The Group's construction activities are undertaken by Chip Eng Seng Contractors (1988) Pte Ltd ("CESC") and CES Engineering & Construction Pte. Ltd. (“CESE”). Both companies are wholly-owned subsidiary of Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd.

CESC is registered with the Building and Construction Authority under the A1 classification for general building construction, the highest classification which permits it to tender for public sector projects of unlimited value.

CESC undertakes both public and private construction projects whilst CESE concentrates on the private construction projects. Most public projects are obtained from the Housing and Development Board ("HDB"). The first HDB project, valued at $4.5 million, involves the construction of two blocks of integrated four-storey industrial buildings with 165 industrial shoplots and amenities such as an eating house and an electrical sub-station. Over the years, as CESC began to gain more experience, larger HDB projects, principally those involving the construction of HDB flats, were undertaken.

In late 1990s, through years of experience as a main contractor, CESC began to make its inroads into design and build contracts. The involvement in these types of contracts was due to the urge to improve the productivity of construction industry. The industry believes that by engaging the contractors earlier in the design phase of a project, designs accepted are likely to be more buildable.

In 1998, building on the Group's capabilities in project management and extensive knowledge in building buildability, the Group started to tender for design and build projects with experienced architecture and engineering consultants. Its efforts finally started to bear fruits when the Group secured a design and build contract of $128.6 million from HDB. To strengthen its expertise in this market segment, the Group continued to sharpen its competencies pertaining to design and build contracts. In 2000, the Group secured another large design and build project of $104.53 million.

In 1999, foreseeing that the volume of public residential projects would contract, the Group diversified its construction portfolio and began to tender for non-HDB projects. This saw the Group secure a columbarium project from Ministry of Environment of $32.57 million in October 1999. In 2000, the Group was successful in its bid for two private residential projects - Tropical Spring and Bishan Loft.

Apart from construction of HDB flats, columbarium and private condominiums, CESC also built landed residential properties, shophouses, institutional and industrial buildings for its fellow subsidiaries. Most of these properties are held by the Group for long-term investment.

In March 2005, the Housing and Development Board awarded CESC to built Singapore’s tallest public housing project, The Pinnacle@Duxton. This iconic housing project features 1,848 units in seven 50-storey blocks linked by sky bridges at the 26th and 50th levels and boasting “sky gardens”.