Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

Few other buildings are as imposing and eye-catching as the Esplanade in Singapore!

The gigantic event center, also known as "Durian" because of its resemblance to the prickly tropical fruit, has become a landmark of the country. With its bold design, the Esplanade blends unconventionally into the surroundings of Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer. It features a 1,600-seat concert hall, a 2,000-seat theater, a recital studio, a theater studio, an open-air theater and visual arts exhibition spaces in an area of over 110,000 m². There are also numerous cafés, restaurants and stores, making the multi-cultural complex one of the busiest and most architecturally exciting event centers in the region.

Despite its imposing appearance, the cultural center did not rest on its laurels and always strived to keep up with the latest technology. 12 years after the opening, renovation measures were put out to tender, including the replacement of the entire stage control system of the upper machinery with over 100 drives. The increasing demands of modern stage design and the need for high availability and user-friendliness were the focus of this refurbishment. After a lengthy evaluation process, Waagner-Biro Stage Systems impressed with its technical and organizational expertise and was awarded the contract for the refurbishment on 14 May 2013.

The installation of the grandstand for the Suntec City International Conference and Exhibition Centre in 1997 laid the foundation for Waagner-Biro Stage Systems' further involvement in Singapore. The refurbishment of the Esplanade presented particular challenges, including short site availability and the dismantling of heavy and scenery hoists, as well as the integration of numerous existing lower stage drives.

More than 100 hoists were installed in the upper machinery within just five months, with existing machine drives successfully integrated into the C⋅A⋅T control system. Customers were not only satisfied with the timely handover, but also with the new, more user-friendly, flexible and easy-to-maintain system, which is designed for higher loads. The C⋅A⋅T control system enables stage technicians and theater directors to program complicated shows quickly and perform remote maintenance and revisions efficiently.