Accor and New Park Property Pte Ltd are proud to announce the launch of Pullman Singapore Orchard, a rebranded property occupying a prime location in the very heart of the Orchard Road shopping belt.
Set to reopen in early 2022 following a stylish refurbishment, the hotel will be part of a mixed-use development, which will feature commercial and retail outlets including the flagship Apple store. The Pullman Singapore Orchard is located a short walk from some of the city’s best malls including Paragon, Takashimaya, Wisma Atria and ION Orchard, and just minutes away from the vibrant CBD, the heritage-rich Civic District, the lush Singapore Botanic Gardens and the entertainment enclave of Clarke Quay. With two MRT stations on its doorstep, guests have easy access to all the city’s best attractions.
Garth Simmons, CEO of Accor Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea, said: “We are proud to partner with New Park Property and thrilled to welcome this flagship address to the Pullman family, one of the fastest-growing brands in Accor’s premium segment. As the industry witnesses an increase in conversion activity amid these challenging times, this reaffirms the trust and strong confidence owners place in Accor, the popularity of our brands powered by strong distribution and lifestyle loyalty platforms, as well as our unrivalled expertise and proven track record in rebranding projects particularly in Singapore, following a successful renovation of Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel the Stamford within target budget and timelines. As a vibrant and stimulating hub in the heart of Orchard Road’s shopping district, this property will be a much-anticipated addition to our network in Singapore, and will open as visitors start to return to one of Asia’s most exciting destinations.” Read more about this announcement here.
Lion City Sailors Integrated Facility is Lion City Sailors’ (LCS) new state-of-the-art training facility that will be home to both the Sailors and the LCS Football Academy. Construction on the proposed facility at 8 Mattar Road, which currently houses the Academy, is projected to be completed in April 2022.
The facility will, when completed, become Singapore’s first fully-integrated football training centre. LCS has committed to invest more than $10 million in this centre, underlining its drive for excellence and support for the development of football in Singapore. It will feature five pitches - two 11-a-side and three 7-a-side fields - changing rooms, a gym, and will include facilities for sports science and medicine, video analytics, as well as study rooms for Academy scholars in the Elite Development Programme.
The training centre is a key facet of the Sailors’ drive for excellence in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) and the region. It will also facilitate the establishment of a pipeline of young footballers for the Singapore football fraternity as it aims to boost youth development as part of the national project: “Unleash the Roar!”. In addition to facilities that cater to the Sailors’ professional team and its Academy, the proposed facility will include a viewing area for the public, a café, as well as community-friendly spaces where grassroots activities for residents, such as health screenings, community talks, and exercises classes can be held. These additional features come as part of the facility’s secondary goal to serve and support the residents in the community, with the aim of bringing greater vibrancy and cohesiveness to Mattar Road as an inclusive sports hub in the neighbourhood.
IHG Hotels & Resorts and long-term partner Hotel Properties Limited (HPL) are proud to announce the first voco™ hotel to open in South East Asia on Singapore's world-famous Orchard Road.
The premium brand was launched in 2018 and quickly reached the milestone of 50 signed and opened hotels in more than 20 countries - marking IHG's fastest-ever global expansion.
Now voco Orchard Singapore is heading to the heart of the nation's famous main shopping and entertainment district and a bustling centre of leisure and business.
The 423-room hotel will rebrand from Hilton Singapore and provide guests with the world-renowned voco experience from the moment they walk through its doors. They'll receive the brand's signature 'Come on in' warm welcome of a swift and simple check-in, and a locally inspired welcome treat to mark the start of what's bound to be a memorable stay.
The Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub (ITH) is set to open on 13 June 2021. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the Woodlands ITH will feature:
Graduated kerb edges to make boarding and alighting easier for commuters in wheelchairs and for parents with strollers
Priority queue zones with seats for commuters with mobility needs
Nursing room and commuter care room for families with young children and those with special needs
For their bus captains and transport workers, the Woodlands ITH comes with upgraded amenities such as an air-conditioned canteen, dedicated toilets, and staff lounge.
25 out of the 29 bus services that currently operate from the Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange will operate from the Woodlands ITH following its opening. The remaining four - 925/925M, 950, 961/961M and 965 - will continue to operate from the Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange.
Cheers to more convenient transfers between the Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange and Woodlands North-South Line (#NSL) and Thomson-East Coast Line (#TEL) MRT stations when the Woodlands ITH is opened!
The National Environment Agency’s Inland Ash Scattering Garden at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex – Garden of Peace @ CCK – will be operational from 17 May 2021, providing Singaporeans with an additional option for the management of cremated human remains in Singapore. This was developed following the conclusion of a series of engagements conducted in February 2021 with religious groups, the funerary industry, and other stakeholder groups.
