Consider the Shaw Tower, once a towering landmark. The Shaw Tower stood on Beach Road in Singapore. It was more than just a building. Shaw Tower was part of a vision.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority planned a “Golden Mile”. This aimed to blend living, work, and entertainment. The Shaw Tower was central to this plan. Its design reflected this ambition.
The Shaw Tower featured a brutalist style. It had a podium-block-and-tower configuration. The podium was for retail. The tower held offices. A multi-story car park spanned the 3rd to 11th floors. This design gave street-level access to the commercial spaces. The high-rise tower made it a landmark. The podium aligned it with the low-rise shophouses.
Completed in 1975, the Shaw Tower replaced Hoi How Road. It also replaced two cinemas, Alhambra and Marlborough. Shaw Tower housed the largest cinema in Singapore at the time.
Shaw Towers Realty managed the building. The project was initially called Shaw Mansion. It cost S$36 million. Prince and Jade Theatres opened in the Shaw Tower shortly after it was built. Prince faced Beach Road. Jade was angled towards Nicoll Highway. Prince was Singapore’s largest cinema hall then.
In 1987, the cinemas were renovated. They became four halls. The retail podium was renovated too. It was renamed Shaw Leisure Gallery in 1989.
In 1996, United Artists bought Prince and Jade cinemas. They were renamed Grand Prince/Alhambra and Royal Jade/Emerald. Shaw Theatres bought back the cinemas in 2001.
Jade Theatre screened Hindi films from 2006. It was renamed Screens of Bombay Talkies. Carnival Cinemas acquired it in 2017. Prince Theatre closed in 2008. New Creation Church leased it in 2012. It was refurbished as Shine Auditorium.
In 2018, tenants were told to leave by June 2020. The last tenants left in July 2020, due to lockdown delays. Lendlease managed the redevelopment from October 2020.
The new Shaw Tower is set for completion in 2025. It will have 450,000 sq ft of Grade A office space. There will also be 30,000 sq ft of retail space. The new Shaw Tower aims for sustainability. It targets BCA Green Mark Platinum accreditation. Heritage elements of the original Shaw Tower will be incorporated.
The new Shaw Tower will blend heritage with cutting-edge technology. The Shaw Tower will feature pandemic-resilient features. The new Shaw Tower will promote healthy lifestyles. Its biophilic design will feature lush greenery. There will be outdoor breakout spaces, sky terraces and rooftop gardens.
The Shaw Tower story embodies Singapore’s evolution. From a brutalist landmark to a sustainable icon. The Shaw Tower remains a symbol of progress.