40-590: Singapore EXPO is the largest convention and exhibition venue in Singapore with over 100,000 square metres of column-free, indoor space spread over 10 halls. The center was designed by Cox Richardson Rayner , built by PSA International , and funded by the Ministry of Trade and Industry . The S$ 220 million building (excluding the cost of the 40,000 m² expansion) is located in Tampines , Singapore. Singapore EXPO
80-646: A Bachelor of Architecture, then at the University of New South Wales between 1970 and 1975, where he was awarded a Doctorate of Science. Cox was the architect responsible for initially implementing the American Radburn design for public housing in New South Wales. Cox and his firm have designed many iconic public buildings in Australia and throughout South East Asia including a number of
120-625: A Member, Historic Buildings Committee, Cancer Patients Assistance Society of NSW; Vice President, Cancer Patients Assistance Society of NSW; Vice Chairman, Architecture and Design Panel, Visual Arts Board, Australia Council; and Chairman of Education Board of the RAIA, Federal Chapter. Cox is separated from wife Louise Cox AO , a fellow architect. They married in Sydney in April 1972 and have two daughters, Charlotte and Sophie. His partner of over two decades
160-599: A new 40,000 square metre expansion comprising a further four halls was constructed adjacent to the existing halls across Expo Drive in double quick time to meet the expected exhibition period, and was completed on 15 September that year. Since 2001, the Bethesda Community church has been renting the Singapore EXPO Meeting Rooms for weekly services. Since December 2005, the largest church in Singapore, City Harvest Church , used Hall 8 of
200-767: A pressing need for an MRT station connecting to the MRT route to both Changi Airport and the town, together with the merger of bus service 220 and 290 to form 38, running from Tampines to Bedok. The initial years almost proved the critics right, although the venue made a quick turnaround within a few years. The opening of the Expo MRT station on 10 January 2001 was a boost to the venue, which was experiencing increasing usage for functions including conventions, exhibitions, rock concerts, New Year parties, beauty pageants, musicals, and even as examination halls for educational institutions. By 2003, demand for ever bigger exhibition space prompted
240-498: A report by The Straits Times in 2019. The Straits Times reported that CHC's congregation size peaked at 33,000 in 2010 before investigations into its leaders began. In 2012, Global Church Network listed CHC as one of the ten largest churches outside of the US. The church reported that it had a congregation size of 15,654 in 2019 and an average weekly viewership of 17,276 for its online services and resources in 2020. As of 2018,
280-661: A spam-like email is further published on the Internet suggested another self-styled 'Messiah-Two' making allegations regarding Sun Ho. The suspected “Messiah”, James Raj, who had prior drug convictions, was arrested the same year for hacking into website of the Prime Minister ’s Office. On 6 March 2010, City Harvest Church announced that it had purchased a significant stake in Suntec Convention Centre and will be using its facilities for church services,
320-447: Is an environmentally-friendly building. In addition, it is the first venue to provide free WiFi for participants. A carpark for 2,200 vehicles is also available, which can be converted into 25,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition space. It is connected to the MRT train network through the nearby Expo MRT station , allowing access via East West MRT line and Downtown MRT line . With
360-600: Is now responsible for projects throughout Australia and also in Southeast Asia , China , the Middle East , South Africa and Europe . He has been described as "epitomising the Sydney School of Architecture" in earlier projects. His work has won him multiple awards, the first being in 1963, one year after graduating from the University of Sydney . His most recent award was in 1989. Philip Sutton Cox
400-513: Is self-contained and is linked to the other halls by air-conditioned walkways. An additional 40,000 square metres (four new halls) were completed on 15 September 2005 and linked to the original building across Expo Drive via a sheltered walkway. In addition, the MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO opened on 22 March 2012 as part of Singapore EXPO's expansion. It caters for changing needs of meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions participants and
440-532: Is the journalist Janet Hawley. City Harvest Church City Harvest Church ( Chinese : 城市丰收教会 ) or CHC is a pentecostal megachurch located within the Yunnan subzone of Jurong West planning area, Singapore . Founded in 1989 by Kong Hee , the church officially bases its values on Charismatic and Pentecostal teachings, with emphases on such doctrines as the Great Commandment ,
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#1732791917974480-839: The American Institute of Architects in the same year. In 1988 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of service to architecture. In 1993 he received the inaugural award for Sport and Architecture from the International Olympic Committee , and was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in the same year. Cox has held a range of voluntary positions during his professional career including Vice President, Environment Board, RAIA, NSW Chapter;
520-480: The Indian Ocean tsunami . The church has since sent aid and disaster relief workers to the 2010 Haiti earthquake . Since the beginning of the 21st century, one of the biggest corruption case on the island revolved around City Harvest Church and founders Kong Hee involving a total of S$ 50 million of funds misused. Six persons from the senior leadership, including its church founder Kong Hee, were convicted of
560-659: The Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps were also deployed at the Singapore Expo to look after the patients. Since 10 April 2020, patients were transferred to Singapore EXPO as it had already been set up as a Community Isolation Facility due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Philip Cox Philip Sutton Cox AO FAHA (born 1 October 1939) is an Australian architect . Cox is the founding partner of Cox Architecture , one of