The ash scattering garden at the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex adopts an open garden concept, with designated lanes for walkways and ash scattering. It is a secular facility open to all religious faiths, and has the following features:
The ash scattering garden at the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex adopts an open garden concept, with designated lanes for walkways and ash scattering. It is a secular facility open to all religious faiths, and has the following features:
Boundary shrubs and vegetation have been planted to clearly demarcate the garden boundary and provide sufficient privacy
Landscaping and greenery have been used to create a peaceful, serene garden setting, to provide a dignified and respectful environment for ash scattering
Ash scattering lanes are separated and have been designed intentionally to accord families with privacy
Ash scattering lanes have been designed to allow ashes to naturally percolate into the soil underneath
User-friendly features, such as wheelchair access and seating areas, are provided for families to gather, view, and participate in the ash scattering process
To maintain a clean and serene environment and the secular nature of the garden,religious ceremonies or rites, such as the burning of joss sticks, food offerings, playing of instruments or music, will not be permitted within the garden
Visitors or next-of-kin can utilise the prayer facility near the North Gate at the Garden of Peace, to conduct any simple rites.
A fee of $320 (including GST) will be introduced for the scattering of ashes. Interested applicants who wish to apply for inland ash scattering may do so via NEA’s online ePortal, at www.eportal.nea.gov.sg.
We can all look forward to a new Kallang Tennis Centre (KTC) by the end of 2022!
The KTC will be the showpiece of a vibrant sporting hub, with tennis at its heart, and other facilities for all to enjoy. This includes first class facilities to host future tennis events, and community-oriented features with common spaces for family and friends.
The centre will feature up to 12 outdoor and 7 indoor courts and will integrate green replacements into spaces such as the rooftop, outdoor boulevard and event plaza.
World-leading hospitality group, Accor announced that Singapore's first Mondrian hotel property will be built in the heart of the city's prominent Duxton Hill neighborhood and is set to open in early 2023. The property, Mondrian Singapore Duxton is being developed by Craig Road Property Holdings.
Mondrian Singapore, a luxury lifestyle hotel comprised of 300 guestrooms and suites, a restaurant, a lounge and a rooftop bar will combine historic architecture from Singapore's centuries-old shophouses with a new build of modern, contemporary influences.
Sun You Ning, Director, Craig Road Property Holdings said: "We are excited to debut the Mondrian brand in South East Asia and Singapore with our partner Accor. Mondrian Singapore will provide guests an opportunity to stay in the heart of Duxton Hill, a vibrant heritage conservation area surrounded by Michelin-starred eateries, award winning bars, and iconic retail stores – all within walking distance to the Central Business District."
COURTS (Singapore), one of the leading electrical, IT and furniture retailers in the region, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nojima Corporation, has unveiled exciting new plans to expand on Orchard Road with a new flagship store at The Heeren.
Spanning 189,000 sqft across six storeys in The Heeren’s retail podium, the new flagship store is slated to be COURTS Singapore’s largest retail space in Singapore upon opening by the first quarter of 2022. This also marks Nojima Corporation's first overseas venture into a large-format store concept in a central location of Singapore. COURTS Singapore’s concept for the new flagship store will introduce exciting new retail concepts that are bold, fresh and authentic, which it intends to achieve by drawing on its experience to encourage customers to rediscover the joy, experience and energy of the retail sector.
The new flagship store is set to deliver Japanese standards of customer experience as its key differentiating factor.
Backed by years of expertise in building megastores in the region, an understanding of its customers in Singapore, its knowledge of local culture, and by focusing on people development through investing in employee training and upskilling to provide unique customer experiences, COURTS Singapore is poised to bring a strong brand proposition to the Orchard precinct.
Coupled with the synergy with its parent, Nojima Corporation, in using time-honoured Japanese principles of building trust and relationships with customers – COURTS Singapore is well on track to build a sustainable model for future growth.
The 3.9-hectare Bendera Bay is nestled within St John’s Island, and comprises a lagoon with a variety of mangrove, coral, seagrass, sandy shore and rocky shore habitats. This variety of habitats thus provides unique opportunities for outreach and research. “Bendera Bay” was named as such by the Friends of the Marine Park (FMP), as the indigenous Malay name for St John’s Island is Pulau Sekijang Bendera.
Since securing Bendera Bay for outreach and education activities in late 2019, the Friends of the Marine Park (FMP) community, which includes kayakers, anglers, divers, boaters, and researchers, has been discussing ways to activate the area through education, outreach and research activities.
With the support of NParks, the FMP community will spearhead efforts to balance the different uses of the area, and scheduling the programmes that will take place there, to be planned around four domains – Research, Recreation, Heritage, and Education.
Currently, the area is not open for public access as it is closed for conservation and research. The FMP aims to carry out activities for the public from early 2021, subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
Airbus has officially opened its new integrated campus in Singapore. Located at Seletar Aerospace Park, the new Airbus Singapore Campus covers an area of 51,000 sqm. It is an expansion of an existing site, housing the Airbus Asia Training Centre (AATC), a joint venture between Airbus and Singapore Airlines, and the company’s Asia-Pacific spare parts distribution facility, operated by Airbus subsidiary Satair.
