ION Orchard and The Orchard Residences

infobox shopping mall
| shopping_mall_name = ION Orchard


caption =
location = Orchard Road, Singapore
opening_date = Spring 2009 (operational)
developer = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd (A joint venture company between CapitaLand and Sun Hung Kai Properties)
manager = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd
owner = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd
number_of_stores = 400
number_of_anchors =
floor_area = 663 000 square feet (Net Lettable Area); 941 700 square feet (Gross Floor Area)
parking = appro. 650 parking lots
floors = 8, including 4 basement floors
website = [http://www.ionorchard.com/ ionorchard.com] Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = The Orchard Residences


caption =
plural = yes
location = Orchard Road, Singapore
status = Under construction
constructed = 2006
est_completion = Late 2009
opening = 2010
use = Residential Condominium
roof = 218 m
top_floor =
floor_count = 56, including 4 basement floors and 4 mall floors
elevator_count = 3 private elevator, 1 service elevator
cost =
floor_area = convert|1350000|sqft|m2|abbr=on
architect = [http://www.benoy.com/# Benoy]
engineer =
contractor =
developer = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd (A joint venture company between CapitaLand and Sun Hung Kai Properties)
owner = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd
management = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd
references = [http://www.theorchardresidences.com/index.html theorchardresidences.com]

ION Orchard, formerly known as the Orchard Turn Development or Orchard Turn Site, is an upcoming shopping mall by Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd , a joint venture between CapitaLand and Sun Hung Kai Properties, planned to be operational by spring 2009. The Orchard Residences, a high-rise residential condonium, will also be built together with the shopping mall under the same developer, manager and owner, and is expected to be completed by late 2009. cite press release | title = The Orchard Residences' Phase One comprising 98 units fully sold | publisher = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd | date = 16 July 2007 | url = http://www.theorchardresidences.com/TheOrchardResidences_NewsRelease_3Apr.pdf ] Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd only have a 99-year leasehold with effect from 13 March 2006. cite press release | title = The Orchard Residences - Fact Sheet | publisher = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd | date = 6 March 2007 | url = http://www.theorchardresidences.com/TheOrchardResidences_FactSheet.pdf ]

Located along the prime shopping district of Singapore, Orchard Road, "The Orchard Residences" will be the tallest building along the shopping district, standing at 218 metres. This residential building will have a total of 175 residential units from the ninth floor to the 54th floor once completed, four of which are penthouses. During the first phase of the sale of 98 units, the units were sold for an average of S$3213 per sq ft. Orchard Road's largest shopping mall, "ION Orchard", will have over 400 food and retail outlets when completed in December 2008. cite news | title = New malls on the block: ION Orchard and Orchard Central | publisher = Asiaone News | date = 16 July 2007 | url = http://travel.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20070716-18587.html ]

History

The Orchard Turn Development, now known as "The Orchard Residences" and "ION Orchard" after its official name has been revealed on 5 February 2007 cite press release | title = Orchard Turn Residential Development Named "The Orchard Residences" | publisher = Orchard Turn Development Pte Ltd | date = 5 January 2008 | url = http://www.theorchardresidences.com/TheOrchardResidences_NewsRelease_5Feb.pdf ] and 16 July 2007 cite press release | title = ION ORCHARD - 'CENTRE OF GRAVITY' FOR SINGAPORE RETAIL | publisher = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd | date = 16 July 2007 | url = http://www.ionorchard.com/images/Press%20release.pdf ] respectively, was built on the site of the former park located directly above Orchard MRT Station. The MRT Station's Exit C was closed and demolished on 15 January 2008 to make way for the ION Orchard development. A replacement for the exit, Exit E, was open on the same day. cite news | title = New Orchard MRT Entrance | publisher = Asiaone News | date = 14 January 2008 | url = http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20080114-44947.html ] cite press release | title = BRAND NEW MRT ENTRANCE OPENS TO ORCHARD ROAD'S FASHION HUB | publisher = Orchard Turn Development Pte Ltd | date = 14 January 2008 | url = http://www.ionorchard.com/images/PRESS%20RELEASE-%20Final%2014%20Jan.pdf ]

ION Orchard has 941,700 square feet of gross floor area and 663,000 square feet of retail space, larger than Ngee Ann City, but smaller than Suntec City Mall and VivoCity, the largest shopping mall in Singapore. Designed by [http://www.benoy.com/# Benoy] , the Orchard Turn Development has won two "EG Retail and Future Project Awards", the "Best Architetural Entry" and the "Best Retail Development over 20,000 m²", at MAPIC 2006 held in Cannes, France, in November 2006. cite press release | title = Orchard Turn Wins Two Prestigious Architecture Awards at MAPIC 2006 | publisher = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd | date = 28 November 2006 | url = http://www.ionorchard.com/images/MAPIC%20News%20Release%20-%2028%20Nov%2006.pdf ]

Facilities

Layered across the walls of ION Orchard, the Media Facade is a multi-sensory canvas media wall made with cutting-edge technology.

