• The Mandarin term “建国先贤纪念园” is a paraphrase of the English term “Founders’ Memorial”.
• On 13 April 2015, then Prime Minister and now Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong proposed in Parliament the concept of building a facility to commemorate Singapore’s founders. The Founders’ Memorial Committee was formed in the same year, with Lee Tzu Yang as Chairman.
• The Founders’ Memorial pays tribute to Singapore’s founders, including the founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his colleagues, as well as important leaders in the public and private sectors during nation building.
• On 19 October 2018, the Committee confirmed in a media release that the Founders’ Memorial would be located in Bay East Garden, covering about five hectares. A design competition would be held in January 2019 as an open call for designs and ideas. On 9 March 2020, the Committee announced that the joint proposal by Japan’s Kengo Kuma & Associates and local company K2LD Architects won the competition.
• On the morning of 5 June 2024, the Founders’ Memorial’s groundbreaking ceremony was held, officiated by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. It was also a day of special significance 65 years ago, on 5 June 1959, when the first Cabinet led by Lee Kuan Yew was sworn in. The Founders’ Memorial is expected to open in 2028.
• At the groundbreaking ceremony, the Committee also revealed that there will be two two-storey buildings in the Founders’ Memorial, which encompass exhibition galleries, a viewing gallery, amphitheatre and multi-purpose rooms. More inspiringly, the Founders’ Memorial will occupy reclaimed land fronting Marina Bay, which was a project commenced by Singapore’s founders after Singapore’s independence.

Central to establishing the Founders’ Memorial is involving the public. It will represent the Singapore spirit, unite all Singaporeans and be a place that makes us proud. (Lianhe Zaobao, 28/4/2022)