Structural Strengthening to TripleOne Somerset

The former Singapore Power Building, located within the Orchard Road retail and hotel belt, reopened as TripleOne Somerset in January 2010 after a S$50 million make-over. Bought over by Pacific Star Group in February 2008, the local property group planned to increase the building’s Net Lettable Area (NLA) from 550,000 sq ft of office space to 500,000 sq ft of office space, 60,000 sq ft of retail space and 5,000 sq ft of outdoor refreshment area. This historical 17-storey commercial development achieved the plan by converting its first 2 floor office space, auditorium, cafeteria, empty space and void area to retail and food & beverage area.

The challenge of the building refurbishment is to strengthen the building structures to cater for the increase in loading and at the same time maintain the carpark space and headroom at the Basement Level. The compact and high strength TYFO^® Fibrwrap^® Composite System was able to strengthen the affected beams, columns and slabs and at the same time maintain the headroom and carpark spacing at the Basement Level. The total duration of the strengthening works spread over a period of six months of which the building was in full operation.