600-524: The Crossover Project, a church mission which they said was to evangelise through Ms Ho's music. Expenses revealed by court records included a house in Hollywood that cost $ 28,000 a month in rent; a whole entourage of staff; a $ 1.9 million paycheck to rapper Wyclef Jean to produce the "China Wine" video; as well as another $ 500,000 to sweep up her albums when they tanked. The six appealed
640-712: The Great Commission and the Cultural Mandate . City Harvest Church is a congregational member of the National Council of Churches of Singapore . Services are held at its church building in Jurong West and rented hall space at Suntec International Convention Centre . In 2015, six church leaders and fund or finance managers were found guilty of criminal breach of trust and falsification of accounts. When all six of them appealed against
680-743: The Singapore EXPO on a weekly basis, while the 10,000-member Faith Community Baptist Church used Hall 10 (The Max Pavilion) till the Urban Redevelopment Authority imposed their terms of religious organisations leasing venues of not more than 20,000 square feet (1,900 m) in February 2011. Another expansion was done to cater for the changing needs of MICE participants with the MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO, which opened on 22 March 2012. The building has environmentally-friendly features and provides free WiFi for participants,
720-411: The Singapore EXPO to proceed with its expansion plans, especially in response to the needs of IMTA Asia, which was slated to be held from 17 to 21 October 2005. With the inaugural show already occupying the full 60,000 square metres of space, pressure was on the venue to expand, or the prestigious event may have to move somewhere else since there is no other bigger venue available in Singapore. In response,
760-604: The buildings used for the Sydney Olympics . The following list provides a summary of some of the major architectural design works of Cox and his firm, ordered from earliest to most recent, where Cox has either worked individually or as part of consortia : Cox has received the Sir Zelman Cowen Award, the RAIA Gold Medal in 1984, Life Fellowship to the RAIA in 1987 and Honorary Fellowship of
800-525: The church announced details of its investment in Suntec Singapore. A total of 39.2% shareholding was acquired at a total cost of $ 97.75 million. Public-listed Suntec REIT holds the other 60.8%. The remaining balance in the projected building fund will be used for costs such as equipment, furniture and fittings, periodical shifting costs (due to other events at the venue), committed rentals, optional rentals and refundable rental deposits. In 2013, it
840-424: The church as an honorary founder/senior pastor. Later, in an investigation leading to trial and conviction, it was revealed that Kong had set up a private fund and diverted over $ 3 million of tithes and pledges to a 'multi purpose account'. Givers to the account were told this was for the funding of a 'Crossover project'. Since 1996, CHC’s mandate was to build a “church without walls” – a church that actively engages
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#1732791917974880-416: The demographics revealed that 45.1% are men, 54.9% are women, 34.1% are married, and 61.9% are single. 55.9% of them are working adults, while most of the rest are serving the military, non-salaried, students, or children. The church was founded by Kong Hee and his wife Sun Ho on 7 May 1989 and held its first service at Peace Centre. It first functioned as "Ekklesia Ministry," a youth department under
920-563: The exhibition space at the World Trade Centre slated for redevelopment , a replacement venue that could exceed the 34,000 square metres of indoor space was needed. The initial phase of the construction on the building thereby commenced on 30 May 1997, in spite of the impact the Asian financial crisis had on the economy, and it was completed two years later when the building was officially opened on 4 March 1999. Critics predicted that
960-1035: The first in Asia to do so. Singapore Expo has been connected to the Downtown line after the Downtown line portion of Expo MRT station began operations. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore , the Singapore Expo was temporarily converted to an isolation facility to house COVID-19 patients who were recovering or displayed mild symptoms only, and had been operational since 10 April 2020. Cubicles were set up across two halls, with each cubicle featuring everyday necessities for daily living such as beds, chairs, lamps, charging points and WiFi coverage, on top of communal facilities such as shared toilets and food distribution points. In addition to staff from healthcare providers Parkway Pantai and Woodlands Health Campus, about 100 soldiers (comprising regulars, full-time national servicemen and operationally ready national servicemen) from
1000-421: The future – is non-taxable. The church has clarified that the investment is indirect, through a wholly owned subsidiary for the purpose of taxation and separate accounting. Questions surfaced among the public whether religious organizations, which are registered as charities, should be allowed to go into business using what are essentially donor funds. The Commissioner of Charities (COC) sought clarifications on
1040-522: The halls would be under-utilised and further worsened by its relatively remote location, compared to the old World Trade Centre , or the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre which had opened earlier in 1995. Bus (Services 12 and 24) and taxi services were the primary mode of transportation commuters took to reach Singapore EXPO, both of which were overwhelmed during peak hours. This led to
1080-456: The interest of the church. A Criminal Reference filed by the AGC in a bid to reinstate the original convictions was heard by a five-judge Court of Appeal and dismissed on 1 Feb 2018. In 2013, a scandal took place involving founding clergy Sun Ho after hackers self-styled 'Messiah' hacked her official website, following which a police report was made by City Harvest Church. Around the same time,
