sports activities, turnaround between services, furniture movement, and long-term flooring durability—will be worked out in later planning stages once the project is at a later stage.