New facilities at the campus include offices serving as the company’s regional hub for its commercial aircraft, defence, space and helicopter businesses. In addition a second Satair warehouse has increased storage volume and capacity by over 70%.
Also located at the campus is the new South East Asia operation for the Airbus digital services platform Skywise. In addition to supporting Skywise customers, the team based in Singapore will be involved in exploring potential partnerships with start-ups and other technology providers in the region.
Additionally, the campus will be home to a branch of the global Airbus Leadership University, providing training and tailored development programmes for company employees. When operational, the Singapore facility will be second in Asia, complementing an existing centre in Beijing, and will offer courses to employees based at Airbus offices across the region.
Tengah Air Base Medical Centre (TAB MC) was conceptualised as the next-generation Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Medical Centre, incorporating technology-enabled efficiency improvements as well as extensive medical centre process re-design to enhance patient experience and deliver high quality medical care to our airmen and women.
Its infrastructure was designed to support a full spectrum of medical operations, including pandemic outbreak response or mass casualty scenarios. It was also designated as a medical innovation testbed for novel concepts and initiatives aimed at improving healthcare service delivery. TAB MC's official opening will lead the way with technology-enabled efficiency improvements and a keen focus on service quality and patient experience for future RSAF medical centres.
Taking lessons learnt from previous experiences with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and H1N1 influenza, the TAB MC incorporated pandemic-specific infrastructural and technological features. This forward thinking spring-loaded TAB MC's medical response following the COVID-19 outbreak.
In future, customers will be able to customize and purchase vehicles online using a smartphone, which will immediately start production using Hyundai’s on-demand technology. The customers can then watch their car being manufactured at HMGICS. Once the car is ready for delivery, it will be transferred to the 620-meter-long Sky Track where customer can test drive the vehicle.
Sky Track will sit atop HMGICS’ state-of-the-art seven-story innovation lab located at the Jurong Innovation District (JID). JID enables how organizations collaborate – by bringing the various nodes of the advanced manufacturing ecosystem together, into a single district to create a one-stop advanced manufacturing hub. Masterplanned to house the full manufacturing value chain, JID is home to a vibrant ecosystem of researchers, technology and training providers, and advanced manufacturers.
HMGICS occupies a footprint of 44,000 m2 with the building covering 28,000 m2. Construction of the site will be completed by the end of 2022. The building will also feature a landing port for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) as well as solar panels providing the site with clean renewable energy. The center will gradually expand its use of renewable energy to eventually use fuel cell as a power supply to minimize emissions from power generation.
A new central green corridor connecting East Coast Park to Changi Beach Park is coming your way.
Earlier this year, NParks shared their plans to transform Singapore into a City in Nature, where they will redouble their efforts to integrate nature into our urban environment and intensify nature in the city.
Deputy Prime Minister, Heng Swee Keat announced plans to transform the eastern part of Singapore. A central green corridor will be created connecting East Coast Park to Changi Beach Park that will run along New Upper Changi Road and Loyang Way. It will be complemented by a network of community corridors to link the central green corridor to other parks and gardens.
The community corridors will have nature-based amenities like community gardens, therapeutic gardens, nature playgardens and inclusive playgrounds to cater to residents from all walks of life.
Strategically located in one-north near Buona Vista MRT interchange, Rochester Commons will provide a one-campus opportunity with workspace, habitat, hangout and learning components all integrated in a single location.
Rochester Commons is anchored by a 17-storey Mixed-use Tower comprising a Shared Executive Learning Centre, a 135-room upscale Hotel, Office, a sky garden and an amenities deck. The myriad interweaving of learn-work-live-play spaces at Rochester Commons fosters a new kind of environment for knowledge seekers and providers to meet, bond, connect and socialise in a vibrant and immersive setting.
Located in the unique Rochester Park, the effective blending of Rochester Commons with the rustic environment and surrounding lush greenery is exemplified by a Knowledge Trail on an elevated deck. This seamlessly connects 12 heritage bungalows with the Tower, creating a central active spine of outdoor working spaces and meeting pods.
Shared Executive Learning Centre:
• 5,000 sqm located on Level 2 and 3 of the Tower
• Flexible and adaptable meeting spaces and shared training facilities
• Focused on leadership, innovation and energy for human performance
• Curated courses focused on immersive learning experience
The Government is pleased to announce that a new 0.9ha integrated development – “Chill at Chong Pang” will be built at Chong Pang City. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) will work together with the People’s Association (PA), National Environment Agency (NEA), and Sport Singapore (SportSG) to bring greater convenience and more interesting programmes to residents.
