Clarke Quay is getting a $62 million revamp and here are 5 exciting new changes you need to know about the beloved nightlife spot.

Spoiler alert: It won’t just be a place where you make drunk memories with your friends anymore.

1. Upgraded Cooling Systems & Green Features

About 34% of the project’s budget will go towards green features.

This will include an energy-efficient chiller and a new canopy which can reduce solar heat gain by up to 70% while letting daylight through.

Additionally, a new multi-directional fan will be installed to improve air circulation. It is more energy-efficient, and also has a mist cooling function that lowers temperatures by about 2°C without leaving water droplets on surfaces.

We’d imagine the group that stands to benefit most from this upgrade is the 3am post-clubbing crowd.

Anyway, Capitaland has said that with these upgrades, it is expected to meet new honourable green standards.

“We are also pleased to take this opportunity to upgrade the green rating of CQ @ Clarke Quay, upon which all 21 properties in our Singapore portfolio would have achieved a minimum rating of BCA Green Mark Gold,” said Mr Tony Tan, CEO of the Capitaland Integrated Commercial Trust.

2. New Tenants for Day Time Dining

New Tenants will be added to Clarke Quay’s existing mix. A combination of breakfast and lunch eateries will be added, and pet-friendly alfresco dining options will be available along the Singapore River.

Fairprice Finest, with an in-store dining feature in its grocery store, will also join the fold as a new tenant, along with a pottery-themed cafe Catching the Waves by Initia Group.

In alignment with the property’s brand repositioning, existing key tenants Zouk Group and 1-Group will also be refining their concepts and expand their day-to-night offerings, CapitaLand said.

3. Thrilling and Relaxing Activities

The Warehouse zone of Clarke Quay will also house music store Swee Lee, where you can jam out in. For the adrenaline junkies, check out Asia’s tallest Slingshot ride, which catapults riders 70 metres above Singapore River.

Feeling like having a chill afternoon instead? Spa and massage chain Natureland will also be joining the tenant mix at Clarke Quay.

4. Three Zone Layout

After the renovations, Clarke Quay will comprise three main zones, each with its own exciting mix of day-to-night offerings.

• The Riverfront (Blocks A & D) will feature the iconic riverside dining experience in an alfresco or heritage shophouse setting.
• The Warehouse (Block B) will offer a blend of retail lifestyle and F&B concepts.
• The Circuit (Blocks C and E) will showcase high-energy concepts, along with entertainment and F&B establishments.

5. New Look, Retro Feel

To incorporate the origins of CQ & Clarke Quay in its design, Singapore firms Meta Architecture and Formwekrz Architects leading the project have decided to reference historical palettes in its repainting of the property.

As such, the facade of the Block B warehouses will be given a new paint of heritage colours, highlighting the characteristics of the reinstated godown typology.

Additionally, visitors will be engaged as they stroll along Clarke Quay by a series of heritage panels, cast iron manhole covers, and bronze plate tiles that will serve to narrate the history of the Clarke Quay precinct.

The refurbished property will also be rebranded as CQ @ Clarke Quay, and Capitaland has said that they will use this name both locally and internationally to reflect its modern interpretation of Clarke Quay’s rich heritage.

Reader: Wait what was it called previously?

It was called CQ, short for Clarke Quay.

Reader: So now it means Clarke Quay @ Clarke Quay?

Yes.

Reader: Okay…

Ground-breaking name change aside, the popular nightlife spot will be providing some accessibility upgrades.

A new accessibility ramp with lookout points will be added to the Read Bridge. As a nod to its past as a social gathering place for storytelling, steps that double up as seats will also be added to the landing of the bridge.

The revamp will begin in the third quarter of 2022, and be completed in the third quarter of 2023. Clarke Quay will also remain operational throughout.

Featured Image: Capitaland, Meta Architecture and Formwerkz Architects