One Raffles Quay

Singapore

Repositioning a Marina Bay Landmark

An adaptive reuse transformation recasts One Raffles Quay as a modern, hospitality-led workplace that enhances arrival, unifies connections, and reinforces the structure’s identity as a premier Grade A address.

A group of people sitting on a bench outside a building.

A man and a woman walking a dog in a building.

A group of people in a large room with glass walls.

Hospitality-Inspired Urban Lounge
Unified Design Language Between Towers and Plaza
Enhanced Circulation
Fluted Glass, Warm Metallics, and Natural Textures
Biophilic Elements and Landscaped Edges
Flexible Seating and Movable Furniture
Large AV-Enabled Plaza for Community Events
Phased Construction Around Live Operations

Nearly two decades after opening, One Raffles Quay (ORQ) faced mounting pressure from shifting tenant expectations and rising CBD vacancies. Rather than pursue wholesale reinvention, the owners chose reinvention. The ORQ Asset Enhancement Initiative repositioned the landmark towers as a next generation workplace destination that focused on arrival, connectivity, and public interface — and transformed aging infrastructure into a competitive advantage without sacrificing the identity of the twin towers.

Gensler recast the lobbies, public realm, and inter-tower links as a cohesive urban lounge that elevates daily experience. The design layers biophilic elements, refined materials, and a unified visual language across the towers and the garden plaza. Teams phased construction around live operations, deploying modular systems and high-performance finishes to accelerate delivery, minimize disruption, and create a durable, future-ready environment.

The transformation repositions One Raffles Quay as a benchmark Marina Bay workplace. Tenants now benefit from clearer circulation, greater comfort, and hospitality-driven amenities that support focus and social exchange. The renewed plaza draws workers and visitors alike, enabling programming and activation. Early results show stronger tenant satisfaction, reinforced market prestige, and resilient leasing performance — proving that design-led renewal drives measurable business value.

A group of people sitting in a room with a large wall of art.

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