Built on legacy, driven by vision

WHEN UOL was first incorporated as Faber Union Ltd in 1963, Singapore was on the cusp of rapid urban and economic transformation. The company’s early developments laid the groundwork for what would become a multi-decade commitment to shaping the city’s built environment with purpose, creativity and care.

Sixty years on, UOL’s imprint is seen across the city, from the dramatic sky gardens of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering to the Pan Pacific Orchard, a tower crowned World’s Best New Skyscraper in 2024. And the spirit of nation-building is still very much alive.

“Over the past 60 years, UOL has been growing with Singapore and riding on its success story. We have been able to navigate through crisis and uncertainties due to our approach of being disciplined and prudent, but yet bold and enterprising,” says Liam Wee Sin, Group Chief Executive of UOL.

“At the same time, our 60-year journey has been driven by our vision of creating value and shaping a sustainable future,” he adds.

A city in nature

Indeed, sustainability has long been more than a checkbox for UOL. The company’s tagline, “Less Carbon, More Life”, reflects its commitment to shaping a resilient built environment while contributing towards a greener future.

That approach can be seen across its portfolio: From early ventures like 1 Moulmein Rise, which championed natural ventilation before it was an industry norm, to projects such as The Clement Canopy and Avenue South Residence, both built using Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC), an efficient and low-waste method of construction that developer adopted ahead of the curve.

PPVC, which involves assembling complete room-sized modules off-site and then installing them on-site, reduces construction noise and dust, an important consideration in dense urban areas like Singapore.

UOL also sees its role as complementary to Singapore’s ambition to become a “City in Nature”. Pan Pacific Orchard, for instance, features an open-air design with natural ventilation, vertical greenery across multiple levels, and rainwater harvesting systems. These features help to reduce reliance on air-conditioning and minimise the development’s environmental impact.

To drive its sustainability efforts, the company has developed a structured framework with three pillars, Developing Better, Building Good, and Doing Right, to guide everything from risk management and construction practices to community engagement and governance. UOL also uses data to guide its sustainability efforts and assess the environmental performance of its buildings to establish measurable and realistic targets.

Hospitality with a green touch

Long recognised for design excellence, UOL has made biophilic architecture part of its identity, particularly in its hospitality projects. This design approach incorporates natural elements like greenery, light, and ventilation to enhance well-being. The group’s hospitality arm, Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG), has wholeheartedly embraced this principle.

“We see hospitality not as a separate arm, but as an extension of our philosophy on design and placemaking,” says Liam.

The PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering, often dubbed a “hotel in a garden”, was among the first to integrate greenery into its façade in a way that complemented Singapore’s tropical landscape. PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay took it a step further, turning a former convention hotel into an indoor forest with over 2,400 plants.

Meanwhile, the group’s latest flagship, Pan Pacific Orchard, is both a visual and environmental statement. Designed around vertical gardens and natural airflow, it reflects the convergence of luxury hospitality and sustainable urban living. The strategy is working: the hotel’s recognition by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) reflects UOL’s commitment to global best practices.

Behind the scenes, digital transformation is helping elevate these experiences. UOL has rolled out AI-powered concierge and booking services, as well as contactless check-ins, across its hotel portfolio, making stays both convenient and sustainable.

Weathering storms

UOL’s forward-thinking approach proved especially valuable when the pandemic struck, testing the resilience of the hospitality sector like never before. Like many in the real estate and hospitality sectors, the company was hit hard during the global healthcare crisis. But rather than retrench employees, it took the opportunity to upgrade its properties, retrain staff, and reinforce its long-term positioning.

“Our approach during the pandemic was ‘Never waste a Crisis’. We not only supported national efforts to overcome an unprecedented crisis, but also took the opportunity to refurbish and enhance our properties, and to train and futureproof our talent,” Liam recalls.

“Coming out of the pandemic, we manage to strengthen our hospitality offerings to capitalise on the post-pandemic recovery, as well as reinforce our reputation as a sustainable, design-led, and guest-centric hotel group.”

