Raffles City
Raffles City is a major mixed-use commercial and hospitality complex in Singapore's Civic District.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Raffles City is a large mixed-use complex occupying a full city block in Singapore's Civic District, within the Downtown Core. Its site is bounded by Stamford Road, Beach Road, Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road, placing it beside the historic Raffles Hotel and close to City Hall, Esplanade and several major cultural and civic destinations. The development combines hospitality, offices, retail and events in a single integrated property. Its principal components are Swissôtel The Stamford, Fairmont Singapore, Raffles City Tower, Raffles City Shopping Centre and the Raffles City Convention Centre. The project originated in plans announced in 1969 under the name Raffles International Centre. The initial proposal was substantially larger, extending from the former Raffles Institution site toward Cathay Building. Rising construction costs and a shortage of skilled workers delayed the project between 1973 and 1975. When approval for construction was eventually obtained in 1979, the scheme had been reduced to the former Raffles Institution site and renamed Raffles City. Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on 14 August 1980, and the complex opened to the public on 3 October 1986. Designed by architect I. M. Pei, Raffles City introduced a strongly modernist architectural presence into an area historically associated with Victorian and classical buildings. Its aluminium-finished surfaces, disciplined geometric forms and large-scale urban composition made it one of the most visually distinctive developments in central Singapore. At opening, the complex included The Westin Stamford Hotel, The Westin Plaza, an office tower, a convention centre and a shopping mall. The Westin Stamford was then the world's tallest hotel, giving the project international visibility as well as local commercial importance. Raffles City has undergone repeated changes in retail configuration, hotel branding and ownership. The shopping centre received a major renovation during the 1990s. A later basement expansion, announced in 2005 and completed in 2006, added retail, food-and-beverage and fashion space. In 2006, CapitaCommercial Trust and CapitaMall Trust acquired the development from Raffles Holdings for S$2.09 billion. The acquisition was completed in August of that year, with the trusts holding 60 percent and 40 percent respectively. The new owners subsequently planned a further retail expansion using basement car-park areas, supported by an announced S$86 million investment. The hospitality elements also changed names as management arrangements evolved. At the end of Westin's 15-year management contract with Raffles Holdings, The Westin Stamford became Swissôtel The Stamford on 1 January 2002, while The Westin Plaza became Raffles The Plaza. Following Fairmont's acquisition of Raffles Hotels, Raffles The Plaza was renamed Fairmont Singapore on 12 December 2007. The property is positioned as a centrally located, transit-connected destination serving shoppers, office workers, hotel guests, convention delegates and visitors to Singapore's civic and cultural district. It is directly connected to City Hall MRT station and, through an underground route, to Esplanade MRT station and the Esplanade Xchange. Its long-term identity rests less on a single retail tenant than on the integration of landmark hotels, commercial space, shopping, food and beverage, transport access and convention facilities. Raffles City remains an active Singapore property and destination. In December 2021, CapitaLand announced an asset-enhancement initiative to reconfigure 111,000 square feet on levels one through three. The works were intended to improve circulation, add escalators, introduce new shop concepts and attract specialty retailers after the departure of One Assembly. The complex also continues to host major institutional and business events through its convention facilities.
