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Ngee Ann City

Coordinates: 1°18′10″N 103°50′4″E / 1.30278°N 103.83444°E / 1.30278; 103.83444
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Ngee Ann City
Exterior view of Ngee Ann City
Map
LocationSingapore
Coordinates1°18′10″N 103°50′4″E / 1.30278°N 103.83444°E / 1.30278; 103.83444
Address391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872
Opening date21 September 1993; 30 years ago (1993-09-21)
DeveloperNgee Ann Development
Orchard Square Development
ManagementNgee Ann Property Management
OwnerNgee Ann Development Pte Ltd & YTL Starhill Global Property Management
ArchitectRaymond Woo and Associates
No. of stores and services130
No. of anchor tenants3 (Takashimaya, Kinokuniya & Best Denki)
Total retail floor area1,188,900 square feet (110,450 m2)
No. of floors29 (7 retail floors (B2 to L5), 3 parking floors (B3, L6 and L7), 19 office floors (L8 to L26))
Public transit access NS23  Somerset
 NS22  TE14  Orchard
Websitengeeanncity.com.sg

Ngee Ann City is a shopping and commercial centre located on Orchard Road, Singapore. The S$520 million building was officially opened on 21 September 1993 by then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Ngee Ann City currently houses the High Commission of New Zealand, on the 15th floor of Tower A.

History

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In the 1950s, the land that Ngee Ann City sits on was a burial ground, owned and managed by Ngee Ann Kongsi. It was part of a parcel of land known as Tai Shan Ting, which was bounded by Orchard Road, Paterson Road, and Grange Road. A ten-storey Ngee Ann Building was then built on the site, and was demolished to make way for Ngee Ann City.[1]

Redevelopment of the site was first considered as early as 1967. Ngee Ann City was planned by Ngee Ann Development and the Orchard Square Development Corporation in the late 1980s. Raymond Woo, the architect who designed the complex, drew inspiration from the Great Wall of China. The intent was to reflect the dignity, solidity and strength of the Ngee Ann Kongsi. Wong spent five years designing and overseeing the project.

Work on Ngee Ann City began 22 years after the project was first proposed. The construction of the S$520 million complex took four years. Ngee Ann City was officially opened by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on 21 September 1993.

The National Trade Union Congress' radio operation, Radio Heart, opened its satellite studios at Ngee Ann City in July 1993.[2]

Takashimaya Department Store had its month-long opening celebrations in October 1993.[3]

Facilities

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Atrium of Ngee Ann City in 2010
Fountain at Ngee Ann City
Takashimaya Square at Basement 2 of Ngee Ann City
Food Village at Basement
Ngee Ann City shops

Ngee Ann City has two office towers, Tower A and B which are both 26 storeys high. Among its many shops are the Takashimaya department store and Kinokuniya, the second-largest bookstore in Southeast Asia. Until 2007, it housed the library@orchard, part of the National Library Board on the 5th floor. Ngee Ann City is also home to the largest Best Denki in Singapore, known as Big Best. In 2005, the shopping mall opened an art and creativity section on the 4th floor called iFORUM, the first of its kind in Singapore.

When Ngee Ann City opened in 1993, Tangs Studio (a division of Tangs) occupied three floors of the building at the Tower B section of the building. A few years later, Level 2 of the department store was closed in 1999 due to poor business. This part of the mall became part of the speciality shop section (mainly branded boutiques) on the mall on Level 2, Books Kinokuniya on Level 3, and a shop section mainly children's boutiques and shops on Level 4 that was converted to iForum in 2005. The top floor of the mall, Level 5, was part of the upper level carpark. In 1997, the 5th floor was converted to retail space.

The Civic Plaza is where roadshows, concerts, functions, performances and activities are held. There is a fountain at the front of the Civic Plaza facing Orchard Road. The building is connected by underpasses to Wisma Atria, ION Orchard, Wheelock Place, Isetan and Lucky Plaza.

A 24-screen video wall, touted as the first in South East Asia, is located at the Takashimaya Square.[4]

The two towers of Ngee Ann City were intended by the designer to symbolise Chinese door gods, representing strength, generosity, and unity. Tenants in the office tower include Takashimaya Singapore, Books Kinokuniya, Metro department store, Ngee Ann Development, some private office tenants and a medical floor on Level 8 of Tower B.

Toshin Development Singapore Pte. Ltd. manages the speciality stores area of Takashimaya Shopping Centre located from basement 2 to level 4 of Ngee Ann City, covering over 370,000 square feet.

References

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  1. ^ Elysa Chen (18 July 2007). "It was to look like Great Wall of China". The New Paper.
  2. ^ "Radio Heart to set up studio at Takashimaya". The Straits Times. 7 May 1993. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Sally Yeh to do shows here". The Straits Times. 11 September 1993. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Set fact: You can't miss it". The Straits Times. 15 August 1995. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
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