Thursday, August 7, 2008

Ascott Raffles Place Makes 50 Units Available First

Source : The Business Times, August 7, 2008

THE plush Ascott Raffles Place, the former Asia Insurance Building (AIB), had a soft opening yesterday, with its owner, the Ascott Group, making 50 units available.

National heritage building: The 146-unit premium serviced residence, the former Asia Insurance Building, will be officially launched in October

The remaining units of the 146-unit premium serviced residence project will be ready by its official launch set for October.

An Ascott press statement yesterday said the property, a national heritage building and South-east Asia's tallest tower in the 1950s, was restored at a cost of $60 million.

It will be equipped with meeting rooms, WiFi connectivity, an infinity pool, jacuzzis, a fully equipped gymnasium, a fitness studio, a lounge bar and a fine-dining restaurant by award-winning Julien Bompard.

Ascott Raffles Place, situated within walking distance of the Raffles Place Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station, is also close to a wide range of restaurants, cafes, pubs, shopping outlets and the upcoming Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.

The property is the latest addition to The Ascott Group's seven serviced residences in Singapore, including Citadines Mount Sophia, which will open in 2009.

AIB was the first modern highrise office building erected in Singapore after World War II. It symbolised Singapore's development as an important financial hub, and is one of the few remaining highrise buildings from the 1950s.

The property was designed by Dr Ng Keng Siang, the first Singaporean member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The 52-year-old landmark was gazetted as a conservation building by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in April 2007.

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