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Bank of China Building

📍 4 Battery Road
🗺️ D01 — Raffles Place, Marina, Cecil
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About Bank of China Building

Bank of China Building stands at 4 Battery Road in Singapore's Downtown Core, postal District 1, beside the Singapore River and the Fullerton Hotel. It is made up of two office blocks on a shared podium. The original block was completed in 1953 for the Singapore branch of Bank of China and designed by Palmer and Turner. A taller tower of about 168 metres was added next to it in 2000.

The building remains the bank's main Singapore premises and also provides office space in the heart of the financial district. The older block mixes modern reinforced concrete construction with Chinese decorative details. Storey counts differ between sources: the old block is given as 16 or 18 storeys and the new tower as 36 or 37.

Interesting facts

  • According to Roots.gov.sg, the 1953 block cost about $3 million, was the first centrally air-conditioned building in Singapore and was the tallest building in the business district for around two decades.

  • The project took many years. The bank bought the land in 1937, foundation work began in 1948 and the building opened in December 1953.

  • Two Chinese stone lions flank the Battery Road entrance.

  • It is reported to be the first building in Singapore fitted with mail chutes and document lifts.

  • Ground was broken for the new tower on 15 April 1994.

Nearby

Raffles Place MRT (East-West and North-South Lines) is about 3 minutes' walk. Neighbours include Maybank Tower, Six Battery Road, UOB Plaza and the Fullerton Hotel. Boat Quay's riverside eateries are next door, and Lau Pa Sat and Market Street Hawker Centre are within 10 minutes' walk. Cavenagh Bridge, Anderson Bridge, the Asian Civilisations Museum and Merlion Park are all close by.

Key facts

  • Address: 4 Battery Road, Singapore 049908

  • District: 1 (Downtown Core)

  • Property type: Office

  • Completed: 1953 (original block); 2000 (new tower)

  • Developer: Bank of China

  • Architect: Palmer and Turner (original block)

  • Storeys: original block 16 to 18; new tower 36 to 37 (about 168 m)

  • Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW14/NS26)