United Engineers today unveiled plans for an iconic retail, hotel and office landmark across from 277 Orchard Road to 218 Orchard Road, that will be linked by a glass overhead bridge — the first of its kind along Orchard Road — and an underground pass with retail shops.

In the groundbreaking ceremony held today, it was announced that the 277 Orchard Road site (the former Specialists’ Centre/Hotel Phoenix site), which occupies an area of about 6,800 sq m, will be developed into a 21-storey building with two basement floors comprising a hotel of about 500 rooms, 20,800 sq m retail space and a multi-storey carpark. Its total gross floor area is approximately 50,000 sq m.

UEL, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, UE Orchard Pte Ltd, is the developer of 277 Orchard. 277 Orchard is owned by Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited.

The 218 Orchard Road site (the former Orchard Emerald site), which occupies an area of about 1,400 sq m, will be developed into an 11-storey building with two basement floors comprising about 3,500 sq m office space and 2,700 sq m retail space. Its total gross floor area is approximately 9,700 sq m.

Great Eastern Holdings Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, 218 Orchard Pte Ltd, is the owner and developer of 218 Orchard.

UEL’s wholly-owned subsidiary, United Engineers Developments Pte Ltd, is the project manager.

UE Orchard Pte Ltd is also the developer of the glass overhead bridge that will extend from the third storey. UEL’s wholly-owned subsidiary, UE Somerset Pte Ltd, is the developer of the underground pass with retail shops at basement two.