History
Raffles City's development was first proposed in 1969 as the Raffles International Centre. The original scheme contemplated a much larger area extending from the former Raffles Institution site toward Cathay Building. The project encountered delays because construction costs rose sharply and Singapore faced a shortage of skilled construction workers. Plans were placed on hold from 1973 to 1975, and construction approval was not granted until 1979. By then, the project had been reduced to the former Raffles Institution site and given the name Raffles City. The former Raffles Institution site carried particular historical significance because the school was Singapore's first. The completed development therefore introduced a large modern commercial complex into a district containing important civic, colonial and cultural buildings. Designed by I. M. Pei, Raffles City used aluminium finishes and simple geometric massing to create a deliberately modern contrast with the Victorian and classical architecture surrounding it. Groundbreaking took place on 14 August 1980. The development opened on 3 October 1986 with two hotels, an office tower, a convention centre and a shopping centre. The hotel component initially consisted of The Westin Stamford and The Westin Plaza. The Westin Stamford's 73-storey tower was, at the time, the world's tallest hotel and became the most prominent element of the skyline. The wider complex also established an important commercial relationship between hospitality, offices, retail and large-scale events. The shopping centre was substantially renovated during the 1990s. Retail occupancy subsequently changed as department stores and other tenants entered and exited the Singapore market. Japanese department store Sogo opened at Raffles City in 1986 but left in October 2000 after financial difficulties associated with the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. In 2001, Marks & Spencer and Robinsons joined the centre, while Dairy Farm introduced its premium Jason's Market Place supermarket concept, later known as Raffles City Market Place. The hotels were rebranded after Westin's 15-year management contract with Raffles Holdings ended. On 1 January 2002, The Westin Stamford became Swissôtel The Stamford and The Westin Plaza became Raffles The Plaza. After Fairmont acquired Raffles Hotels in 2006, Raffles The Plaza was renamed Fairmont Singapore on 12 December 2007. Ownership changed significantly in 2006. On 19 March, CapitaLand's two property trusts, CapitaCommercial Trust and CapitaMall Trust, announced their joint acquisition of Raffles City from Raffles Holdings for S$2.09 billion. Their shareholders approved the transaction in July, and completion followed in August. CapitaCommercial Trust took a 60 percent interest and CapitaMall Trust took 40 percent. In the same period, the new owners announced a plan to increase retail space by using areas on basement two and basement three that had previously served as car-park space. The expansion, budgeted at S$86 million, was completed in July 2006 and added shops, food-and-beverage outlets and fashion tenants. Transport connectivity became an additional part of the complex's role. Raffles City is linked directly to City Hall MRT station, while an underground link to Esplanade MRT station opened on 15 July 2010 through the Esplanade Xchange. The location allows the development to function as a gateway between the Civic District, the central business area and the Marina Bay area. The complex has also served as a venue for prominent international gatherings. The 117th IOC Session took place at the Raffles City Convention Centre from 2 to 9 July 2005. The event brought heightened security and international attention to the property, and London was selected as host city for the 2012 Summer Olympics during the session. Retail turnover and tenant changes continued in the 2020s. Robinsons closed on 9 January 2021, while Marks & Spencer announced a closure scheduled for the end of 2020 and later announced another scheduled closure for 31 December 2021. One Assembly, a joint venture between Raffles City and BHG, occupied replacement department-store space but closed on 3 January 2022. In December 2021, CapitaLand announced an asset-enhancement initiative covering 111,000 square feet on levels one to three. The plan introduced new escalators, reworked circulation and sought to attract specialty shops, with completion targeted for the fourth quarter of 2022. The property currently consists of Swissôtel The Stamford, Fairmont Singapore, Raffles City Tower, Raffles City Shopping Centre and the Raffles City Convention Centre. It remains an active mixed-use destination whose identity is based on central location, architectural prominence, transport access and the combined appeal of hospitality, offices, shopping and events.
- 2021
Retail asset-enhancement plan announced
[1]CapitaLand announced a 111,000-square-foot reconfiguration across levels one to three, including new escalators and specialty retail concepts.
- 2010
Underground MRT link opens
[1]An underground pedestrian link connecting the complex with Esplanade MRT station opened on 15 July.
- 2007
Raffles The Plaza becomes Fairmont Singapore
[1]The hotel was renamed Fairmont Singapore on 12 December following Fairmont's acquisition of Raffles Hotels.
- 2006
CapitaLand trusts acquire the complex
[1]CapitaCommercial Trust and CapitaMall Trust completed the acquisition from Raffles Holdings for S$2.09 billion.
- 2005
IOC Session hosted at the convention centre
[1]Raffles City hosted the 117th IOC Session from 2 to 9 July.
- 2002
Westin hotels rebranded
[1]The Westin Stamford became Swissôtel The Stamford and The Westin Plaza became Raffles The Plaza.
- 1986
Raffles City opens
[1]The complex opened to the public on 3 October with hotels, offices, retail, a convention centre and a shopping mall.
- 1980
Construction begins
[1]Groundbreaking took place on 14 August for I. M. Pei's mixed-use complex.
- 1979
Project renamed and reduced in scope
[1]The development was renamed Raffles City and confined to the former Raffles Institution site.