Chong Pang City is the first neighbourhood centre in Yishun New Town and is about 40 years old. To continue serving the changing needs of the residents, the new integrated development will upgrade the existing amenities at Chong Pang City and provide new amenities. Residents can look forward to a new Chong Pang Community Club, a replacement market and hawker centre, as well as new facilities such as swimming pools, a gym, fitness studios, and commercial shops.
When completed, the new integrated development will inject greater vibrancy into Chong Pang City. It will also be a new community node for residents and will make it more convenient for residents to participate in community, social and leisure activities all under one roof. In addition, there are plans for joint-agency programmes, which will promote active lifestyles and enhance interaction amongst residents of all ages and from all walks of life.
Construction for the new integrated development is expected to commence in 2H2022 and be completed in 2027.
National Water Agency PUB and Sembcorp Floating Solar Singapore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp), are pleased to announce the commencement of construction of the 60 megawatt-peak (MWp) floating solar photovoltaic (PV) system on Tengeh Reservoir. This marks a significant milestone in building one of the world’s largest inland floating solar PV systems, which not only helps to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and thus carbon emissions, but also builds national climate resilience for a more sustainable future.
Solar energy is Singapore’s most viable renewable energy source, but large-scale deployment of solar panels is challenging due to its dense urban landscape and limited land. Beyond rooftops and vertical spaces, PUB’s large expanse of water bodies and reservoirs can now serve the dual purpose of water catchment and electricity generation. This follows positive trial outcomes and extensive environmental studies which show that floating solar panels have minimal impact on the reservoir’s water quality and biodiversity.
This large-scale Floating Solar PV System at Tengeh – the first of its kind in the region – will enable Singapore to be one of the few countries in the world to integrate green technology with water treatment. When the project begins full commercial operations next year, the amount of clean energy generated will be sufficient to power PUB’s local water treatment plants, offsetting 7% of PUB’s annual energy needs.
The Ministry of National Development (MND) and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) have recently announced the award of the design consultancy tender for the redevelopment of The Float @ Marina Bay. The Float @ Marina Bay will be renamed as NS Square.
The completed space will be a distinctive, attractive and flexible events venue. NS Square will also feature an NS-themed gallery, community sports facilities and a new public waterfront promenade.
A new permanent stage deck will replace the existing floating platform, with a new grandstand of increased seating capacity of around 30,000 seats. The tiered curved seating stacks will wrap around the stage to provide an uninterrupted line-of-sight to the stage from all angles as well as bring spectators closer to the 'action'. In addition to hosting the National Day Parade, the space can also be configured for events of different scales and types, such as concerts, performances, sporting activities and competitions.
When not in use for events, the stage area will be a multi-purpose space for community activities. The public can also enjoy a new waterfront promenade around the stage that will form part of the continuous loop around Marina Bay and improve pedestrian connectivity in the area. This lower promenade area will be opened all year round; supporting F&B and retail options are also being considered within the new development.
To leverage the site's unique waterfront location, the development will feature a water sports facility to support activities such as dragon boating, canoeing and kayaking. This facility, part of a larger network of water sports facilities around Marina Reservoir, will provide the community with greater access to water-based recreational options in central Singapore. There will also be a swimming pool and water play areas for the public to enjoy.
With a mix of open and enclosed spaces, the planned NS-themed Gallery will showcase our nation's defence and NS story, and acknowledge the contributions of our national servicemen past and present. Stories of servicemen from the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team will be told through various multimedia platforms and hardware displays.
Lendlease Global Commercial REIT (LREIT) has won the joint tender by the Singapore Land Authority, Singapore Tourism Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority to redevelop the 48,200 square feet car park at Grange Road into a new multi-functional event space.
Set to be operational in the second quarter of 2022, the concept, designed by DP Architects, aims to offer a first-of-its-kind lifestyle experience along Orchard Road, with multiple dedicated event spaces, an independent cinema, hawker stalls serving local delights and a food and beverage attraction. This will provide a rich array of events and experiences for locals and tourists, especially the millennials.
LREIT is collaborating with Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, to create an exciting calendar of concerts, film and events ensuring that the site is active all year round.
LREIT will also collaborate with The Projector, Singapore’s much-loved independent cinema operator, and Museum of Food. In support of the government’s push for Singapore’s hawker culture to be recognised by UNESCO, Museum of Food aims to launch an experiential attraction where locals and tourists can immerse themselves in the history, flavours and creativity of local cuisine, curating concepts that generate high imaginative experiences with instagrammable moments.
South Korean travel retailer, Lotte Duty Free has taken over the liquor and tobacco concession at Changi Airport.
Bringing its extensive travel retail experience to Changi, Lotte will eventually offer over 3,000 tax- and duty-free wines and spirits as it expands its product line-up progressively. Travellers can look forward to a wide variety of brands and products from special and limited-edition whiskies and cognacs, exclusive labels only found in Changi Airport, a dedicated collection of Asian spirits highlighting brands from Singapore and Korea, as well as alcohol-free options to cater to a growing demand for non-alcoholic beverages.
