Singaporeans of a certain vintage will remember Comcentre, Singtel’s long-standing headquarters in Somerset.
A recent photo of the iconic building, shared by a netizen on Facebook on Saturday (5 Oct), reveals that it is now fully covered up, signalling its impending demolition.
Source: Nicolas Lannuzel on Flickr
Located on Exeter Road, the building’s once-recognisable facade is almost entirely concealed behind hoarding, which typically appears in Singapore before demolition work begins.
Source: David Goh on Facebook
Even the concourse has been enclosed, leaving only the microwave dishes on the rooftop visible, serving as a last reminder of the familiar structure.
Comcentre was vacated in April this year, according to a Singtel press release on Friday (4 Oct).
Plans were made for employees working there to relocate to temporary offices at other Singtel premises across Singapore, Singtel said in February 2022.
This move was in preparation for the redevelopment of the 19,252.6 sqm site, which is set to begin in 2024.
In Comcentre’s place will be a new development comprising two 20-storey buildings of premium-grade office space with a total gross floor area above 110,000 sqm, Singtel said in June 2022.
Source: SingTel
It will also have almost 3,000 sqm of F&B, lifestyle and retail space in a sheltered arcade and “vibrant urban space” on the ground level.
This will include Singtel’s new flagship store.
Singtel, the anchor tenant, is set to take up about 30% of space in the complex, the company said, adding:
The redevelopment’s dynamic people-centric design is focussed on providing a range of inspirational spaces, attractive to the very best talent whilst providing a healthy and digitally enhanced workplace.
Upon completion, the “world-class sustainable workplace featuring the latest smart building and digital technologies” is estimated to have a gross development value of S$3 billion.
It is slated for completion in 2028.
Comcentre, once the tallest structure in the Orchard area, opened in 1979 and served as Singtel’s headquarters for 45 years.
According to Singtel, it was the first skyscraper in Singapore to feature microwave dishes on its rooftop, allowing for the transmission of signals across the island and its surrounding areas.
Singtel Group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon said the building “holds many special memories for generations of Singtel staff” as it was the venue of “many company milestones”.
Thus, the telco has launched a book titled “Voices from Comcentre” to chronicle the legacy of the building and how it fits into Singapore’s history of telecommunications.
The book will contain personal anecdotes from Singtel staff who will give readers a unique perspective into the building’s history and the technological advancements that transformed telecommunications in Singapore.
Ms Lian Pek, Singtel’s Vice President of Group Strategic Communications and Brand, said that as Comcentre had borne witness to more than four decades of Singtel’s journey, it was felt that the job of telling this story was best done by Singtel pioneers and staff, adding:
For many, Comcentre had become a topography of their working lives, a repository of milestones, memory and meaning — an emotional space, in short. We sought to capture this emotional relationship between Comcentre and its occupants.
The book will be available at S$25 from 7 to 27 Oct at Singtel stores in 313@somerset, Jurong Point and Tampines Mall.
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Featured image adapted from David Goh on Facebook and Nicolas Lannuzel on Flickr.
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