INSTITUTIONAL CASE STUDY 📍 Waterloo Street, Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore 9-Storey Institutional Hub - Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

Catholic Centre - Security Design, Maintained and Upgraded Across a Decade

From a complete security fit-out for a newly rebuilt 9-storey institutional hub in 2014, to CCTV and access upgrades in 2022 and 2024 - Securevision remains the trusted security partner for the Catholic Centre at 55 Waterloo Street.

CCTV Access Control Institutional Security
2014 Original security fit-out
3 Major project phases over 10 years
10 doors Access controlled across all phases
52+ IP cameras installed in CCTV upgrade
Police Licensed | | Sites Protected
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Project Snapshot

The Catholic Centre at 55 Waterloo Street is the institutional hub of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore - a nine-storey building housing Caritas Singapore, the Catholic Theological Institute, and other archdiocesan organisations. Securevision was engaged by ALPS (Archdiocesan Land and Properties Singapore) for the complete security fit-out of the new building in 2014. The centre has since returned to Securevision for a CCTV upgrade in 2022 and an access control upgrade in 2024, demonstrating a decade of institutional trust.

Client Catholic Centre - Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore
Awarded By ALPS (Archdiocesan Land and Properties Singapore)
Location 55 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187954
Sector Institutional - Religious & Community Organisation
Building 9-storey purpose-built institutional hub
Project Type Full Fit-Out (2014) + CCTV Upgrade (2022) + Access Upgrade (2024)
Client Since April 2014
Completion June 2024 (Phase 3 Upgrade)
The Challenge

A New Building That Needed Every System Built From Scratch

When the new Catholic Centre was built, Securevision inherited a blank canvas - and a complex brief. The building serves a wide range of tenants and functions: community service organisations, theological education, a ground-floor café, a diplomatic mission on Level 9, and archdiocesan administration throughout. Each function had different security requirements. Public areas needed CCTV coverage without creating a surveillance-heavy atmosphere, while tenanted zones required precise access control across 10 doors and lift control points.

The Phase 2 challenge in 2022 was technological: the original analogue cameras were still operational, but the quality gap between analogue and IP had become significant. The centre wanted to upgrade to IP cameras without disrupting operations across a building that is occupied during business hours every day.

By 2024, the access control system had been operating for a decade. While reliable, the credential technology had advanced. The centre wanted to move to a touchless biometric - face and palm recognition - that would modernise the authentication experience for staff and visitors while maintaining the same 10-door security footprint.

Transformation

Three Phases, One Continuous Security Partnership

System 2014 (Phase 1) 2022 (Phase 2) 2024 (Phase 3)
CCTV technology Analogue - standard resolution 52 × 4MP IP cameras + 12 wide-angle Unified IP surveillance
CCTV recording Analogue monitoring centre 2 × 32-channel NVR (64-ch total) HD IP recording backbone
Monitoring station Security office station 2 × 43" monitors in server room Centralised high-def monitoring
Access control Suprema BioLite fingerprint Maintained ZKTeco Mini AC Face/Palm
Credential type Fingerprint biometric - Touchless face + palm recognition
Lift access Lift access control integrated - 2 lift control points upgraded
Intrusion detection Alarm - Level 9 (Diplomatic Mission) Maintained Maintained
Decision Point

Designing for Multi-Tenant Resilience

The security brief for the new Catholic Centre required a system that worked for a ground-floor café with public access, community service offices, theological education spaces, and a diplomatic mission on Level 9. A one-size-fits-all approach would have failed the diverse needs of the building.

Phase 1 (2014): Securevision designed the CCTV coverage around the building's actual usage patterns - public areas covered with analogue cameras, and access control applied at 10 doors using Suprema BioLite readers. Level 9, housing the Apostolic Nunciature (Holy See diplomatic mission), received a dedicated burglar alarm reflecting its elevated security obligations.

Phase 2 (2022): Rather than a like-for-like replacement, Securevision recommended a coverage-led IP upgrade: 52 × 4MP cameras supplemented by 12 super wide-angle units. Two 32-channel NVRs replaced the legacy infrastructure, with a dedicated server room monitoring station for the security team.

Phase 3 (2024): The access upgrade replaced Suprema readers with ZKTeco Mini AC Face/Palm terminals. Touchless face and palm recognition eliminates contact-based scanning - a hygiene and efficiency benefit for a building serving the general public.