In the residential space, UOL’s early adoption of PPVC meant it could continue construction despite labour shortages during Covid-19. In retail, it provided more than $50 million in relief for tenants. And in hospitality, hotel rooms were repurposed for quarantine, while staff were redeployed rather than retrenched.

Pan Pacific Perth went even further, opening its doors to shelter the homeless during lockdown periods. This ability to pivot while staying true to its values has helped the group strengthen its foundation for future growth.

Quietly making a difference

Alongside its core real estate business, UOL has developed a consistent approach to corporate social responsibility that is deeply embedded in its culture. Rather than headline-grabbing campaigns, the group focuses on long-term, meaningful partnerships.

“The importance of giving back and involvement in the community has always been at the heart of UOL CSR initiatives. Our approach is to do it in a steadfast, immersive and integrated way. We hope to make it ‘Uniquely UOL’,” explains Liam.

Its support of inclusive arts, in collaboration with organisations like ART:DIS, encompasses a range of activities, from art prizes and mural installations to integrating works by artists with disabilities into residential show flats.

In 2023, UOL launched the biennial UOL X ART:DIS Art Prize, Singapore’s first comprehensive art competition for artists with disabilities. The prize includes a fully sponsored solo exhibition, “Natural Geometry”, providing the winner with a significant platform to showcase her talent.

At the same time, the UOL-PPHG Community Uplift Programme, run in partnership with the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s ComLink+, supports children from public rental flats through education, skills development, and mentorship opportunities.

Shaping the cities of tomorrow

As it steps into the next phase, UOL remains focused on contributing to the evolution of the built environment. The ongoing rejuvenation of Orchard Road features the first NoMad Hotel in Asia Pacific and UPPERHOUSE at Orchard Boulevard, a 35-storey luxury residential development in the highly sought-after Prime District 10, launched in a private and exclusive preview last month. Meanwhile, the redevelopment of Clifford Centre and ongoing enhancements to Singapore Land Tower reflect UOL’s efforts to enhance Singapore’s business district. Complementing these efforts is PARKTOWN Residence, a landmark integrated development that underscores UOL’s vision of creating a sustainable, people-centric township in Singapore.

Further afield, its global footprint continues to expand, with projects in London, Sydney and China. The group’s joint venture with Jinmao in China, for instance, is helping it tap into new customer segments while reinforcing its brand in the luxury homebuyer market.

Yet even as it scales, the company remains rooted in its home country. “Singapore will continue to be a safe haven. We understand the entire eco-system and this is where we can execute well. But going forward, we should be able to replicate some of our strengths and domain knowledge overseas,” says Liam.

His immediate priority? Building a business that can endure future shocks. “The world has become unpredictable with heightened geopolitical tensions, so our priority is to build an enduring organisation of tomorrow which is adaptive and resilient,” he says.

“For that, we are focused on developing our people, equipping them with the right skills and mindset to thrive in a volatile environment; at the same time, harnessing technology to drive business.”

UOL’s milestones in design and sustainability

1Moulmein Rise (2003)
One of Singapore’s first residential developments to prioritise natural ventilation.

Newton Suites (2007)
Featured vertical greenery and sky gardens before such features became mainstream.

PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering (2013)
Dubbed a “World’s Leading Green City Hotel”, it redefined urban hospitality with lush, cascading terraces.

The Clement Canopy (2019)
One of Singapore’s first high-rise condominiums built using PPVC, improving efficiency and reducing waste.

UOL-PPHG Community Uplift Programme
Collaborated with MSF and launched a programme as part of Community Link (ComLink) efforts to partner families with children staying in rental housing to achieve stability, self-reliance and social mobility.

Pan Pacific Orchard (2023)
Named World’s Best New Skyscraper in 2024 by CTBUH for its biophilic, sustainable design.

Avenue South Residence (2023)
World’s tallest condominium built using PPVC with 3,000 modules stacked atop one another to make up two 56-storey towers.

UOL x ART:DIS Art Prize (2023)
Singapore’s first art competition recognising artists with disabilities at all levels of practice.