UOB Plaza

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United Overseas Bank Plaza
Chinese: 大华银行大厦
Malay: Bangunan Bank UOB
Tamil: யூ.ஓ.பி பிளாசா
UOB Plaza in 2006
Map
Alternative namesUnited Overseas Bank Plaza
General information
TypeCommercial offices
LocationDowntown Core, Singapore
Coordinates1°17′08″N 103°50′59″E / 1.28555°N 103.84972°E / 1.28555; 103.84972
Construction startedPlaza One: 1992
CompletedPlaza One: 1995
Plaza Two: 1973
OwnerUnited Overseas Bank
ManagementUnited Overseas Bank Property Management
Height
RoofPlaza One: 280 m (920 ft)
Plaza Two: 162 m (531 ft)
Technical details
Floor countPlaza One: 62
Plaza Two: 38
Floor areaPlaza One: 42,230 m2 (454,600 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Kenzo Tange Associates
Architects 61
Architects Team 3
DeveloperUnited Overseas Bank
Structural engineerArup
Main contractorNishimatsu Construction
Lum Chang JV
References
[1][2][3][4][5][6]

United Overseas Bank Plaza (UOB Plaza) is a commercial complex that consists of twin tower late-modernist skyscrapers in Singapore. At completion, UOB Plaza One was one of the three tallest in the country, sharing the title with the OUB Centre and Republic Plaza; it is now the second tallest since the completion of Tanjong Pagar Centre (Guoco Tower) in 2016.

UOB Plaza Two is a shorter and older building that was completed in 1973 and later renovated in 1995 with a similar facade as UOB Plaza One. Both buildings are connected by a 45 m (148 ft) podium supported by four columns. The podium houses the banking hall of the United Overseas Bank's (UOB) main branch. The building was opened by then Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 6 August 1995 which was 60 years after the founding of UOB.[7]

Description[edit]

There are two buildings that make up the Plaza, which are divided into the high-rise "Plaza 1 (UOB Plaza One)" and the low-rise "Plaza (UOB Plaza Two)".

UOB Plaza One/UOB P1aza[edit]

UOB Plaza One is 280 metres (920 ft) high with 66 storeys above ground.[8][9] It is located at Raffles Place, Singapore's Central Business District (CBD), along the Singapore River. Completed in 1992, it is a box-shaped post-modernism building which was designed by Kenzo Tange, a renowned Japanese architect, and was constructed by Nishimatsu Construction and Lum Chang JV.

Built as the head office of the United Overseas Bank, one of Singapore's leading banks, the building was also one of the country's tallest skyscrapers along with the adjoining OUB Center and Republic Plaza until it was succeeded by the Tanjong Pagar Centre.

The materials, colors, shapes and overall image of the building bares some resemblance to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which was completed in Shinjuku, Tokyo two years earlier in 1990 and which was also designed by Kenzo Tange himself.

UOB Plaza Two / UOB Pla2a[edit]

UOB Plaza Two or UOB Pla2a is a 162 m (531 ft), 38-storey building . It was first completed in 1973 before it was remodeled in 1995. The extension and renovation of the building, which was completed in 1993, saw the addition of 8 new floors. The building was on the site of the former Bonham Building, which housed the former United Chinese Bank (now the United Overseas Bank). That structure was named UOB Building upon completion, before adopting its current name in 1965.[10]

History[edit]

Planning and construction of the UOB Building[edit]

In its 1968 annual report, the United Overseas Bank's (UOB) chairman announced plans to redevelop the bank's current headquarters into a 22-storey building.[11] Subsequently, in June 1970, The Straits Times reported that the plans for the new headquarters comprised a 30-storey, 430 ft (130 m) tall building, to be completed by 1973 at an estimated cost of S$20 million.[12] Construction on the building was underway by January 1972,[13] The incomplete building sustained minor damage from a fire in February 1974,[14] and was completed by July 1974.[15]

The UOB Building, as initially built, occupied a L-shaped, 25,000 square metres (270,000 sq ft) site bounded by Chulia Street, Bonham Street, and Boat Quay.[13] It comprised a five-storey podium and a 25-storey tower.[15] The tower had an octagonal cross-section, and consisted of two tubes, with an exterior tube composed of eight columns and mullions surrounding a reinforced concrete core. Its exterior comprised bare concrete and reflective glass windows, which was intended by the building's architect, Architects Team 3, to give it a "monolithic look".[13] The podium's ground floor was occupied by a 1,030.82 square metres (11,095.7 sq ft) banking hall, while a three-floor underground carpark with a capacity of 183 vehicles was located beneath the podium. Upon opening, UOB occupied the lower 14 floors of the building, while several floors were occupied by the Shell Group.[15]

