CapitaLand, CapitaMalls Asia and CapitaMall Trust break new ground with Westgate, an integrated work-play development in Singapore’s largest regional centre
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Issue: Feb 12 |
Westgate, uniquely positioned as the gateway to the Jurong Lake District, enjoys seamless connectivity to the surrounding transport systems and neighbouring amenities
By 2014, the Jurong Lake District will see a new integrated development comprising a 7-storey lifestyle mall and a premier 20-storey office tower at the heart of the largest regional centre in Singapore. Aptly named Westgate (西城), the landmark development is uniquely positioned as the gateway to the Jurong Lake District with direct connections to the Jurong East MRT interchange, Jurong East bus interchange and the upcoming Ng Teng Fong Hospital, among others.
CapitaLand Limited, CapitaMalls Asia Limited and CapitaMall Trust Management Limited, the manager of CapitaMall Trust, marked a major milestone when they broke ground for Westgate last month. Gracing the momentous event was Minister of State for Trade and Industry & National Development, Mr Lee Yi Shyan.
“In the next 10-15 years, Jurong will become the largest commercial hub outside the city centre. The Government is committed to lead in the transformation efforts of Jurong, but this cannot happen without strong support from the private sector…I would like to congratulate CapitaLand; CapitaMalls Asia; CapitaMall Trust; the architects; the engineers and construction team; and the many other parties working on this project on its ground-breaking. I am certain that your tremendous efforts will add to the exciting transformation of Jurong,” said Mr Lee.
 The groundbreaking ceremony of Westgate was graced by Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry & National Development (centre) along with Mr Liew Mun Leong, President & CEO of CapitaLand Group (third from right); Mr James Koh Cher Siang, Chairman of CapitaMall Trust Management Limited (third from left); Mr Lim Beng Chee, CEO of CapitaMalls Asia Limited (second from left); Mr Simon Ho, CEO of CapitaMall Trust Management Limited (second from right), Mr Chong Lit Cheong, CEO of CapitaLand Commercial Limited (far left); and Mr Hiroshi Takano, Director of Shimizu Corporation (rightmost)With the shopping mall targeted to open by end of 2013, Mr Lim Beng Chee, CEO of CapitaMalls Asia, said, “Shoppers can look forward to doing their Christmas shopping in Westgate next year. This mall is our 20th in Singapore, strengthening our retail presence in the western part of Singapore as well as our position as the largest mall owner and manager in Singapore.”
International Director, Head of Markets, Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants, Chris Archibold, said, “Westgate will be a cornerstone project in the redevelopment of the Jurong Lake District. The access to the MRT station, bus terminal and retail amenities both in the development itself and surrounding buildings will position Westgate as the focal point of this area.”
Gateway to Jurong’s Past
Designed by Benoy, Westgate reflects a juxtaposition of Jurong’s original landscape and rural texture against aspirations for its future. The urban oasis has lush landscaped areas for public use and is sheltered by an elegant, clear canopy that allows natural light to filter down to the pedestrian walkway below. Closest to the MRT interchange is a low-rise outdoor dining precinct that creates an idyllic ambience resembling streets and shophouses. It has also been designed to facilitate people flows from the MRT station to the development, with 24-hour access through Westgate to the MRT interchange. A high-rise modern retail and commercial zone is separated by a calm, semi-outdoor landscaped village green that alludes to rivers and mangroves that once made up the landscape of Jurong. This village green will provide a space for the community to meet and socialise.
  The modern Westgate with lush greenery and water features in village green that allude to Jurong’s rural pastThe 594,000 square foot lifestyle mall, also named Westgate, targets middle- to upper-middle income families and residents, working professionals, hospital visitors, students from schools nearby and commuters.
From Basement 2 to Level 5, Westgate offers international/high street fashion, IT and electronics stores, a supermarket, a food court, family restaurants and a themed area on Level 4 with a gymnasium and a pre-school by NTUC First Campus Co-operative Limited, My First Skool, on Level 5.
“Our objective is always to meet the needs of parents with young children by providing quality childcare services. The excellent location makes it convenient for parents living and/or working in the area to drop off their children before going to work,” said Adeline Tan, General Manager of My First Skool.
On plans to meet the needs of a one million catchment population, Mr Simon Ho, CEO of CapitaMall Trust Management Limited, said, “With three malls in Jurong – Westgate, IMM and JCube, shoppers can look forward to the equivalent of a three-in-one mall in the heart of the Jurong Regional Centre. Each mall offers something different to meet every shopper’s needs: Westgate is a lifestyle mall; IMM will become a value-focused mall with more outlet shopping while JCube is positioned as an entertainment hotspot with its IMAX theatre and Singapore’s only Olympic-size ice rink. Shoppers can enjoy shopping at more than 600 stores in our three malls with more than 2,200 car park spaces.”
An Oasis of Work And Play in The West
The new prime 20-storey office tower within the integrated development will be known as Westgate Tower. To be completed in 2014, it will be one of the tallest buildings in the vicinity and a choice office space in Jurong Gateway. With quality finishes and efficient, column-free floor plates of about 17,000 square feet that allows flexibility of workspace design, Westgate Tower also provides a floor-to-ceiling height of 2.8 metres, Grade A building lift provisions and an integrated security management combining closed-circuit television and security card access system. The office tower is also fully integrated with the mall and its suite of activities, such as the childcare centre and the gymnasium, offering a vibrant work-play environment within a development.
Mr Chong Lit Cheong, CEO of CapitaLand Commercial, said: “We are proud to launch a premier 20-storey office tower strategically located at Jurong Gateway, which is being developed into the biggest commercial hub outside the Central Business District (“CBD”). Rising above the retail mall, the office building enjoys seamless connectivity to the transport hubs via the mall, and, it is a 20-minute drive to the CBD. Companies who want to be in close proximity to both industrial estates and business parks and the CBD, will find this an attractive location.”
When completed in 2014, Westgate will, no doubt, be a new oasis of work and play - the gateway to a hive of business and retail activities, well served by excellent transport connectivity and amenities in the western region of Singapore.
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