Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has unveiled the design for 8 Shenton Way, set to be the tallest building in Singapore. Designed in collaboration with local firm DCA Architects, the 1,000-foot-tall, 63-story mixed-use tower is described as an “indoor-outdoor vertical community with public spaces, offices, retail, a hotel, and luxury residences.”

The building’s predominately glazed façade is clad with a blend of terracotta and bamboo, while the building form is fragmented by setbacks holding roof terraces and curving bay windows on most floors. Seven terraces are included in the scheme, with one serving a hotel and three serving residential floors.

Inside, the tower’s “live, work, and play” offering includes offices, retail, a hotel, and luxury residential units. At ground level, the project addresses the street through retail units and a public performance and events space, while on the second floor, an open-air green space accommodates restaurants and hospitality.

While unveiling the scheme, SOM also points to several elements described as “post-pandemic features” including contactless technology, antimicrobial materials, enhanced natural airflow and filtration, and 107,000 square feet of elevated green space. Meanwhile, environmental considerations in the design include the partial retention of existing on-site foundations and infrastructure, recyclable aggregates in the concrete structure, and energy-efficient glazing.  

“8 Shenton Way will be the newest landmark on the Singapore skyline — a next generation tower for the city,” said SOM Partner Mustafa Abadan. “Designed specifically with the tropical climate of Singapore in mind, this building will be one of the first post-pandemic mixed-use towers in the world, with health and wellness as its primary design drivers.” 

The project is expected to be completed in 2028.

The Singapore skyscraper is one of several SOM schemes to feature in our editorial in 2022. Last month, the firm joined Selldorf in leading the modernization of the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C. while also partnering with Arup to lead the expansion of Newark Liberty Airport.

In July, SOM was announced as the lead designers for a visitor experience at the Egyptian pyramids and an Alibaba campus in Shanghai, while in January, the firm’s “breathing” bank headquarters opened in Shenzhen.