The Alcove Official Opening
SMU Alumni Privileges: Booking Private Event Space at the Alcove
SMU Alumni can now book their very own private event space at affordable rates or host SMU alumni group events. SMU’s latest newly launched alumni event space cum lounge called “the Alcove”, spans a spanking 2000 sqft, and comes equipped with F&B capabilities (from its sister bistro, B3 Alumni Bistro) and other bells & whistles ranging from open-space table areas, dart-board and a pool table; and stage/open mic space and a 16-channel sound mixer for presentations and performances. On request, waiters and other assistants can even be provided.
The Alcove was officially launched by SMU Chairman Mr Ho Kwon Ping and SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer on 19 Jan 2018, with more than 150 guests in attendance. Largely SMU alumni, aside from SMU students and staff, most of them were eager to check out the new event space and what it had to offer.
“The Alcove was created to meet the needs of enterprising SMU Alumni who have expressed interest in hosting private events at affordable rates. We are also responding to feedback from alumni groups who tell us they would like alternate and more interesting spaces to host their events. Finally, there is now an increasing number of alumni events with the larger number of SMU alumni groups (now a whopping 40), so we hope to provide them with an additional space to meet up!” said Deborah Wee, President of SMU Alumni Association (SMUAA).
Highlighting the importance of having a strong faculty, students and alumni as the three pillars of a great university, Chairman Ho in his keynote address acknowledged that the alumni network takes the longest time to build up, and yet is as important as other aspects of the university. At the same time, he recognized the growing passion of SMU Alumni, “The passion that our alumni have is incomparable… the spirit that we have as alumni from a young university is a lot more than those who have been here for a lot more”, it is through the burgeoning alumni life in SMU that “justifies having anything like a lounge or bistro”.
In his speech to launch the Alcove, President De Meyer noted the importance of a space for alumni of the past, present and future to interact. He added that it was important for the students to see how they can become alumni and for the seamless interaction between freshmen and the alumni. Director of SMU Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), Associate Professor Low Aik Meng suggested that the opening of the Alcove was “a prelude to bigger things”, and invited alumni to continue returning to their “home in the city” and to continue building the alumni relationship with the University’s current students or future alumni.
Indeed, the passion of the alumni shone through. Aside from being the biggest group of event attendees, even alumni who were visiting from overseas took time off to attend the opening. Said alumna Victoria Wong (BSocSc, 2016), “it’s amazing to see SMU go through so many changes! I could barely recognise the Basement Concourse, with its new seminar rooms and study spaces, and now we don’t just have an alumni bistro, but also an alumni lounge! Having just graduated and already seeing so many changes, I can’t begin to imagine what the older alumni would have to say on how we’ve progressed.”
The Alcove is SMU’s latest alumni space, shared by the SMU Community. It is specially designed to hold the many events for alumni for events, networking, workshops, and private dining events. Aside from being an events space, The Alcove is also an Alumni Lounge in the heart of the city, providing a place for returning alumni and current students to relax and unwind.
The Alcove is available for both corporate or individual events booking. With no location booking charges*, experience a seamless event that works for your budget! SMUAA Members enjoy exclusive discounts when having their events with The Alcove.
Interested individuals may click here or contact us at thealcove@smuaa.org.sg or 6493 2261 to find out more.
*Terms and conditions apply.