The Cathay Research

-          Originally opened in 1939 as Cathay Building.

-          In 2000, it closed for redevelopment and reopened as The Cathay in March 2006.

-         Located at the foot of Mount Sophia

-         Once the tallest building in Singapore.

-         Used to house the popular Cathay Cinema as well as the famous Cathay Hotel and Cathay Restaurant.

-          The cinema was opened in 1939 while the main tower was completed in 1941.

-          16-storey building

-           Was the tallest building in Singapore until the Asia Insurance Building was completed in 1954.

History of land:

-          Land once stood a Victorian-style building which the family of prominent businessman Teo Hoo Lye lived.

-          Louis Molteni's bakery and confectionary occupied the ground floor.

-          This building stood for more than 40 years before it was demolished in 1934. The property was purchased by the family of the late Loke Yew in 1937 and the land cleared for the construction of Cathay Building.

Timeline:

1934: Victorian style building was demolished

1937: purchased by family of Loke Yew, land cleared for construction of Cathay Building

1939: Cathay Building opened (however only the cinema was fully completed)

1941: main tower completed

2000: Cathay Building closed for redevelopment

2006: reopened as The Cathay in March