Our Approach

Three Engagements, One Consistent Partner

Each phase was approached as a standalone project - scoped, designed, and delivered to the requirements of the time. The continuity across all three phases came from Securevision's institutional knowledge of the building.

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Phase 1 (2014) - Full Fit-Out

Designed and installed the full security system for the new building: 50+ CCTV cameras, Suprema fingerprint readers across 10 doors, and a dedicated burglar alarm for the Level 9 diplomatic mission.

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Phase 2 (2022) - IP CCTV Upgrade

Upgraded the analogue estate to full IP: 64 cameras total (52 × 4MP + 12 wide-angle), recorded to 2 × 32-channel NVRs. Monitoring station upgraded to 2 × 43" monitors in the server room.

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Phase 3 (2024) - Access Upgrade

Replaced Suprema readers with ZKTeco Mini AC Face/Palm terminals across all 10 doors and 2 lift control points. Migrated credential database and commissioned touchless biometric authentication.

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Ongoing Partnership

Securevision has maintained a service relationship with the Catholic Centre across all three phases, protecting the institutional memory of the building's infrastructure.

The Solution

A Complete Security System - Built and Maintained Across a Decade

Three phases of security work at 55 Waterloo Street - each one building on the last, each one delivering the technology appropriate to its time.

Phase 1 - 2014

CCTV, Access Control & Alarm

A complete security fit-out: 50+ cameras, Suprema fingerprint readers at 10 doors, lift access control, and a dedicated burglar alarm for the Apostolic Nunciature on Level 9.

Surveillance & Detection →
Phase 2 - 2022

Full IP CCTV Upgrade

Analogue system replaced with 52 × 4MP IP cameras and 12 wide-angle units, recorded to two 32-channel NVRs. High-def server room monitoring station installed.

Hikvision →
Phase 3 - 2024

Touchless Access Upgrade

Suprema fingerprint readers replaced with ZKTeco Mini AC Face/Palm terminals - modernising the credential technology with touchless biometric authentication throughout the building.

Entry Access Control →
Equipment Deployed

What Was Installed

Three phases of security installation across a 9-storey institutional hub - from original fit-out to full IP and touchless biometric upgrades.

Original Fit-Out & Alarm (Phase 1)

Access control: Suprema BioLite fingerprint readers

  • 10 doors across the building - staff access at each floor
  • Lift access control - floor-level permissions for different tenant groups

Burglar alarm: Level 9 - Apostolic Nunciature

  • Dedicated intrusion detection for diplomatic mission
  • Direct monitoring of sensitive office perimeter

Learn more about Access Control →

Surveillance & Biometrics (Phases 2 & 3)

CCTV Upgrade: Hikvision IP Surveillance

  • 52 × 4MP IP cameras + 12 super wide-angle units (64 total)
  • 2 × 32-channel NVRs with HD recording capacity
  • 2 × 43" monitors in server room monitoring station

Access Upgrade: ZKTeco Mini AC Face/Palm

  • Touchless biometric authentication - face and palm recognition
  • Replaces contact-based fingerprint scanners
  • Upgraded lift control interface for all 420 residents

Learn more about Surveillance →

Results & Impact

A Decade of Trusted Security Governance

✓ Complete Security from Day One

The Phase 1 installation gave the Catholic Centre a full, integrated security system from the moment the building opened in 2014.

✓ Sensitive Premises Protected

Dedicated burglar alarm for the Level 9 diplomatic mission provided appropriate intrusion detection beyond building CCTV alone.

✓ IP CCTV Modernisation

The 2022 upgrade delivered materially higher resolution footage and a more capable recording infrastructure with dedicated monitoring.

✓ Touchless Access Deployed

The 2024 upgrade introduced ZKTeco face and palm recognition across 10 doors, providing a faster and more hygienic authentication experience.

✓ A Decade of Institutional Trust

The Catholic Centre has returned to Securevision for every major security upgrade since 2014. Each return engagement confirms that a long-term partnership delivers value that a one-off installation cannot.

Securevision Insight

When a Client Calls Back, That Is the Real Measure

The Catholic Centre first engaged Securevision in 2014. They called back in 2022 and again in 2024. We highlight this because it reflects how security relationships should work. When an institution trusts you with the security of a building housing a diplomatic mission and public-facing spaces, they do not change integrators lightly. They return because they know the work will be done correctly, with full knowledge of the building's history. That institutional memory is something we protect with every engagement.

Discovery Path

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