Renovation works for Lotte’s stores at Changi Airport will take place in phases, beginning in Terminals 1 and 3, once circuit breaker restrictions are lifted. Integrating elements of nature, inspired by Changi Airport’s iconic gardens, and featuring innovative in-store technologies, Lotte’s design concept for its stores will redefine the retail experience at Changi. Shoppers can look forward to unique concepts such as a specialised cognac brand boutique, immersive experience zones dedicated to whiskey, gin and wines, and a high-tech tasting bar, among others.
With the gradual re-starting of activities post-circuit breaker restrictions in Singapore, Lotte will first retail on Changi Airport’s duty-free e-commerce platform, iShopChangi.com, before its physical stores open at a later stage. Singapore residents can shop selected Lotte’s products on iShopChangi without flying.
The world’s second largest travel retailer in terms of sales turnover, Lotte has been awarded the liquor and tobacco concession for a six-year term that covers all 18 liquor & tobacco stores across Changi Airport’s four terminals, spanning more than 8,000 sqm of retail space.
Shake Shack has recently announced the location of their new branch at Liat Towers.
Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for their delicious burgers, chicken, hot dogs, frozen custard, beer, wine and more.
Shake Shack sprouted from a hot dog cart in Manhattan’s Madison Square Park created by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) to support the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s first art installation. The cart was quite the success, with lines snaking out daily for three summers.
In 2004 USHG won the bid to open a permanent kiosk in the Park: Shake Shack was born. This modern day “roadside” burger stand serves up the most delicious burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, shakes, beer, wine and more. An instant neighborhood fixture, Shake Shack welcomed people from all over the city, country and world who gathered together to enjoy fresh, simple, high-quality versions of the classics in a majestic setting.
The Pasir Panjang Power District is set to be transformed into a waterfront lifestyle district, with public spaces for all to enjoy and where the power station buildings will be repurposed to house new uses.
By 2027, the container terminals at Keppel, Tanjong Pagar and Brani will move out, and various development works will begin. But prior to that, the first project in the Greater Southern Waterfront will be the area around Labrador Park.
One key parcel is the Pasir Panjang Power District. It is 15ha of prime waterfront land which consists of two disused power station buildings – Power Station ‘A’ and Power Station ‘B’.
By the mid-2020s, Singapore's Pasir Panjang Power District could host concepts such as a drone race course, a hobby factory run by seniors, a hotel, residences, giant slides or even a floating pool perched along the coast.
It will be one of the first few sites to be developed along the Greater Southern Waterfront, a stretch from Marina East to Pasir Panjang that will be transformed for residential and leisure use as the port shifts to Tuas.
OUE Limited and OUE Commercial REIT Management Pte. Ltd., in its capacity as manager of OUE Commercial Real Estate Investment Trust have collaborated to re-brand the landmark Mandarin Orchard Singapore to Hilton Singapore Orchard, following a comprehensive and strategic review.
Mandarin Orchard Singapore will relaunch as Hilton Singapore Orchard - Hilton’s flagship in Singapore and the largest Hilton hotel in Asia-Pacific - with product and service offerings aligned with Hilton’s brand standards. Hilton will have the exclusive authority to operate the property upon the opening of Hilton Singapore Orchard.
Asset enhancement works to add new meeting facilities as well as refreshed food & beverage offerings to cater to the growing demand for regional and global meetings, incentives, conference and exhibition (“MICE”) events have also been planned. The planned refurbishment will be conducted in phases and will commence in 2Q 2020 to capitalise on the current challenges facing the hospitality industry due to COVID-19. The refurbishment is scheduled to be completed by end-2021. During the refurbishment period, Mandarin Orchard Singapore will continue to operate under the management of Meritus Hotels & Resorts, the hotel management company under the Hospitality Division of OUE.
Upon its relaunch in 2022, the hotel will feature 1,080 well-appointed rooms and five restaurants and bars including an all-day dining restaurant. The hotel will also boast meeting and function spaces spanning a total of 3,765 sqm, including three ballrooms.
More than 300 historical images and artefacts are featured in the revamped gallery. The gallery has 45 new artefacts which were contributed by both the National Collection and the community.
Admission to Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall is free for Singaporeans and permanent residents.
Changi Airport Group (CAG) has made official announcement that expansion and renovation works at Terminal 2 (T2) will commence after the Chinese New Year holidays, beginning with check-in rows 9 to 12 in the Departure Hall. This marks the beginning of a multi-year expansion project which will increase T2’s handling capacity, as well as to replace facilities and amenities which are nearing the end of their shelf lives.