ION Orchard will also have the largest sheltered public square along Orchard Road, ION². It will span over 33,000 sq ft wide and are able to set-up any large-scale events. Everyday, over 220,000 pedestrians will be within its vicinity. cite press release | title = SIX GLOBAL FASHION SUPERBRANDS CONFIRM FLAGSHIP STORES AT ION ORCHARD | publisher = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd | date = 9 January 2008 | url = http://www.ionorchard.com/images/Press%20Release_8%20Jan%20Final.pdf ]

A 5,600-sq-ft art and exhibition gallery will also be located on the fourth floor of the shopping mall. Called ION Art, it will perfectly combines art and commerce, being a significant contributor in the local and international 'artscapes'. An art and design programme will also be implemented which introduce new and multimedia art into the mall experience, promoting the best of Asian modern and contemporary art and design from established and emerging artists and designers. Under this programme, permanent and changing sculptures and media installations will be located throughout the mall with art exhibition held throughout the year within the ION Art Gallery and other location in the mall. cite press release | title = ION ORCHARD’S SHOW SUITE CHARTS A JOURNEY THROUGH SINGAPORE’S ICONIC RETAIL MALL | publisher = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd | date = 22 July 2008 | url = http://www.ionorchard.com/images/PRESS%20RELEASE-Retail%20Show%20suite%20and%20ION%20Art%20FINAL.pdf ]

The development's observation deck, ION Sky, is located on the 55th and 56th floor of the building. With the high of 218 m above ground, it offers a panoramic view of the city. It will also have a 75,000-sq-ft garden on its 9th floor, together with two club facilities on its 9th and 30th floors.

The mall will also have two subway entrances on Level 1 connecting to ION² via Orchard MRT Station. The first entrance, Exit E (facing Wheelock Place), was opened on the morning of 15 January 2008, the same day when the station's Exit C (facing Wisma Atria) was closed and slated to be demolished. Mounted on Exit E's wall were more than 90 metres of LED walls, that can be programmed with different colours and patterns on its light displays to create a certain mood, even for festive occasions. It can also be used for advertising or as an art gallery from time to time. A newly-built Exit C will become its second subway entrance once it opens in late 2008.

The mall will also have a new walkway leading from Orchard Boulevard to Orchard MRT Station. Called the Orchard Boulevard Entrance, the first LED-lit subway entrance was opened on 10 June 2008 at Orchard MRT Station, with the help of the Land Transport Authority and SMRT on the planning of the walkway. Synchronized with ION Orchard's facade and canopy, the walkway will have LED panels, creating a surround experience for commuters, and a fritted glass-and-steel canopy roof, allowing natural light to filter through. The walkway will also have easy access to the basement and ground levels of the mall from the subway station's concourse level. Another walkway connecting the subway station to Wheelock Place will be opened to the public at a later date. cite press release | title = ION ORCHARD OPENS ITS ORCHARD BOULEVARD ENTRANCE LEADING TO ORCHARD MRT | publisher = Orchard Turn Developments Pte Ltd | date = 9 June 2008 | url = http://www.ionorchard.com/images/OrchardBoulevard_entranceopening.pdf ]

The mall will also have a car park with approximately 650 parking spots (including handicap parking), between the fourth and the eighth floors.

Notable tenants

With a lettable area of almost 660 000 sq ft, 400 retail outlets are expected to be open in ION Orchard, with an expected 60% of the retail space being lease to flagships, new-to-market and new concept stores. To date, it has been confirmed that there will be six flagship stores, namely Cartier, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton and Prada. These flagship stores will take up a total of almost 50 000 sq ft of lettable area, or 30% of the retail area. Also, 50% of the mall has currently been leased with the rest of the retail space still under negotiations.

ION Orchard Show Suite

Notes and references

reflist|

ee also

*Orchard Road
*Orchard MRT Station

External links

* [http://www.ionorchard.com/ ION Orchard website]
* [http://www.theorchardresidences.com/ The Orchard Residences website]