1120-464: The largest architectural practices in Australia. He commenced his first practice with Ian McKay in 1962, and in 1967 he founded his own practice, Philip Cox and Associates. The firm has grown to become Cox Architecture, with offices across Australia as well as in Dubai and Abu Dhabi . Involved in much of concept design for each project over fifty years, Cox stepped back from the business in 2015 that
1160-543: The legal covering of Bethany Christian Centre, an Assemblies of God church. On 21 December 1992, City Harvest Church was set up as a society. It was registered under the Charities Act on 16 October 1993. From 2002, Kong began to teach on the Cultural Mandate and encourage the church members to excel in the marketplace. On 1 November 2005, Kong withdrew himself from the staff payroll and he now serves
1200-407: The local community. Out of this vision, CHC started many initiatives such as a community arm known as City Harvest Community Services Association (CHCSA) in 1997 and the Crossover Project in 2002. CHCSA is currently involved in elderly services, direct social services, patient care services, as well as youth and community projects. In December 2004, CHC was involved in the humanitarian relief work of
1240-412: The misuse of millions of dollars of the church's money. The court found that the church's senior leadership had channeled $ 24 million from CHC's Building Fund into sham bonds in music production company Xtron and glass-maker Firna. The purpose of the restricted Building Fund was specifically for building or investment. They used the money to fund the singing career of Kong's wife Ho Yeow Sun , as part of
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1280-489: The project will cost an estimated S$ 310 million, including shares acquisition, renovation, and rental costs. Church founder Kong Hee said in a statement that the move "allows [the church] to move from a present expensive rental model to a more financially sustainable ownership model for the long term". However, some brought up the point that as a registered charity, CHC's income – expected to include profits and dividends from space rental and tenant leases in Suntec Singapore in
1320-474: The transaction. The church stated it was under a non-disclosure agreement which required the details of the transaction to remain confidential, but explained that the investment was made through a holding company that is not a charity organization and does not enjoy tax breaks; and had disclosed details of the deal to the COC as well as the Urban Redevelopment Authority upon request. The church also said that there
1360-486: The verdict and sentences, the Appeal Court found them guilty of basic criminal breach of trust and reduced their sentences. The Court also noted that the six were not motivated by personal gain, and no permanent loss was intended or caused to CHC – all the monies were returned to the church with interest. The church was one of three megachurches to make it to a list of Singapore's 10 largest charities, according to
1400-549: The verdict, and on 7 April 2017, the Court of Appeal reduced their sentences by approximately half, based on its finding that “the appellants should only have been convicted of the offence of criminal breach of trust simpliciter under section 406 of the Penal Code”. The judges said it was a situation that involved no personal gain on the part of the six, and that they believed their acts, especially in sham investments would advance
1440-621: The whole of Asia. There are ten large multipurpose halls, each being 10,000 square metres in size, giving a total floor space of over 100,000 square metres. All available spaces are interconnected, column-free and on the ground level. Ten conference halls are also available, ranging in size from 89 to 844 square metres, suitable for accommodating 150 to 1,000 people. In addition, there are meeting rooms which can seat 15 to 125 members. The original Singapore EXPO building comprised six interconnected halls of 10,000 square metres each, with column free-spaces and ceiling heights of up to 16 metres. Each hall
1480-564: Was a "strong and unfounded allegation" floating online that the Management Board and Kong were "deliberately concealing a number of embarrassing facts from its members" with regard to the Suntec investment, saying that the allegation was "furthest from the truth", and later released a notice stating that Charities and foundations often use donor funds to invest and generate sustainable income for their intended causes. On 21 July 2012,
1520-674: Was born on 1 October 1939 to Ron and May Cox. He was their second child. He has one older sister, Judith. His childhood was comfortable, growing up in Killara on the North Shore in Sydney but he was born just one month after the start of World War II , which ended when he was six. Cox attended Gordon Public School and then the Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) in North Sydney. In his first years at Shore, art
1560-437: Was officially opened on 4 March 1999. It has since been managed by Constellar Venues Private Limited (formerly known as SingEx Venues Private Limited), a fully owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings and Singapore Press Holdings . Singapore EXPO Convention and Exhibition Center is the largest meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) venue in Singapore and is one of the largest and most completely equipped centre in
1600-556: Was taught by John Lipscombe, who had helped plan the new art block which had been praised by the architect Harry Seidler , who had lectured in the building in July 1952. Cox decided at quite an early age that he wanted to be an architect, though this was not clear until it was nearly time to leave school. He won a Commonwealth scholarship which was to pay his fees. Cox studied at the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning between 1957 and 1962, where he graduated with
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