ISG to refurbish historic Yue Hwa Building

ISG in Singapore announced a successful appointment for the multi-million refurbishment of a six-storey retail development, Yue Hwa Building, situated in Chinatown.

The key appointment was secured through a highly competitive tender for leading Chinese departmental retailer, Yue Hwa Chinese Products. The complex upgrading project involves a multi-phased construction programme spanning over nine months.

Carried out across seven time-critical phases within a live operational environment, the first six phases will consist floor by floor works across the six floors where ISG will be delivering an extensive construction package comprising new concrete structures, changing of façade-related elements, a new glass structural roof, interior fit out works, new escalators and elevators, along with the installation and further upgrades of MEP services for the entire building.

Built in 1927, the award-winning conservation building is a major development which formerly housed a hotel before being converted into Yue Hwa’s flagship departmental store in 1994, winning an Architectural Heritage Award by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in 1997.

Breathing new life into a building of this nature is no easy feat – sensitive refurbishment and reconfiguration of existing structures is an intricate and highly skilled specialism.

Beyond ensuring uninterrupted business throughout the project duration and limiting noise within a fully operational building, other critical elements add to the complexity of this project – the lifting of two six-metre escalators for entry via the building’s rooftop, and the replacement of chiller system in the mall while retail operations are ongoing.

For this final phase, innovative safety considerations must be made, and will involve road closures to ensure the public’s safety during the transportation of the escalators.

Steve Ramsden, ISG’s managing director for Southeast Asia and Middle East, said, “Securing this project to revitalise a key historic landmark marks a significant milestone for the Singapore business, as it strengthens our delivery credentials and track record in refurbishment, restoration and retrofit projects.”

“At ISG we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver transformational projects that help businesses through change, and we are incredibly delighted to be selected by Yue Hwa in creating a thriving retail destination for its customers while retaining the heritage of the building.”

Work will begin on site in March 2019, and is expected to close out by end of December 2019.