- 1973
Development plans put on hold
[1]Rising costs and a shortage of skilled workers contributed to a suspension of the plans that lasted until 1975.
Products and positioning
A landmark, transit-connected mixed-use destination combining premium hotels, central business offices, shopping, dining and convention facilities in Singapore's Civic District.
Shopping centre · 1986
Raffles City Shopping Centre
The retail component of the complex offers shops, fashion, food and beverage outlets and supermarket services. It has been repeatedly renovated and reconfigured, including a basement expansion completed in 2006 and a later asset-enhancement initiative focused on improving circulation and attracting specialty retailers.
Hotel · 1986
Swissôtel The Stamford
The 73-storey hotel is one of the landmark towers within Raffles City. It opened as The Westin Stamford and was renamed Swissôtel The Stamford on 1 January 2002 after the end of Westin's management contract with Raffles Holdings.
Hotel · 1986
Fairmont Singapore
The hotel occupies the former Westin Plaza component of the complex. It became Raffles The Plaza in 2002 and was subsequently renamed Fairmont Singapore on 12 December 2007 after the acquisition of Raffles Hotels by Fairmont.
Office tower · 1986
Raffles City Tower
The 42-storey office tower forms the commercial workplace component of the development. It also accommodates diplomatic and institutional occupants, including the Embassy of Hungary and the European Union delegation office.
Convention and events venue · 1986
Raffles City Convention Centre
The convention facility provides event space within the mixed-use complex and has hosted major corporate, institutional and international gatherings, including the 117th International Olympic Committee Session in 2005.
Brand decisions
2021
Retail asset-enhancement initiativeStrategyBackground
The complex needed to replace departing department-store space and refresh its retail mix.
Action taken
CapitaLand announced the reconfiguration of 111,000 square feet on levels one through three, including new escalators and space for specialty shops and new retail concepts.
Aftermath
Completion was targeted for the fourth quarter of 2022.
2006
Acquisition by CapitaLand property trustsM&ABackground
Raffles Holdings agreed to sell the mixed-use development to CapitaLand's property trusts.
Action taken
CapitaCommercial Trust acquired a 60 percent interest and CapitaMall Trust acquired 40 percent. The transaction was completed in August.
Aftermath
The new owners announced additional retail expansion using basement areas.
Acquisition value. S$2.09 billion (2006)
2006
Basement retail expansionStrategyBackground
The new owners sought to increase the shopping centre's retail area.
Action taken
Basement two and three car-park areas were selected for conversion into additional retail space, supported by an announced S$86 million investment.
Aftermath
The expansion was completed in July 2006 with shops, food and beverage outlets and fashion retailers.
Announced expansion investment. S$86 million (2006)
2002
Rebranding of the two Westin hotelsStrategyBackground
Westin's 15-year management contract with Raffles Holdings concluded.
Action taken
The Westin Stamford was renamed Swissôtel The Stamford, while The Westin Plaza became Raffles The Plaza on 1 January.
Aftermath
The former Raffles The Plaza was later renamed Fairmont Singapore in 2007.
Recent events
- 2021
Raffles City announces major retail reconfiguration[1]
Other
CapitaLand announced plans to reconfigure 111,000 square feet across levels one to three, adding escalators and new retail concepts after the departure of One Assembly.
- 2006
Raffles City acquired by CapitaLand-linked real estate trusts[1]
M&A
CapitaCommercial Trust and CapitaMall Trust acquired the development from Raffles Holdings for S$2.09 billion, with ownership divided 60 percent and 40 percent.
- 2006
Raffles City announces retail expansion[1]
Other
The new owners announced plans to expand retail space by converting portions of basement parking levels, with an announced investment of S$86 million.
- 2005
117th IOC Session held at Raffles City[1]
Other
Singapore hosted the 117th International Olympic Committee Session at the Raffles City Convention Centre from 2 to 9 July. London was selected to host the 2012 Summer Olympics during the session.
- 1986
Raffles City opens to the public[1]
Other
The completed mixed-use complex opened on 3 October 1986 with hotels, offices, retail, a convention centre and the shopping complex.
Sources2 sources
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