Conception and planning for UOB Plaza[edit]

In UOB's 1981 annual report, then-UOB chairman Wee Cho Yaw disclosed plans for the construction of a new headquarters building. Expected to be built on a 8,420 m2 (90,600 sq ft) plot beside the UOB Building, it was to consist of a podium and a 60-floor tower block, and was named UOB Plaza.[16] Nevertheless, in September 1983, UOB halted the project, which the bank attributed to the poor performance of the Singapore property market at that time, and to the S$118 million development charge it had to pay to the Ministry of National Development to construct the building.[17] UOB then commissioned Kenzo Tange and Archiplan Team, a local architectural firm, to submit revised plans for the building.[18]

The UOB Plaza project was restarted in 1988, with the Business Times reporting in February 1988 that construction of the building was to commence in the middle of the year.[19] According to UOB, the decision to restart was made as they expected to pay a lower development charge, due to lower property prices and a reduction of the levy from 70% to 50% of the increase in land value, and better responses from tenants after the opening of the Mass Rapid Transit system in the Central Area.[20]

The revised development comprised a 280 metres (920 ft), 63-storey tower that was to be connected to the UOB Building by a six-floor podium, while the UOB Building was to be renovated to fit in with the tower and podium. Expected to cost about S$400 million, the project was to be completely funded by the bank from its revenue and reserves. In addition, the bank stated that they did not plan to sell any office space in the new building, since they saw it as a long-term investment.[21]

Construction of UOB Plaza[edit]

Work on UOB Plaza commenced in July 1988, and construction of the building's foundations and basements, which had been contracted out for S$31 million to a 50-50 joint venture between Japanese contractor Nishimatsu and Lum Chang Holdings, started in November 1988.[22] The tender for the building's superstructure was called in July 1989,[23] while the S$36 million tender for the supply of structural steel was awarded to NKK Corporation in the next month.[24] Seen as the top construction contract of 1989 by the construction industry, according to The Straits Times, the superstructure tender attracted bids from several joint ventures between Singaporean and Japanese construction firms.[23] In January 1990, The Business Times reported that the superstructure contract had been awarded to the Lum Chang-Nishimatsu joint venture,[25] which UOB subsequently denied.[26] The superstructure tender was then awarded to the Lum Chang-Nishimatsu joint venture for about S$280 million in February 1990.[27]

In February 1990, The Business Times reported that UOB was expected to pay S$90 million to the Singapore government, comprising a S$30 million development charge and S$60 million to purchase the section of Market Street that ran through the UOB Plaza site, and that UOB had made an appeal regarding the development charge.[28] UOB settled the matter with the government by May 1990, agreeing to pay a S$29 million development charge and S$58 million for a 999-year lease for the section of Market Street to be occupied by the building.[29] Construction of the building's superstructure began in July 1990, with the steel frame in place by September 1991,[30] and the building was completed in November 1992.[31]

Details on the UOB Building's renovation were revealed to the media by UOB in December 1991. Comprising six more floors and a new exterior, UOB estimated it to cost S$82 million[32] Carried out by a joint venture between George Wimpey and Woh Hup, the renovation commenced in April 1993,[31] concluding in May 1995. After the renovation, the UOB Building was renamed UOB Plaza Two.[33]

The building was officially opened by then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 6 August 1995, UOB's 60th anniversary.[34]

Gallery[edit]

  • Special occasion floodlighting up the building at night
    Special occasion floodlighting up the building at night
  • UOB Plaza One's entrance with a sculpture by Salvador Dalí
    UOB Plaza One's entrance with a sculpture by Salvador Dalí
  • UOB Plaza One with a sculpture by Fernando Botero
    UOB Plaza One with a sculpture by Fernando Botero
  • Sculpture by Fernando Botero
    Sculpture by Fernando Botero
  • UOB Plaza One's entrance
    UOB Plaza One's entrance

