The Cathay
The Cathay is a mixed-use shopping, entertainment, education and residential development in Singapore that incorporates the conserved façade of the historic Cathay Cinema.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Cathay is a mixed-use development on Handy Road and Mount Sophia in Singapore's Museum Planning Area. The site originated as Cathay Building, which opened in 1939 under Cathay Organisation and became associated with one of Singapore's best-known cinema venues. The original complex was later redeveloped, retaining the historic façade of the former Cathay Cinema as a conserved national monument while incorporating a contemporary building designed by Paul Tange of Tange Associates and RDC Architects. The redeveloped The Cathay opened in March 2006 as a 17-story complex combining retail, food and beverage, cinema and residential uses. Its entertainment anchor was The Cathay Cineplex, an eight-screen operation that included The Grand Cathay, a 590-seat auditorium, The Picturehouse, an 82-seat venue intended for art and specialty films, and six conventional halls with a combined capacity of 1,846 seats. The Cathay Residences, comprising 76 apartments above the mall, was completed later in 2006. The cinema offer was subsequently adjusted to reflect changing audience preferences. In 2011, The Picturehouse was converted into Platinum Movie Suites, introducing a premium cinema format to the property. The Cathay Cineplex finally closed in June 2022 after 83 years of cinema operations at the site. Several former cinema halls were then used temporarily by The Projector through its Projector X Picturehouse pop-up cinema initiative. The mall itself closed in August 2023 for redevelopment and reopened in March 2025 with a revised tenant mix and redesigned internal arrangement. The refurbishment added a Level 4 sky garden, expanded the atrium and installed a three-floor multimedia display across the lower levels. Former cinema areas were repurposed for new uses, including PSB Academy teaching facilities for Coventry University and foundation courses. The redevelopment also integrated the entrance lobby of The Cathay Residences on Adis Road into Level 6 of the mall, improving access for residents of Mount Sophia and Mount Emily. Following the revival, the complex included a broad mix of retail, education, fitness, food and leisure uses. Reported tenants and users include Sheng Siong's first supermarket in the Orchard Road area, the NTU Alumni Association clubhouse, Iuiga's largest flagship store in Southeast Asia, 24x7 Fitness, a Thermomix concept store, Elxir E-Sports and Thai golf brand Leonian. The Cathay therefore continues to operate as a place-based brand rather than solely as a cinema label: its current identity combines heritage architecture, urban retail, community access, education and leisure within a landmark Singapore building.
History
The Cathay's history is rooted in Cathay Organisation's development of Cathay Building, which opened in 1939 on Handy Road in Singapore. The building became identified with Cathay Cinema and occupied an important place in the city's cinema and entertainment landscape. Its historic façade was later conserved and designated as a national monument, preserving a visible link with the site's earlier architectural and cultural role. In 2000, the original building was closed and partially demolished to make way for redevelopment. The project followed a façadist approach: the preserved front of the former Cathay Cinema was incorporated into a new mixed-use building rather than being removed entirely. The contemporary portion was designed by Paul Tange of Tange Associates in Japan together with RDC Architects in Singapore. This combination of retained heritage fabric and new construction established the architectural identity of the present complex. The redeveloped building opened in March 2006. It was a 17-story development containing retail and food-and-beverage outlets, an eight-screen cinema operation and residential accommodation. The cinema included The Grand Cathay, with 590 seats, The Picturehouse, with 82 seats and an art-film orientation, and six regular halls providing a further 1,846 seats. The 76-unit Cathay Residences above the mall was completed in late 2006, extending the property beyond a conventional shopping and entertainment centre. The cinema business evolved during the following years. In 2011, The Picturehouse was converted into Platinum Movie Suites, making it the first premium-hall concept associated with Cathay at the property. This change reflected an effort to diversify the cinema experience and provide a more upscale format alongside conventional screens. After more than eight decades of cinema operations associated with the site, The Cathay Cineplex closed in June 2022. The closure ended the complex's role as a regular multiplex, although cinema activity continued temporarily in adapted form. The Projector operated Projector X Picturehouse as a pop-up cinema in four of the former halls, including The Grand Cathay and Platinum Movie Suites. The mall then closed in August 2023 for a substantial refurbishment. The redevelopment changed both the tenant composition and the internal circulation of the property. It introduced a sky garden on Level 4, enlarged the atrium and added a three-floor multimedia display spanning the lower levels. The former cinema areas were repurposed rather than retained as a multiplex. PSB Academy occupied all of Level 5 and part of Level 6 for Coventry University and foundation-course facilities. The entrance lobby serving The Cathay Residences on Adis Road was also integrated into Level 6 of the mall, improving access for nearby residential communities. The refreshed development reopened in March 2025. Its reported tenant mix included Sheng Siong's first supermarket in the Orchard Road area, the NTU Alumni Association clubhouse, Iuiga's largest flagship store in Southeast Asia, a 24-hour 24x7 Fitness gym, a Thermomix concept store, Elxir E-Sports and Thai golf brand Leonian. The post-2025 identity is consequently broader than the site's former cinema-led model. The Cathay now presents itself as a heritage-conscious mixed-use destination linking retail, education, food, fitness, entertainment, residential living and public-facing urban amenities.