The expansion project will add 15,500 square metres to the terminal building and increase Changi Airport’s capacity by five million passengers per annum (mppa). This brings Changi’s total capacity to 90 mppa when the works are completed around 2024.
Last refurbished in 2006, the refreshed T2 will sport even more greenery and natural elements at every turn, in keeping with Changi’s signature garden theme in its terminals. There will also be space added in the Departure and Arrival Halls, giving more room to airport operations such as check-in and immigration clearance. Additional retail and F&B outlets will be introduced in both the public and transit areas, providing passengers and visitors with wider and refreshed options. At the same time, passenger touchpoints will be enhanced for a smoother and more seamless experience.
The refurbished T2 Departure Hall will feature a spacious common-use central Fast And Seamless Travel (FAST) zone, with more automated check-in kiosks and bag drop machines. With this, more passengers will be able to use these self-service options to check-in early. Concurrently, the existing rows of check-in counters in the Departure Hall will be transformed to better serve passengers. All in all, the passenger handling capacity in the hall will be increased by as much as 20%.
To facilitate the expansion works, some airlines operating in T2 will be shifted to alternative check-in rows within the terminal during the course of works. The two flight information display flip boards will be retired, with the one between Check-in Rows 9 and 10 to be decommissioned next month.
A duplex F&B concept will be introduced at the north end of T2’s landside leading to Jewel Changi Airport, to provide visitors with a fresh dining experience, while transforming this gateway to Jewel.
In the Departure Transit Hall, the Orchid Garden, which has provided calm reprieve to many passengers with its elegant orchids since 1997, will be closed to make way for a new garden. This new garden will showcase a revolutionary landscape design, incorporating a plethora of new plant species for the enjoyment of passengers when it re-opens.
To cater for more retail and F&B offerings for passengers, the commercial spaces within the Departure Transit Hall will be increased. In particular, the food street areas along the length of the Departure Transit Hall and overlooking the tarmac will undergo refurbishment. Designed to provide passengers with a garden dining experience, this area will incorporate dramatic green walls, hanging plants and soft lighting. More F&B kiosks options will be brought in, along with additional seating and a newly curated tenant mix for an enhanced dining experience.
In addition, all passengers, whether transferring, transiting or departing, can also look forward to refreshed waiting areas with more comfortable seating, relaxation zones and a new play area for children. New experiential zones will be introduced at various locations within the Departure Transit Hall to keep passengers entertained during their time at Changi.
To cater to higher passenger traffic passing through T2, the Departure and Arrival Immigration Halls will be expanded. Specifically, the Immigration Halls will be reconfigured to support additional automated immigration lanes. The Immigration Halls will similarly incorporate lush greenery, extending a warm welcome to our passengers.
To handle a higher volume of bags at T2, two existing baggage belts will be lengthened and another two new belts will be added, bringing the total number of baggage belts to 10. The Early Baggage Storage system will also be upgraded from semi-automated to fully-automated, allowing some 2,300 bags to be stored at any time.
In the Arrival Hall, a garden-like lounge will be created, where meeters and greeters can wait comfortably for their friends and families to arrive.
For the dining outlets in the public area of the airport, McDonald’s in the Arrival Hall will close on 31 January 2020, while Starbucks in the Departure Hall will cease operations in April 2020. The remaining F&B outlets in T2’s public areas will remain open for passengers and visitors until the later phases of the expansion works. With the refurbishment, a new cluster of F&B kiosks will offer additional quick bites options at the south end of the Arrival Hall.
Punggol Digital District will be Singapore’s mini Silicon Valley with new amenities, business park, university, MRT station and even a new car-free Heritage Trail.
The 50 hectares land in Punggol North will be transformed into the heart of digital and cyber-security industries. The district is expected to create 28,000 jobs in different sectors in the digital economy when it’s open progressively from 2023.
Besides being a car-lite district, smart innovations are used at Punggol Digital District to reduce carbon emission and make buildings 30% more energy-efficient.
Food waste and wastewater are recycled along with rainwater and put to good use. Perhaps most impressively, a smart energy grid manages power consumption of the whole estate in real time, so everyone can optimise usage while minimising wastage. Read more about Punggol Digital District here.
The 43km Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) is Singapore’s sixth MRT line, adding 32 new stations to the existing rail network, with seven interchange stations linking the TEL to all five existing MRT lines. TEL will open in stages from end of January 2020, starting with the opening of 3 stations which are Woodlands North Station, Woodlands Station and Woodlands South Station. When fully operational by 2024, the TEL is expected to serve approximately 500,000 commuters daily in the initial years, with the figure rising to about one million commuters in the longer term.
Besides enhancing connectivity between the north, central and eastern parts of Singapore, the TEL will strengthen the resilience of the nation's rail network by providing alternative travel routes for commuters on other lines.
The TEL1 comprises one depot at Mandai and three stations, including an interchange station at Woodlands that links to the North-South Line (NSL), providing commuters in Woodlands greater accessibility and shortening their travelling time. Woodlands Station is also equipped with a Civil Defence shelter.
