A historic site once occupied by the Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (SCGS) could soon be transformed into a new mixed-use lifestyle destination in the heart of Orchard Road, combining hospitality, leisure and public spaces while preserving key elements of its heritage.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) launched a concept-and-price revenue tender on Sept. 16 for the redevelopment of 37 Emerald Hill, a 1.04-hectare site at the intersection of Somerset and the Emerald Hill Conservation Area. The tender is open to local and international bidders until March 16, 2027.
The proposed development is expected to include a new-to-market hotel concept, distinctive lifestyle offerings and publicly accessible spaces. STB is also seeking ideas for year-round programming designed to attract both visitors and local residents while encouraging people to spend more time in the Orchard Road precinct.
The project is part of the broader Orchard Road Rejuvenation Plan, which aims to refresh one of Singapore’s best-known shopping and tourism districts through new experiences, upgraded public spaces and changes to existing buildings and developments.
Heritage preservation will be a major part of the redevelopment. Three historic buildings on the former school grounds have been conserved: the Main Block, built in 1925; the Principal’s House, built in 1930; and the Song Ong Siang Block, constructed in 1956.
The site has a long connection with girls’ education in Singapore. SCGS was established in 1899, and its purpose-built campus at Emerald Hill officially opened in 1926. The school remained there for almost seven decades before relocating to its current Bukit Timah premises in 1994.
The property later became home to Chatsworth International School, which eventually moved out after operating a campus there. The site is now positioned close to major Orchard Road attractions, opposite The Heeren and Design Orchard and within walking distance of Somerset MRT station.
STB said the redevelopment is intended to create a distinctive lifestyle node while retaining the character and history of the site. The agency expects the completed project to add new recreational and leisure choices for locals while strengthening Orchard Road’s appeal to international visitors.
The development also comes as Singapore expands efforts to give Orchard Road more reasons for visitors to stay beyond traditional shopping. Plans announced earlier in 2026 include ready-to-use pop-up spaces for local and international brands, alongside other hospitality and mixed-use projects planned for the precinct.
For the former SCGS grounds, the challenge will be balancing redevelopment with the preservation of a site that has played a significant role in Singapore’s educational history. The current tender process will determine what concept eventually takes shape.
With proposals still being evaluated, the future 37 Emerald Hill development could become another major addition to Orchard Road’s changing landscape while giving a historic school site a new role in Singapore’s modern lifestyle and tourism scene.
