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[SINGAPORE] Singtel and Lendlease broke ground on Tuesday (Jul 8) for what will be the telco’s new Comcentre headquarters on its former site on Exeter Road.

The building, being redeveloped at the cost of S$3 billion, will be the largest Grade-A office space in the Orchard Road precinct, taking up 110,000 square metres. The previous Comcentre had a gross floor area of 105,371 sq m.

Singtel will be the anchor tenant, occupying 30 per cent of the total development area.

Slated for completion in 2028, the project will have two 20-storey Grade-A office towers, offering 81,960 sq m of office space. It will also feature 20,000 sq m of lifestyle and retail spaces, including Singtel’s new flagship store, food and beverage outlets, medical suites, a gym and an auditorium.

The total net lettable space available for lease is about 54,000 sq m. The Business Times understands there has been “strong interest from a broad spectrum of companies”, though official marketing and leasing starts only in 2026.

Singtel employees who used to work in the monolithic Orchard Road area landmark were relocated to SingPost Centre and other Singtel premises across the island in 2024, ahead of the demolition works.

The new Comcentre coming up on the site will be open to the surrounding neighbourhood, with a large sheltered walkway and a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with retail and F&B outlets. It will be connected to Somerset MRT station through a sheltered, above-ground link and another link at B2 level.

Designed by New York-based architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox and landscape architect Field Operations, the project will feature the largest elevated urban park in central Singapore, at nearly a hectare in size.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, said: “The redevelopment of the Comcentre is expected to enliven the Somerset area, and provide new amenities for the surrounding community.”

He added: “The revitalised Comcentre will serve as a vibrant community hub with new public spaces and improved connectivity – bringing people from all walks of life together, supporting local businesses, and contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic Orchard Road for all Singaporeans.”

The redevelopment was announced in 2022 when Singtel partially divested Comcentre to a joint venture (JV) company with Lendlease, with an eye on maximising the site’s potential, increasing building efficiency, unlocking value from the property and strengthening Singtel’s financial position. 

Singtel holds 51 per cent of the JV, with Lendlease owning 49 per cent.

Singtel’s net profit for FY2025 rose to S$4.02 billion, up from S$795 million the year before, driven mainly by a net exceptional gain of S$1.55 billion from the partial divestment of Comcentre.

The new development will incorporate artificial intelligence-enabled robotics, smart building infrastructure that adapts to its environment, and technology-enabled spaces designed for work and retail.

It is on track to become Singapore’s first development that is end-to-end carbon-neutral, encompassing its design, construction and operations. Measures include using low-carbon concrete and steel, and reusing 40 per cent of crushed concrete waste from existing structures. The project is also expected to earn three major green-building certifications.

Chee highlighted the use of a different contracting model, under which contractors are paid for the actual costs up to a fixed limit, with costs savings shared between developer and builder.

Digital technology will streamline workflows, improve teamwork and boost efficiency throughout the project. Advanced construction methods, such as robotic installation system for lifts, are expected to reduce on-site labour by up to 30 per cent and speed up project completion by up to 20 per cent.