Passengers can look forward to new five-door, four-car trains for TEL. Trains will be running along TEL1 stations from Woodlands North to Woodlands South at frequencies of 10 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes during off-peak hours, at the commencement of passenger service for TEL1. As ridership on TEL1 increases, the frequencies for both peak and off-peak hours will be reviewed and adjusted.
The second stage of the TEL comprises six stations from Springleaf to Caldecott, with two interchange stations at Bright Hill and Caldecott. Bright Hill station will link to the future Cross Island Line, while Caldecott station will link to the existing Circle Line.
Following their succesful debut outlet at Jewel Changi Airport, Shake Shack is now preparing for their 2nd branch on Neil Road, targeting to open some time 1st quarter of year 2020.
Shake Shack is a modern day “roadside” burger stand known for its 100% all-natural Angus beef burgers, flat-top beef dogs (no hormones or antibiotics – ever), frozen custard, crinkle cut fries, craft beer and more.
With fresh, high-quality food at a great value, Shake Shack is a fun and lively community gathering place with widespread appeal.
Dyson has chosen the iconic St James Power Station to be the address for its new global headquarters in Singapore. The new HQ will include research laboratories and enable the company to double its pool of engineers and scientists in Singapore over the next five years.
Dyson has announced earlier this year that it will be moving its HQ out of the United Kingdom to Asia.
Located near VivoCity, St James Power Station is most remembered as a nightlife hot spot until it ceased operations in September last year. Mapletree will work in partnership with Dyson for restoration of St James Power Station and upgrading of facilities.
By 2027, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will complete the building of 20 new hawker centres, located in different parts of Singapore to serve the needs of residents. To date, seven of these new hawker centres have been completed and have started operations. Experience from the last four years shows that new hawker centres largely take time to establish themselves. As more hawker centres are built in the coming years, a new Staggered Rent Scheme will be introduced to support stallholders’ businesses in the initial years of the new hawker centres’ operations.
After a hiatus of almost 30 years, the new hawker centre building programme started from 2011 to ensure that residents have continued access to affordable food in a hygienic environment. To date, seven new hawker centres have been built and are managed by socially-conscious enterprises, of which two have gone on to their second term of operation. In their regular review of hawker centres, a key learning point is that new hawker centres take time to establish themselves. Time is generally needed to raise potential patrons’ awareness of these new centres and for the stallholders at the centres to build up a regular clientle and stabilise their businesses.
13 more new hawker centres will be completed by 2027. With the Staggered Rent Scheme, stallholders of these new hawker centres will benefit from lower rentals in the first two years of the centres’ operations, at 80% and 90% of stall rentals respectively. The upcoming hawker centre at Bukit Canberra, targeted to be operational in the second half of 2020, will be the first new hawker centre to benefit from the implementation of the Staggered Rent Scheme.
UFIT Health and Fitness has announced the takeover of a new site at 21 Club Street, in central Singapore, where they will launch the first-ever UFIT Hub. This move aims to unite UFIT’s core offerings of Personal Training, Group Exercise, Physiotherapy and Nutrition under one roof, and is 1 of the 3 planned Hubs for the business.
The first UFIT Health and Fitness Hub will open at 21 Club Street in December 2019 and will become the CBD Flagship. A one-stop destination for Health and Fitness, the Hub will offer a high-quality, holistic service for a personalised fitness experience.
Dean Ahmad, UFIT co-Founder and COO added, “This Hub will showcase the very best of everything UFIT has to offer. The integration of all our services under one roof allows our clients access to world class professionals, working in collaboration to help them achieve incredible results – no matter what their starting point is on their health and fitness journey."
2 further Hubs will be created at UFIT's existing sites at Orchard, linking up UFIT Orchard and UFIT Clinic Orchard, and in the west with UFIT one-north and UFIT Clinic one-north.
The CBD site sits within the traditional shophouses in Singapore, and its bold location is a statement to the Singapore fitness industry of UFIT’s ambitious plans for this next phase. Alongside the existing Personal and Group Training, Physiotherapy and Nutrition that UFIT offers, the UFIT Hubs will also provide clients with access to Sports Medicine through an on-site sports doctor, an indoor open-floor studio, access to their very best trainers wherever you are in the world via its new Online Coaching platform, as well as carefully-curated retail and food and beverage services to enhance the overall omnichannel customer experience. This will all be underpinned by fully-integrated tech solutions essentially granting consumers with access to trusted professionals, from need-realisation and diagnosis through to holistic treatment.
Earlier this year, UFIT launched its new brand proposition “Igniting Greatness”. “This was the first part of our 5-year plan,” says UFIT CEO Will Skinner, “We simply want to get the very best out of everyone we work with, whether it be a member of the team or a member of our community, it’s all about creating the very best environment for people to achieve the goals they have always had their sights on.”
