Source : Straits Times – 30 Jul 2009
THE first of three towers at the Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) was topped out yesterday, marking a key step in the giant project’s progress.
Topping out occurs when the last steel beam is placed at the top of a building – an event that often calls for a celebration.
Yesterday’s ceremony involved a 1.3-tonne beam bearing signatures of the major players – including key tenants, the joint venture partners and National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan – hoisted to the 33rd floor.
Mr Mah, who was the guest of honour, said the occasion was a milestone in realising Singapore’s vision for Marina Bay.
He said the project will add to the critical mass of the area and enhance Singapore’s skyline.
The 5.33ha MBFC will have three office towers of almost three million sq ft of Grade A office space in total, two residential towers of 649 luxury apartments, as well as 176,000 sq ft of retail space.
General manager Wilson Kwong of Raffles Quay Asset Management, which manages the centre, said 61 per cent of the total office space has been pre-leased.
The first tower, which has Standard Chartered bank as its anchor tenant, will be completed by next year.
Mr Kwong said the development is on track and is ‘primed to leverage the economic upturn’ and capitalise on the shift by corporate businesses towards Marina Bay.
Marina Bay was planned to be a seamless extension of the Central Business District. It has attracted over $20 billion of private real estate investments from local and international players, said Mr Mah.
The Government will invest a further $1 billion in infrastructure works over the next 10 years to 15 years, on top of the $7.5 billion already invested to further the area’s growth.
The MBFC is being developed by a joint venture comprising Cheung Kong Holdings/Hutchison Whampoa, Hongkong Land and Keppel Land.
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