Legacy and innovation on display at redeveloped Shaw Tower; latest in Beach Road rejuvenation

The 1975 completion of the original Shaw Tower on Beach Road marked a milestone in the century-old story of Shaw Organisation’s presence in Singapore. Boasting of having the largest cinema in Singapore at the time, the 35-storey structure also wonderfully epitomised the nation’s growing confidence as an independent republic, just 10 years after its independence. Fast-forward to 2020 and the building’s tenants were evacuated before its demolition.

Despite the farewell to the old building, the legacy of Shaw Tower lives on in the new landmark development. Situated in the latest rejuvenation of Beach Road, the new Shaw Tower is set to join other upcoming projects such as Guoco Midtown by GuocoLand, The M by Wing Tai Holdings and alongside noteworthy developments like South Beach by City Developments and DUO by M+S.

Raymond Chan, managing director of Shaw Group of companies, comments on the project’s launch that “this new Shaw Tower reflects the amazing progress Singapore has achieved and its aspirations for what lies ahead”. It was decided that iconic elements of the former building will be reused, such as the nearly 50-year-old Shaw Brothers logo in a prominent fixture at the forecourt plaza on the ground floor.

The construction of Shaw Tower is in the reliable hands of Lendlease, who will be responsible for the building when completed in 2025. The new development comprises a 33-storey tower with 435,000 sq ft Grade A office space and a five-storey retail podium featuring 21,500 sq ft of community-centric facilities. Four dedicated office floors have been set aside for social enterprise firms and social service agencies, keeping in line with Shaw Organisation’s well-known philanthropic priorities.

Designed to be as environmentally-friendly and digitally-connected as possible, Shaw Tower is the first Grade A commercial building in Singapore to be awarded the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy) certification, totalling a 44% decrease in energy consumption than conventional structures. Additionally, Shaw Tower has earned the Wiredscore Platinum award, the highest possible certification, for its best-in-class digital connectivity standards and has been pre-certified by the International WELL Building Institute for its focus on well-being and health. The project is also an ABC Waters Certified Project, recognised for its landscaped gardens as well as biophilic-designed sky terraces.

Alfred Yeung, general manager of Shaw Towers Realty, speaks of the vision for the new Shaw Tower; “There was an aspiration (within the company) that Senja Close EC the new building would be an important contributor to the wider community, as well as renewing the physical make-up of the asset”. Richard Paine of Lendlease reveals additional features of the future development such as the office layouts, the 3m ceiling height, column-free floor plates, and knock-out panels to facilitate staircase connections between floors.

The completion of Shaw Tower in 2025 will no doubt help to further reinforce Singapore’s downtown area as an attractive mixed-use district as tenants are drawn to its prime location, top-notch Grade A office spaces and generous amenities.

Chris Archibald of JLL Singapore believes that in a post-pandemic environment, employers will be concerned about how they can attract employees back into the office and that 90% of the decision makers they speak to turn to amenities to attract their employees. Shaw Organisation and neighbouring developer GuocoLand are both committed to creating a better community for the area and are working together to enhance the pedestrian network and create a COVID-safe environment for the public.

When the project is finished and the Grade A office supply refill, bolstered by the shortfall in new office space that is expected to last for the next two or three years, Shaw Tower will be a timely addition to the real estate landscape in central Singapore. It will help to drive up Grade A office rents in the area and continues the journey of Shaw Tower, linking the past with the future.