In February 2000, URA sold a strategically located on a prime "white" site along the Singapore River. The last major development site available in the Clarke Quay area, the "white" site zoning allows the developer freedom in deciding the mix of commercial, hotel and residential uses for a successful development.

The site is directly above the Clarke Quay MRT Station, which is now under construction. The station and the development above were planned as an "integrated development". The term "integrated development" is commonly used to describe a development built directly over an MRT station, with direct access into the MRT station to provide seamless connection between the station and the development above it. Integrated developments ensure that land is well optimised in land scarce Singapore.

Providing adequate support

Integrated developments share foundations with the MRT station, as is the case for the Clarke Quay site. How tall the future development will be above, will determine the loading (i.e. the weight it can take) of the foundations. Thus, a higher loading would mean that larger and more closely spaced foundations have to be provided for.

Close co-ordination between URA and the Land Transportation Authority (LTA) in the early stages of planning is thus critical. Based on the plot ratio assigned in the Master Plan and urban design considerations, URA architects would have to simulate building massing scenarios to determine the height of the future development and to ensure optimal use of land and better integration with station. Once this is determined, URA engineers work out the loading requirements so that LTA engineers could thus size and space the foundations to ensure that they are able to support the future development above and provide the developer flexibility in the building's design. In Clarke Quay, foundations were provided to support 12 stories fronting Eu Tong Sen Street, 4 stories along Singapore River and 6 stories for the rest of the site above the MRT station. of the MRT station. This allowed LTA and the developer to work closely to better co-ordinate the construction and also resulted in cost savings for both parties. LTA was able to save on the cost of backfilling the site after completing its construction work, and the developer, the cost of re-excavating the site again later.