Gazing up at the impressive structure, we find ourselves before the Hitachi Tower. Formerly known as Caltex House, Hitachi Tower stands tall in Singapore’s central business district. It is located at 16 Collyer Quay.
This skyscraper boasts 37 storeys and reaches a height of 166 meters. Including its spire, the Hitachi Tower extends to 179 meters. The tower’s location offers stunning views of Marina Bay. It also provides convenient access to the Raffles Place MRT station through an underground link.
The Hitachi Tower was completed in 1992. Murphy/Jahn, Inc Architects and Architects 61 Pte Ltd designed it. Other companies were involved in its development. These included Hitachi, CapitaLand Commercial Limited, and Obayashi Gumi Corporation.
In 2008, CapitaLand sold its 50% stake in the Hitachi Tower for S$403.5 million. The National University of Singapore also sold its stake at the same time. Later, in 2013, NTUC Income fully acquired Savu Investments. This acquisition valued the property at approximately $660 million.
Notice the architectural design. The Hitachi Tower is linked to the 33-storey Chevron House via a four-storey glass galleria. The Urban Redevelopment Authority planned these two buildings in parallel. Each tower has different architectural expressions. Together, they enhance the urban quality of Raffles Place.
A two-storey navigating beacon tops the Hitachi Tower. This design element recalls the maritime history of the Collyer Quay area. The facade is divided into three parts. This breaks the verticality of the 37-storey tower. It also creates a stepping down effect, matching the height of the neighboring Tung Centre.
At street level, the design considers pedestrian movement and urban use. The bank lobby is on the upper floors. Change Alley on the first storey creates a pedestrian thoroughfare. Lined with retail activities, this vibrant space connects Raffles Place to Collyer Quay.
With a net lettable area of approximately 25,980 square meters, the Hitachi Tower had almost full occupancy in 2007. Key tenants included Hitachi and American Express. The Hitachi Tower is on a 999-year leasehold. Its architecture strengthens the urban fabric of the area. Its history reflects Singapore’s dynamic real estate market. This building stands as a testament to modernism in Singapore’s skyline.