How a dream took shape and a city was born..

Raffles City is the fruit of labour of city elders, architects, town planners and businessmen. It has captured the imagination of citizens and tourists alike. Thanks to the collective imagination and painstaking efforts of these gentlemen.

At the ground-breaking ceremony on 14 August 1980, the late Minister for Finance, Mr Hon Sui Sen spelled out how Raffles City would leave an indelible impression on the city landscape:

"Raffles City will be the anchor of extensive development in this part of the downtown area, which will eventually link the tourist and shopping artery of Orchard Road with the commercial and financial area in and around Shenton Way. Helping Raffles City to perform this crucial role of a lynch-pin is the prospect of the main interchange station of the proposed Mass Rapid Transit being sited at its door step. Raffles City will contribute to fulfilling one of the community's long cherished goals, that of rejuvenation of the downtown area at night when the office workers have gone home...".

I M Pei, the world renowned architect commissioned to design Raffles City, described it as a catalyst in enriching the quality of life in Singapore. "Physically, it could become a symbol of national dynamism. Functionally, it could provide much of the facilities needed for encouraging tourism."

Today, this lofty vision has become a reality and the rapid pace of development in the surrounding areas is a testament to the foresight and vision behind Raffles City. The North Bridge Road/Marina Centre corridor is widely regarded as an emerging shopping and tourist hub with a distinctive personality of its own.

And so it was christened, "Raffles City".

In April 1979, Raffles City Pte Ltd (now known as CapitaLand (RCS) Property Management Pte. Ltd.) was incorporated to own, develop and manage the Raffles City project.

This project was first named as the Raffles International Centre. It was subsequently named, "Raffles City" for several reasons:

1. The complex is strategically located at the heart of the city at the site of the former Raffles Institution, a premier boys school with a rich heritage.
2. The Raffles City project, which is part of the Government's development plan for the downtown area, is a landmark of Singapore. So it was fittingly named after its founder, Sir Stamford Raffles. As its British Government General, Sir Stamford Raffles was the main architect responsible for the development of Singapore from its origins as a fishing village.
3. The 'City' in its name refers not only to its central location but also to its integrated nature; a virtual city itself. Its multi-use function ensures that, like a real city, the complex is throbbing with life, round the clock.

All roads lead to a landmark

Raffles City is built where the historic Raffles Institution stood for more than a century. It stands on 30,630 square metres of prime land in the heart of the Central Business District. It is accessible from four main city streets, namely Bras Basah Road, Beach Road, Stamford Road and North Bridge Road.

Around the site, stand monuments that occupy a special place in Singapore's history: the City Hall, St Andrew's Cathedral and Parliament House. Within walking distance is the cultural hub of the city, with the museum, art gallery, theatre, drama centre and archives. This enclave of the city is known for its lush green environs of the Padang, Memorial Park, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Promenade, Merlion Park and is close to the sea and the Singapore River.

Raffles City Tower, a landmark of the city.

Located in a historical part of town and the "original heart" of Singapore, Raffles City bears testimony to Singapore's commitment to the future. Standing proudly alongside Southeast Asia's tallest hotel, Swissôtel The Stamford, Raffles City Tower commands a sentinel position at the crossroads of the tourist belt of hotels and shopping complexes along Orchard Road and the hubs of business and finance at Raffles Place and Shenton Way. A towering fixture of the city landscape, it also overlooks the busiest port in the world.

With gleaming aluminium "skin", the 42-storey office tower projects an image of modern sophistication. The office tower offers space that is almost totally column-free facilitating the flexibility of office design and layout and providing a total office space of 35,000 square metres. Office tenants have the benefit of 12 microprocessor-control high-speed passenger lifts, which are grouped into 3 banks i.e. low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise. The fire-protection and life security systems for Raffles City Tower and the rest of Raffles City are fully computerised and manned on a 24-hour basis. A fully computerised Building Automation System interlinks the fire-protection and life security systems for Raffles City Tower, while also ensuring the highest level of energy efficiency in running all the operating systems essential in a modern complex of such magnitude. Ample car parking facilities are available in the 3-level basement providing more than 1,000 lots.

