Hitachi Tower

Infobox Skyscraper
|building_name = Hitachi Tower


caption = Hitachi Tower, with Tung Centre on the right
location = Raffles Place, Downtown Core, Singapore
use = Commercial
type = High-rise
roof = 179 m, convert|588|ft|m|abbr=on
floor_count = 33
status = Occupied
architect = Murphy/Jahn, Inc. Architects, Architects 61 Pte Ltd
developer =
management =
owner =
contractor =
website =

Hitachi Tower is a skyscraper located in the central business district of Singapore. It is located on 16 Collyer Quay, in the zone of Raffles Place, near Chevron House, Change Alley [citeweb | title = Asia Travel : Map of Hitachi Tower (S) 049318 | publisher = StreetDirectory.com | url = http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_3730/travel_site_563/ | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ] , Tung Centre, and The Arcade, all of which are roughly 100 metres away [citeweb | title = Hitachi Tower is a place in Singapore on the Map of Singapore | publisher = SGPageNation | url = http://sg.pagenation.com/sin/Hitachi%20Tower_103.8526_1.2839.map | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ] . Facing Clifford Pier, the building commands a panoramic view of Marina Bay. It has an underground linkage to Raffles Place MRT Station.citeweb | title = Hitachi Tower, Singapore | publisher = Emporis | url = http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=hitachitower-singapore-singapore | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

The skyscraper has a spire that is 13.0 metres long, which extends the building's height from 166.0 metre to 179.0 metre. [citeweb | title = Hitachi Tower - SkyscraperPage.com | publisher = SkyscraperPage.com | url = http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=5649 | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ] It is on a 999-year leasehold. [citeweb | title = The Atrium @ Orchard up for sale at over $1b | publisher = Marshall Cavendish | url = http://www.asiabuilders.com/asiabuilders/2007/ABnews_single.aspx?rec_code=27364 | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

The 37-storey Hitachi Tower has a net lettable area of around convert|279600|sqft|m2, which equates to 25,972 square metres [citeweb | title = Hitachi Tower | publisher = CapitaLand | url = http://www.capitaland.com/en/ccid/properties/HitachiTower.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ] . The building had close to 100 per cent occupancy as of December 31, 2007, and key tenants include Hitachi and American Express.citeweb | title = CapitaLand, NUS sell Hitachi Tower | publisher = WordPress | url = http://sgpropertypress.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/capitaland-nus-sell-hitachi-tower/ | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

History

Hitachi Tower was designed by Murphy/Jahn, Inc. Architects, and local firm Architects 61 Pte Ltd. It was completed in 1992. Other firms involved in the development include Hitachi, CapitaLand Commercial Limited, Savu Investments Private Limited, CapitaLand Limited, Obayashi Gumi Corporation, Sendai Eversendai Engineering Group, Steen Consultants Private Limited, PCR Engineers Private Limited, and Rider Hunt Levett & Bailey.citeweb | title = Hitachi Tower, Singapore | publisher = Emporis | url = http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=hitachitower-singapore-singapore | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

Selling of stake

On January 16, 2008, CapitaLand sold its 50 per cent stake in Hitachi Tower for S$403.5 million, which it had earlier bought in 2000. [citeweb | title = CapitaLand selling entire 50% stake in Hitachi Tower for S$404m | publisher = Channel News Asia | url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/322761/1/.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ] The National University of Singapore, which owns the remaining 50 per cent of the office building, also sold its stake. Upon the deal’s completion, CapitaLand will recognise a gain of S$110.1 million.citeweb | title = CapitaLand, NUS sell Hitachi Tower | publisher = WordPress | url = http://sgpropertypress.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/capitaland-nus-sell-hitachi-tower/ | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

According to CapitaLand, the deal took into consideration the agreed value of the development at $811 million, or about $2,900 per square foot of net lettable area. It also claimed the consideration was arrived at on a willing-buyer willing-seller basis. However, the company did not state the buyer, but sources said that the building was bought by a fund linked to Goldman Sachs. This is based on the fact that Goldman Sachs bought the next-door Chevron House a year earlier.citeweb | title = CapitaLand, NUS sell Hitachi Tower | publisher = WordPress | url = http://sgpropertypress.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/capitaland-nus-sell-hitachi-tower/ | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

Architecture

Hitachi Tower is linked to the 33-storey Chevron House by a four-storey glass galleria. According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the two buildings are designed and planned in parallel, with each tower takes on different architectural expressions, while complementing each other to "strengthen the urban quality" of Raffles Place.citeweb | title = CALTEX HOUSE AND HITACHI TOWER | publisher = Urban Redevelopment Authority | url = http://www.ura.gov.sg/spore1_1/publication1-9.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

The building is topped off by a double-storey navigating beacon. URA claims it recalls the maritime history of the Collyer Quay area. Its facade is expressed in three parts, which breaks the verticality of the 37-storey tower and creates a stepping down effect that matches with the height of its shorter neighbour, Tung Centre.citeweb | title = CALTEX HOUSE AND HITACHI TOWER | publisher = Urban Redevelopment Authority | url = http://www.ura.gov.sg/spore1_1/publication1-9.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

At the urban level, the two buildings respect and are designed around established patterns of pedestrian movement and urban use. The bank lobby is lifted to the upper floors to create Change Alley on the first storey, a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with retail activities that is today, a well-used and vibrant space linking Raffles Place to Collyer Quay.citeweb | title = CALTEX HOUSE AND HITACHI TOWER | publisher = Urban Redevelopment Authority | url = http://www.ura.gov.sg/spore1_1/publication1-9.htm | accessdate = 2008-02-10 ]

See also

* List of tallest buildings in Singapore
* Hitachi

References

External links