SUTD celebrated our 10th Anniversary on 10 July 2019 in the presence of distinguished guests, family and friends, where we also sealed the SUTD Time Capsule.

Minister for Education, Mr Ong Ye Kung, graced the celebratory event and lighted up the SUTD Tree. The SUTD Tree reflects the Chinese saying “十年树木,百年树人”, which translates to: ‘It takes 10 years to nurture a tree, but a hundred years to nurture a man.’ In SUTD’s context, we believe that ‘A good education programme takes a long time to develop’ and that our first 10 years is just the beginning. The lighting up of the tree signifies our optimism for the future of the SUTD family – with strong roots and family, we are poised to achieve even better designs for the world. 

Minister Ong, together with Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman, SUTD Board of Trustees, Mr Philip Ng, Founding Chairman, SUTD Board of Trustees, Professor Chong Tow Chong, SUTD President and Professor Thomas Magnanti, President Emeritus, SUTD, sealed the SUTD Time Capsule which contains:

  • 33 representative artefacts
  • 2 chests of message cards written by members of the SUTD family, documenting future dreams and aspirations
  • 4 chests containing items produced over the past decade, including publications, photos, t-shirts and etc

The SUTD Time Capsule preserves and exhibits the university’s most significant innovations and milestones over the past decade, with a design that coordinates form and materials to reflect the ambitious and adventurous spirit of the young university.

The form of the capsule represents the cyclical nature of time: a periodic surface peels from the ground in an oscillating motion, holding the collection in a secure yet open space.

To create this unique form, digital tools and advanced manufacturing methods were developed and applied. The capsule’s surface consists of 3,582 unique panels, which were computationally designed and 3D printed with biopolymers, producing zero waste. This surface sits over a timber structure, optimised to reduce material consumption and emphasise the feeling of lightness.

As SUTD enters its second decade of existence, the SUTD Time Capsule celebrates its past and embraces a bright future ahead.

Source: