Case Study: Singapore American School — Custom Canteen & Classroom Furniture

300+ tables and chairs. Custom design. Four weeks. When Singapore American School needed to furnish their canteen and classrooms at speed without compromising on quality or design cohesion, Newstar delivered — from first sketch to final installation.

The Brief: Match Everything. Move Fast.

SAS had a clear vision for their campus — and a tight deadline. The canteen furniture had to be indistinguishable from the existing pieces in colour, finish, and feel. The classroom tables had to support modern teaching methods with writable, magnetic, height-adjustable, and mobile surfaces. And the entire project needed to go from design to delivery in one month.

We accepted. Here is how we did it.

The Canteen: White Oak + Paner Leather

The existing canteen had a warm, natural aesthetic built around wood tones and a rich accent palette. Any new furniture that did not match would stick out — and that would compromise the entire space.

• White oak (ash wood) throughout — selected for its warm grain, durability in high-traffic dining, and exact colour match to the existing palette
• Paner leather seat pads — upgraded from standard fabric to a premium leather-look material that is wipe-clean, spill-resistant, and comfortable for long sitting periods
• Custom colour matching — worked closely with the school's design team to match the exact stain and finish of the original furniture, ensuring old and new pieces are visually identical

The result: a cohesive dining hall where every table and chair belongs. Students sit, eat, and socialise in a space that feels intentional and complete.

The Classrooms: Tables That Teach

Modern classrooms need tables that move, adjust, and double as teaching tools. SAS wanted a complete departure from static, single-purpose desks.

• Whiteboard tabletop — students can write directly on the desk surface with dry-erase markers. Fully erasable. Magnetic surface lets teachers attach learning materials, visual aids, and name tags instantly.
• Height-adjustable legs — extension rods in multiple lengths let the table grow from primary-school height to secondary-school height. One table serves students across multiple grade levels.
• Lockable castor wheels — tables can be quickly rearranged for group discussions, moved aside for presentations, or locked in neat rows for exams. No lifting, no dragging, no scratched floors.

The Teachers: Standing Desks + Haworth Zody + Lockable Storage

Teaching is physically demanding. Teachers move between standing at the whiteboard, sitting at their desk, and walking the classroom floor. SAS wanted to give their staff a complete ergonomic workspace — not just a desk and chair.

• Electric height-adjustable desks — one-touch electric lift lets each teacher alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. Programmable memory settings save their preferred heights. Thick white T-legs with cable management built in.
• Haworth Zody ergonomic chairs — asymmetrical lumbar support, PALM back system, and fully adjustable arms. Chosen for its scientific approach to lower-back support — critical for teachers who spend hours grading and preparing lessons.
• Combination-lock overhead cabinets — wall-mounted wooden cabinets with individual silver key locks above each workstation. Eight units distributed across the full length of the office, providing secure personal storage for every teacher.
• Mobile pedestal drawers — rolling under-desk drawer units in matching wood-grain finish, lockable for personal items.

The result: a staff workspace that prioritises long-term health alongside the student experience — every teacher has their own secure storage, an adjustable desk, and a chair built for all-day support.

Project Stats

Client	Singapore American School
Scope	300+ tables and chairs — canteen dining, classroom furniture, teacher workstations with lockable storage
Timeline	4 weeks — design, manufacturing, delivery, and installation
Materials	White oak (ash wood), Paner leather, whiteboard laminate, powder-coated steel
Key Features	Colour-matched dining sets, writable + magnetic tabletops, height-adjustable legs, lockable casters

Why It Worked

This project succeeded because we treated it as a design partnership, not a simple supply order. The four-week timeline was aggressive — but by starting with deep consultation (matching wood stains, selecting the right leather grade, prototyping the table legs), we eliminated the usual back-and-forth that delays large projects.

When SAS needed furniture that matched their vision as much as their deadline, we delivered. That is what Newstar does.

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Planning a school or office fit-out? Contact us at admin@newstar.sg or WhatsApp us. We handle projects of any scale — from consultation and custom design to delivery and installation. Free delivery within Singapore.

📍 Newstar Furniture — 3 Ang Mo Kio Street 62, Link@AMK #02-12, Singapore 569139 | 📞 +65 9070 7707