Straits Trading Company’s flagship building will be the sole new building to be found within the Raffles Place for the current year.
The 28-storey building, which was completed last November, will pose a dazzling faceted blue glass front. It will be positioned at 9 Battery Road.
“The building will resemble a crystal in the city”, states the director of Team Design Architects Wong Meng Heng. Team Design Architects is the firm responsible for the development of the building.
It was in 1972 when the first building of Straits Trading was established, though it was demolished in 2007 to welcome in this $60-million project.
Aside from the building’s faceted blue façade, it will also feature two roofed sky terraces to be positioned on the 21st and 13th floor. Tenants will have exclusive access in these two-storey terraces, which will be furnished with wi-fi connectivity, glass conference room located on the 21st floor, built-in water features, and lush greenery.
Eric Teng, the executive vice-president of property of Straits Trading Company, says, “The sky terraces add value for tenants and give personality to the building”.
Views of the Raffles Place and Marina Bay area will certainly be expected as well. Madam Wong states that a trapezoidal shape will be applied to the building, instead of the conventional box-like structure in order to get the most out of the views.
About 8,000 square feet of column-free space will be offered on each floor. Every floor can accommodate up to two tenants, and will be sold for an average price of $10-$12 per sq. ft. a month.
Tin mining serves as Straits Trading Company’s core business. This 122-year-old Singapore-based company is also Gallop Gables condominium’s developer and is Hotel Rendezvous’ owner. The top three floors of the building are expected to be occupied by the company.
Around one-third of the tenants, which are mostly law firms and service offices, are already confirmed, says Mr. Teng. He is also very optimistic that by November, all units will be tenanted.
“Each tenant in the building can even have the whole floor to itself, which is a desirable factor”, Mr. Teng says.