Tan Teck Guan Building, Medical education building in Bukit Merah, Singapore.
The Tan Teck Guan Building is a two-story red-brick structure with white decorative mouldings located near Singapore General Hospital in a Neo-Georgian style. Its facade features Venetian-style doors and French windows that give it a refined appearance from that period of colonial architecture.
The building opened in 1911 as part of Singapore's first medical school, established with support from a wealthy rubber merchant who donated funds for this purpose. This marked the beginning of organized medical training on the island.
The structure represents early efforts to build local medical training capacity and reduce reliance on foreign physicians during Singapore's development. It shows how the community valued investing in professional education to strengthen the island's own workforce.
The building sits on College Road near the hospital and currently houses a government ministry, so interior access is not available to visitors. You can view and photograph the exterior and appreciate its architectural details while walking in the area.
During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, the facility was repurposed and used for biological research activities that went well beyond its original medical purpose. This darker chapter in the building's story is often overlooked by those passing through the area.
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