Since its establishment in 1973, The Shaw Foundation, Hong Kong (the Foundation) has emerged as one of Asia’s most distinguished philanthropic institutions, pledging support to over 6,000 education, healthcare and arts projects to date.

Internationally, the Foundation is better known for The Shaw Prize, a prestigious annual award celebrating the works of the world’s esteemed laureates in the frontiers of mathematical science, astronomy, life science and medicine.

Today, in support of all its philanthropic works, the Foundation maintains a sizeable portfolio of commercial and residential properties in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, generating funds for its charitable causes. The Foundation is committed to creating a lasting legacy by investing in sustainability that protects both its property assets and the planet for future generations.

Redeveloping an icon

In Singapore, Shaw Tower stood as an iconic landmark for half a century with enviably rich heritage, providing home for the largest cinema in the country when it was completed in 1975. In deciding to redevelop in 2017, Dr Raymond Chan, the Chairman, was determined to replicate the success of its predecessor as a community hub while creating a state-of-the-art, green commercial development in Singapore.

Artist’s impression of Shaw Tower – Projected completion in 2026 | Photo: Shaw Towers Realty

The Accolades

In implementing such vision, the development boasts several accolades, of which the most notable ones are as follows:

BCA Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy)

Shaw Tower is the first Grade A commercial building in Singapore to achieve this prestigious accolade under the Building Construction Authority’s latest 2021 criteria.

Artist’s impression of high zone office floor | Photo : Shaw Towers Realty

WiredScore Platinum and SmartScore Platinum

It is also the first building under development in Asia to achieve the WiredScore Platinum award – the highest rating available – as well as SmartScore, in recognition of its futureproof digital connectivity. The building leverages advanced smart facilities, monitoring and automatically adjusting indoor air quality and lighting levels. The rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, along with a wind turbine, will also generate renewable energy.

IWBI WELL v2 Core Gold

Shaw Tower is Singapore’s first commercial building under development to be pre-certified by the International WELL Building Institute, targeting WELL v2 Core Gold – an accreditation underscoring the health and wellbeing of its tenants and visitors. High-performance air filtration and sterilization systems clean the air throughout the tower to promote better air circulation. This is supported by Indoor Air Quality monitoring systems and controls that respond automatically to changes in air quality due to shifting occupancy levels or other factors.

Artist’s Impression of Level 19 Sky Garden | Photo : Shaw Towers Realty

Public Utilities Board ABC Waters-Certified

The building is an ABC Waters-certified project by the Public Utilities Board for its biophilic design including lush green cascading gardens at the podium and the two sky terraces at the top and midpoint of the tower, with the former two made totally accessible for the general public too. Further wellness amenities in the building include a gymnasium and end-of-trip facilities that support healthier and low-carbon travel options.

Fostering community wellbeing

Wellness, however, is multi-faceted in nature and the built environment will not only impact physical wellbeing but also mental wellness too. Continuing the legacy of support for the arts and healthcare around the world, the Foundation is embarking on an inspiring new chapter in its philanthropic journey by combining its focus to address the challenges of mental health using the arts and heritage.

While traditional treatments like therapy and medication play an essential role, decades of research in neuroscience, psychology and public health studies demonstrate that arts and heritage-based interventions offer powerful, evidence-backed pathways to enhancing mental wellbeing.

Artist’s Impression of Level 20 Sky Deck | Photo : Shaw Towers Realty

In the new Shaw Tower, the Foundation has dedicated a 1,000-square-meter multi-arts space, an outdoor amphitheater and multiple heritage touch-points throughout the building. Inspired by the Foundation’s origin in film-making, a new independent nonprofit organization – the Shaw Heritage Arts and Wellbeing Studios – has been established to not only operate the space, but to create innovative and evidence-based arts and heritage initiatives that drive systemic change in addressing modern mental health challenges. 

Having set such a high bar in Singapore, the Foundation is committed to emulate such endeavors in creating greener and healthier built environments in their global portfolio. The team is now reviewing its commercial premises in London and will continue charting the road map for the Foundation’s Sustainability course.

88 Wood Street, designed by Richard Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and re-imagined by award-winning architects Morrow + Lorraine. Sir Richard Rogers’ signature style. A modern classic refurbished for a new generation of business.

Relationship with Colliers Hong Kong

The Foundation’s long-term cordial working relationship with Colliers Hong Kong began with Collier’s land assembly advice for the Foundation’s television studio redevelopment project and currently the Creative Park in Hong Kong. For Shaw Tower in Singapore, Colliers provided invaluable market research and financial analysis as early as 2017 in the feasibility study that informed the redevelopment brief.