The office tower, an integral part of Raffles City offers the complete business environment. It shares in all the facilities available within Raffles City and yet, in no way is inconvenienced by visitors to the hotels, convention centre and shopping centre. The office tower is served by its own exclusive lobby and a private driveway off North Bridge Road for the exclusive use of its tenants. There is also a doorman to welcome you. Its ideal location and the choicest services and facilities make Raffles City Tower, a prestigious office address among corporations. Perhaps, the best reason lies within Raffles City itself, a model of distinction committed to the future of Singapore.

A good balance of form and function

Raffles City accentuates the buildings and towers and at the same time, it harmonises with the environs by allowing other buildings to influence its design. To give it uniqueness in shape and form, the towers of Raffles City shift in appearance, from cylindrical to rectangular form as the viewpoint changes, thus lending it a touch of mystery.

One of the most striking features of the complex is its silver "skin" - which is made up of aluminium panels and anodised to prevent stains caused by high humidity and temperature. The panels are pre-fabricated and occupy a total surface area of 100,000 square metres. Selected for its beauty, quality, durability and ease of maintenance, this cladding makes it a classic beauty with clean-cut towers.

• The 73-storey Swissotel The Stamford, which is Southeast Asia's tallest hotel
• The 28-storey twin-tower Raffles The Plaza
• The 42-storey Raffles City Tower
• A 7-storey podium which houses the Raffles City Convention Centre, Raffles City Shopping Centre and the Amrita Spa, a total wellness centre which provides spa treatments and state-of-the-art fitness facilities to the hotel guests and members.

Raffles City Shopping Centre, a shopper's dream comes true.

The Raffles City Shopping Centre is a sprawling 26,700 square metres retail mall, spread over four floors on Level 1, 2, 3 and Basement 1. Anchored by Robinsons Department Store and Jasons Market Place, a gourmet supermarket, it has over 120 specialty shops, which cater to the needs of both local shoppers and tourists. The mix of establishments is constantly reviewed and updated through careful selection of retailers in terms of quality and variety of goods and services.

The Concierge, a first in a shopping mall in Singapore, attends to shoppers' queries, requests and feedback. The Concierge also offers sale of gift vouchers/postage stamps, tickets to arts events and concerts, complimentary rental of baby strollers and wheelchairs for the handicapped, gift-wrap and courier services, booking of city tours as well as dining and flight reservations.

As an added service to our tenants, we have the Tenant Liaison Executives, a first for a commercial complex in Singapore. These dedicated officers are trained to attend to all needs of the tenants, may it be the shop fittings, leasing matters or even advertising and promotional issues, they are there to assist or provide the link.

The layout of the shopping centre is designed with all the shops facing the atrium. The spacious atrium and soothing ambience make the Raffles City Shopping Centre a favourite shopping destination among locals and tourists alike. Exciting atrium and art activities are organised throughout the year to entertain shoppers and visitors.

Raffles City Shopping Centre is linked directly to the City Hall MRT Interchange Station. At peak hours, more than 100,000 visitors criss-cross the complex daily. The success of the shopping centre is practically assured. With a large captive market at Raffles City itself, easy access through the MRT and ample car park lots, shopping becomes a convenient and pleasurable experience.

To improve shopping experience, Raffles City upgraded its carpark system to an Electronic Parking System (EPS) in April 2003. The EPS provides a hand-free parking, doing away with the need to wind down car windows to insert CashCard into reading. Parking charges are automatically deducted from the driver's CashCard at the exits.

For more information, please contact the Marketing and Public Relations Department at:

CapitaLand (RCS) Property Management Pte. Ltd.
250 North Bridge Road
#05-01
Raffles City Tower
Singapore 179101
Tel: (65) 6338 7766
Fax: (65) 6337 3618
Email: