The Golden Mile Complex has a rich history, and it’s about to enter a new chapter. On Dec 10, Perennial Holdings and Far East Organization unveiled their vision for the revitalized conservation building at a press conference. The project, known as Golden Mile Singapore, will be Singapore’s first large-scale strata-titled conserved building with a distinct tropical linear urban complex and brutalist architecture.
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The building, now called The Golden Mile, will be transformed into a commercial development featuring 156 Grade A office units, 19 medical suites, a two-storey retail component spanning 123,388 sq ft, and a public access architecture centre. Perennial and Far East announced that the office and medical units will be available for sale this month, but have not yet released pricing information.
In addition to the conservation building, a new 45-storey residential tower named Aurea will be built on the former residential carpark area. This 188-unit condominium is set for a preview in the next quarter.
Perennial Holdings CEO Pua Seck Guan reminisced about the vibrant and diverse retail scene of the Golden Mile Complex in its heyday as a mixed-use landmark in the 1970s. However, with the change in ownership over the years, the building’s status as a prime mixed-use development has declined. Pua noted that Perennial Holdings and Far East Organization are determined to revive the building’s status as a modern urban complex in Singapore.
To bring their vision to life, the developers have partnered with homegrown architecture firm DP Architects and architecture conservation specialists, Studio Lapis. Design Partnership, now known as DP Architects, was the architectural firm behind the original iconic design and mixed-use concept of the Golden Mile Complex.
Previously, retail space took up 40% of the building, with offices occupying 41% and residential units occupying the remaining 19%. However, the refreshed Golden Mile Singapore will see a shift in the ratio, with retail taking up 15% of the space, offices occupying 48%, and 30% designated for residential use. The remaining space will be occupied by the new medical suites and architecture center. As part of the government’s Community/Sport’s Facilities Scheme, the joint venture has also allocated 24,994 sq ft to URA for the establishment of an architecture center. Additionally, two new public access urban gardens will be created on the 9th and 18th floors, utilizing previously unused rooftop space.
The retail atrium will be revamped to include new event space and F&B offerings, bringing back natural light and ventilation to the shopping experience. These retail units will not be available for sale and will be curated by the joint venture partners. Pua explained that the retail component is not a major focus of the development, with the majority of the space dedicated to offices and residential units. He believes that the retail units will complement the office and residential components of the Golden Mile.
This month, Perennial and Far East will launch the preview of the strata-titled office units at the Golden Mile. There will be six different layouts available to cater to various types of businesses. The office suites will have a dedicated lobby and new lift cores to support the floors above. The original Golden Mile Complex had two lift cores, but new ones have been added to accommodate the increase in office units and provide private lift access. The office lobby will also feature a 6m high ceiling and modern facilities like a concierge and centralized access control.
The Flagship office units on the 4-7th floors will have a dedicated lobby with direct access to the basement carpark and retail floors. Each unit will also have two toilets. Loft Suites on the 4th floor and Loft Executive units on the 5th floor will have full-height windows and views of Beach Road. Meanwhile, Loft Mezzanine units on the 6th to 15th floors will feature bay views, a double-volume ceiling, and a dual-key design, similar to private residential projects. These units are the first of its kind in a strata-titled commercial development. The 16th and 17th floors will feature Enterprise Office units, which were previously duplex penthouse units and offer panoramic views of the city and bay.
At the top of the building, the newly built Crown Office units will occupy the top four floors, with four units per floor except for the penthouse level, which has two units. These offices range from 3,315 sq ft to 5,393 sq ft. Pua believes that the Loft Mezzanine units will be popular among family offices, and the other layouts will attract a diverse range of corporate tenants.
Pua added that the Golden Mile will have a mix of tenants, from corporate to family offices. The developers plan to screen potential buyers to create a diverse tenant ecosystem.