HarbourFront Precinct

Maritime Square, the mainland belt that overlooks Singapore’s Sentosa Island, was once anchored by the former World Trade Centre and its adjacent exhibition halls. Armed with the vision to enhance the value of the aging Maritime Square, Mapletree sought to revive the former vitality of the southern waterfront through master-planning and redeveloping it into an exciting urban landscape known today as the HarbourFront Precinct.

Work to rejuvenate the precinct into a lifestyle and business hub with offices, a large mall and world-class cruise facilities began in 2004. The old exhibition halls were transformed into VivoCity for which world-renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito was called upon to design its architecture. Conceptualised on a “wave” theme inspired by its waterfront location, VivoCity materialised into a world-class shopping destination and an iconic landmark of Singapore southern waterfront in less than two years.

Alongside the development of VivoCity, Mapletree refurbished the former World Trade Centre into HarbourFront Centre, an office cum retail development which also includes the Singapore Cruise Centre. The increasing demand for office space in fringe CBD areas also prompted Mapletree to further develop three prime office buildings in the precinct – HarbourFront Tower One, Keppel Bay Tower and the Built-to-Suit Bank of America Merrill Lynch HarbourFront – and upgrade the Singapore Cable Car Tower into an office building - HarbourFront Tower Two while the building continues to serve as a cable car terminal connecting Sentosa Island and Mount Faber. The restoration of St James Power Station situated next to VivoCity further enhances the vibrancy of the Precinct. Once Singapore’s first coal-fired plant, the building was carefully restored to bring back the fervour of its red-brick exterior walls and is today Singapore’s largest nightlife and entertainment complex. These changes have transformed the HarbourFront Precinct into one of Singapore’s most dynamic destinations.

View HarbourFront Precinct Rejuvenation video here.

Alexandra Precinct

In 2008, Mapletree began revitalising the Alexandra Precinct, a 13.5 ha site along the Alexandra/Telok Blangah business corridor. The site is about 10 minutes’ drive from the CBD and five minutes away from the HarbourFront Precinct. It previously consisted of The Comtech, PSA Building and Alexandra Distripark. Alexandra Distripark comprised three blocks of low-yielding and under-utilised warehouses, which Mapletree redeveloped into Mapletree Business City (MBC).

MBC is an integrated business hub with one office tower, two business space towers and an amenities/retail block, which are all connected by covered linkways. Completed in 2010, the close to 2 million sq ft mixed-use development has a committed occupancy of 91% as at 31 March 2012. 

For its innovative design and environment-friendly features, Mapletree Business City has received several awards. These include the Green GOOD Design Award 2011 from the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, the Green Mark Platinum Award from the Building and Construction Authority and the Trane Energy Efficiency Award.