The next phase is bringing this to life in our Hubs and creating a place where we can focus on our 3 pillars of Goals, Community and People in one incredible and inspiring destination.”
Skinner continues, “The next 12 months are critical for us. UFIT has had an exciting journey getting to this point in 2019, by harnessing a strong and loyal community. For this next stage our Goal is to build on this amazing Community and deliver an authentic brand that truly matches the quality of our People."
Skyports and Volocopter have announced a cooperation to build the first mobile Volo-Port for air taxis. UK-based global vertiport owner and operator Skyports and air taxi pioneer Volocopter unveiled plans for the Volo-Port – the physical landing pads for so-called eVTOL (electric take-off and landing) – through stunning designs produced by internationally renowned agency Brandlab.
Ground-based vertiport infrastructure is critical to the success of future urban air mobility (UAM), including air taxi operations in congested cities. Construction of the first Volo-Port will be completed later this year. The partners plan to build it in Singapore for the scheduled public flight trials in the second half of 2019. A full-scale Volocopter vehicle is on display at the Greentech festival.
The Volo-Port prototype will:
Enable real-life testing of the full customer journey to perfect the passenger experience;
Showcase planned customer services, including pre-flight checks, passenger lounges and boarding procedures;
Allow practical testing of ground operations and services, including battery swaps and charging, maintenance, safety and security;
Provide the opportunity for authorities and industry regulators to interact with the infrastructure and provide feedback before they are asked to approve the final design.
Vertiports are the only physical infrastructure required for air taxis to commence operations in cities in the near future. Volo-Ports are designed to provide passengers with a seamless air taxi experience that is safe, secure, and relaxing. They will merge with their surroundings, allowing passengers and passers-by to see through the whole structure.
In year 2022, residents of Bidadari estate will be able to enjoy a new regional park. This announcement was made by the Housing and Development Board (HDB). Bidadari Park is a multi-agency collaboration between HDB, national water agency PUB and the National Heritage Board (NHB).
The 10-hectare Bidadari Park will feature a lake, a 700 metre heritage walk, a 6-km experiential trails and a play area for children.
Apart from retaining of more than 350 mature trees in the area, the park will also be welcoming more than 2,000 new trees.
“At strategic locations, observation decks, viewing sheds, and pavilions will serve as tranquil rest spots for visitors, offering different views of nature in a rustic and naturalised setting,” said HDB.
Located next to East Coast Park with existing public and private housings in the surrounding, the 60-ha Bayshore Precinct will be a new lifestyle waterfront urban village for about 12,500 dwelling units of public and private housing when ready. A 1 km-long main street will anchor the precinct, which will have wider pavements to make a more pleasant walking and cycling experience for you.
Imagine a vibrant neighbourhood where the main street is lined with shops, cafes, grocery stores, childcare and elderly facilities within a short walk or bicycle ride from home. Residents can enjoy tree-lined walkways, or cycle along dedicated cycling paths to the nearby Bayshore MRT station and Bedok South MRT station.
Bayshore Precinct is also being planned as a future-ready community, which is sustainable, people-centric and car-lite with flexibility to accommodate change over time. In the future, the use of Autonomous Vehicles may present opportunities to free up space for parks, community facilities and other uses. The master plan will anticipate changes in technology in phases, providing resiliency to adapt to the changing needs.
Enjoy a whole new experience at Jewel Changi Airport! Set to open in early 2019, the mixed-use development located in front of Changi Airport’s Terminal 1, features a hotel, exciting attractions, aviation facilities as well as retail and dining offerings - all across a 10-storey complex.
Offering a sneak peek into the lifestyle and recreation attractions at Jewel, Changi Airport on Wednesday (June 7) shared plans to create lush indoor gardens, mazes, slides and walking trails to complement a 130-room hotel and 300 retail and dining outlets.
The newly-unveiled elements of Canopy Park on level five of Jewel, spanning about 14,000 sqm feature three iconic play attractions – Sky Nets, Canopy Mazes, and Discovery Slides.
Don Quijote is a Japanese discount chain with over 300 stores in Japan and Hawaii. Its revenue and operating profit have increased for 27 consecutive years.
The Don Quijote Group announced on June 5 that its holding company for overseas operations, Pan Pacific International Holdings Pte. Ltd. based in Singapore, will develop its first Southeast Asian Don Quijote store in Orchard area of Singapore. The opening date and other details will be announced in further notice.
Outside Japan, the Group has been operating three Don Quijote USA stores in Hawaii since 2006. In July 2013, Pan Pacific International Holdings Pte. Ltd. was established in Singapore as the headquarters of the Don Quijote Group’s overseas operations. In September of the same year, Marukai Corporation, which operates nine stores in California and two stores in Hawaii, came under the umbrella of the Group.
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