- 2025
Refurbished mall reopens
[1]The Cathay reopens in March with new tenants, a sky garden, a larger atrium, a multimedia installation and repurposed former cinema space.
- 2023
Mall closes for revamp
[1]The mall closes in August for a redesign and repositioning of its tenant and amenity mix.
- 2022
The Cathay Cineplex closes
[1]The cinema operation shuts in June after 83 years, with selected former halls later used for a temporary Projector venue.
- 2011
The Picturehouse becomes Platinum Movie Suites
[1]The former specialty-film hall is converted into Cathay's first premium cinema-hall concept at the property.
- 2006
Redeveloped The Cathay opens
[1]The new mixed-use The Cathay opens in March with retail, dining, cinema and entertainment facilities.
- 2006
The Cathay Residences is completed
[1]The 76-unit residential component above the mall is completed later in the year.
- 2000
Original building closes for redevelopment
[1]The original building closes and is partially demolished as part of a redevelopment that retains the historic cinema façade.
- 1939
Cathay Building opens
[1]Cathay Organisation opens the original Cathay Building, establishing the site as a major cinema and entertainment location in Singapore.
Products and positioning
A heritage-led, mixed-use urban destination combining Singapore cinema history with retail, dining, education, residential and leisure uses.
Shopping mall and mixed-use development · 2006
The Cathay mixed-use mall
The principal property is a 17-story mixed-use development at Handy Road and Mount Sophia. It combines retail, dining, education, fitness, leisure and community uses, while preserving the façade of the historic Cathay Cinema as a prominent architectural feature.
Cinema · 2006
The Cathay Cineplex
The former eight-screen cinema anchor comprised The Grand Cathay, The Picturehouse and six regular halls. It was central to the post-2006 identity of the complex but ceased operating in June 2022.
Cinema auditorium · 2006
The Grand Cathay
The Grand Cathay was the principal large auditorium within the cineplex, with seating for 590 people. Following the closure of the regular cineplex, the former hall was among the spaces used by The Projector's temporary Projector X Picturehouse operation.
Art-house cinema · 2006
The Picturehouse
The Picturehouse was an intimate 82-seat venue focused on art and specialty films. In 2011 it was converted into Platinum Movie Suites, changing the use and positioning of the space.
Premium cinema · 2011
Platinum Movie Suites
Platinum Movie Suites was the premium cinema concept created when The Picturehouse was converted in 2011. It later formed part of the former cinema area used temporarily by The Projector before the spaces were repurposed.
Residential apartments · 2006
The Cathay Residences
The residential component above the mall contains 76 units and was completed in late 2006. Its entrance lobby was later integrated into Level 6 of the refurbished mall to improve access for residents.
Brand decisions
2023
Mall-wide refurbishment and adaptive reuseStrategyBackground
The property required a new operating model after the cinema anchor ceased operations.
Action taken
The mall closed in August 2023 for a revamp involving a refreshed tenant mix, redesigned circulation, a sky garden, an enlarged atrium and conversion of former cinema areas for education and other uses.
Aftermath
The refurbished complex reopened in March 2025 as a more diversified retail, education, leisure and community destination.
2022
Closure of the cineplexStrategyBackground
After 83 years of cinema operations associated with the site, the cineplex was discontinued.
Action taken
The Cathay Cineplex closed in June 2022. Four former halls were subsequently used by The Projector as a temporary pop-up cinema.
Aftermath
The property moved away from its long-standing multiplex-led model and prepared for broader adaptive reuse of the cinema areas.
2011
Conversion of The Picturehouse into Platinum Movie SuitesGeneration changeBackground
The cinema component was expanded beyond standard screening formats and sought a more premium experience for customers.
Action taken
The 82-seat Picturehouse was converted into Platinum Movie Suites, The Cathay's first premium-hall concept.
Aftermath
The change diversified the cinema offer, although the cinema operation ultimately closed in 2022.
2000
Redevelopment with conservation of the historic façadeStrategyBackground
The original Cathay Building was closed and partially demolished, creating an opportunity to replace the older structure while retaining an important part of the site's heritage.
Action taken
The redevelopment incorporated the conserved façade of the former Cathay Cinema into a contemporary mixed-use building designed by Tange Associates and RDC Architects.
Aftermath
The approach produced the present architectural identity of The Cathay and allowed the site to combine heritage recognition with new retail, cinema and residential uses.
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