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "UOB Plaza One". CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
  2. ^ "UOB Plaza Two". CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
  3. ^ "Emporis building complex ID 103089". Emporis. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  4. ^ UOB Plaza at Glass Steel and Stone (archived)
  5. ^ "UOB Plaza One". SkyscraperPage.
  6. ^ "UOB Plaza Two". SkyscraperPage.
  7. ^ "Opening of the United Overseas Bank (UOB) Plaza" (PDF). NAS. 6 August 1995. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  8. ^ Žaknić, Ivan; Smith, Matthew; Rice, Dolores B.; Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (1998). 100 of the world's tallest buildings. Corte Madera, CA: Gingko Press. p. 156. ISBN 3-927258-60-1. OCLC 40110184.
  9. ^ "United Overseas Bank Plaza One - The Skyscraper Center". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Marked Historic SitesUnited Overseas Bank". Heritage Trails. National Heritage Board. 2009. Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  11. ^ "New bank premises in S'pore". The Straits Times. Singapore. 28 August 1968. p. 12. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  12. ^ "The changing face of UOB". The Straits Times. Singapore. 22 June 1970. p. 14. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ a b c "A $20 m. office complex in the heart of city". New Nation. Singapore. 8 January 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ^ "Fire causes $400,000 damage: UOB". The Straits Times. Singapore. 14 February 1974. p. 17. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  15. ^ a b c Mok, Sin Pin (13 July 1974). "Business starts at UOB's $20m home". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 6 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  16. ^ Choo, Ai Leng (23 April 1982). "Record profits for two UOB units". Business Times. Singapore. p. 12. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  17. ^ "UOB drops its plans to build 59-storey block". The Straits Times. Singapore. 17 September 1983. p. 22. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  18. ^ Fong, Vincent (14 December 1983). "UOB revives plans for new hq". Singapore Monitor. Singapore. p. 29. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  19. ^ Lee, Han Shih (1 February 1988). "Big building project all set to take off". Business Times. Singapore. p. 1. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  20. ^ "New Raffles Place skyscraper". The Straits Times. Singapore. 23 February 1988. p. 19. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  21. ^ Lee, Han Shih (23 February 1988). "UOB's new headquarters estimated to cost $400 m". Business Times. Singapore. p. 15. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  22. ^ "Contract awarded to build UOB Plaza basement floors". The Straits Times. Singapore. 23 November 1988. p. 30. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  23. ^ a b de Silva, Gerry; Pak, Steven (22 July 1989). "Japanese giants vying for UOB Plaza contract". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 44. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  24. ^ Hong, Lee Tiam (18 August 1989). "NKK secures contract to supply steel structure for UOB Plaza". Business Times. Singapore. p. 3. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  25. ^ Hadhi, Abdul (3 January 1990). "Lum Chang said to have won $200m contract". Business Times. Singapore. p. 11. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  26. ^ "UOB Plaza contract: no decision yet". The Business Times. Singapore. 10 January 1990. p. 13. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  27. ^ Chow, Chee Sun (16 February 1990). "Lum Chang clinches deal for UOB Plaza". The Straits Times. Singapore. p. 41. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  28. ^ Lee, Han Shih (12 February 1990). "UOB Plaza may cost $90m more". Business Times. Singapore. p. 1. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  29. ^ Lee, Han Shih (23 May 1990). "UOB to spend $52m on upgrading flagship building". Business Times. Singapore. p. 2. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  30. ^ "UOB Plaza's $38m steel frame in place". The Straits Times. Singapore. 24 September 1991. p. 40. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  31. ^ a b "Woh Hup-Wimpey venture clinches UOB retrofitting deal". Business Times. Singapore. 4 September 1993. p. 5. Retrieved 11 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  32. ^ "UOB to spend $82m to upgrade UOB Building". The Straits Times. Singapore. 13 December 1991. p. 48. Retrieved 11 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  33. ^ "UOB Plaza: A mark of dynamism and refinement?". The Straits Times. Singapore. 4 August 1995. p. 2. Retrieved 11 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  34. ^ "SM: Local banks must recruit overseas talent to compete". Business Times. Singapore. 7 August 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via NewspaperSG.

Further reading[edit]

  • 'Wong, Yunn Chii (2005). Singapore 1:1: A Gallery of Architecture & Urban Design. Singapore: Urban Redevelopment Authority. ISBN 981-05-4467-7.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to UOB Plaza.
Records
Preceded by Tallest building in Singapore
162 m (531 ft)
1974–1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Tallest building in Singapore
280 m (920 ft)
1992–2016 		Succeeded by
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