From legacy architecture to innovative design solutions, Swan & Maclaren Group balances tradition with forward-thinking vision.

Raffles Hospital Extension, Singapore

Swan & Maclaren Group (“SMG”) has shaped Singapore’s architectural landscape since 1892. Its portfolio includes some of Singapore’s most iconic landmarks such as Raffles Hotel, Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, Victoria Memorial Hall, and Goodwood Park Hotel. More than just architectural achievements, these structures are testaments to history and national identity.

Today, SMG is a progressive, multidisciplinary design practice with expertise spanning architecture, design and build, spatial experience, illumination, and sustainability. Guided by its core values, the firm honours its heritage while embracing the future, delivering context-driven design solutions that enrich everyday life. Active across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, SMG continues to shape transformative civic, commercial, and cultural spaces that are visually compelling and socially impactful.

Led by Executive Chairman Mr. Robert Yap, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Edwin Tan, and President & Chief Designer Ar. Mr. Lim Chai Boon, SMG balances heritage with future-focused vision. Partnering with government agencies, developers, hospitality brands, and private clients, it remains dedicated to crafting places that enhance lives through thoughtful, responsible design.

REDEFINING INNOVATION IN A CHANGING WORLD

At SMG, innovation is a purposeful, longterm pursuit predicated on relevance and resilience. While the firm’s heritage is rooted in over a century of architectural excellence, its ability to adapt to changing times defines its continued impact. The firm’s involvement in the Six Flags Qiddiya project in Saudi Arabia, a flagship entertainment destination under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, exemplifies innovation in action.

Contributing to this world-class development marked a defining moment in SMG’s global expansion efforts. Underscoring the firm’s ability to design at scale and navigate complex challenges, it also showcased its capacity to apply immersive, experience-led thinking across borders – cementing its position as an internationally trusted name in transformative design.

SMG has broadened its expertise beyond architecture, investing in spatial experience design, corporate services, and digital tools to streamline operations and deliver integrated solutions. A key milestone in this journey is its partnership with Advanced Lighting Company (ALC), a leading Saudi Arabian firm specialising in illumination. This collaboration strengthened SMG’s ability to create high performance lighting strategies, advancing sustainability and innovation in projects across the Middle East.

Dr. Saud Al-Semari, CEO of ALC, and Mr. Robert Yap, Executive Chairman of Swan & Maclaren Group, joined by representatives, at the signing ceremony during the PIF Private Sector Forum 2025, marking the beginning of the strategic partnership.

Innovation has also driven internal transformation at SMG. By integrating new disciplines and fostering collaboration between design and delivery, the firm has diversified its services and entered new markets. Looking ahead, this ongoing evolution will help SMG remain at the forefront of design, relying on research, ingenuity, and technology to shape immersive experiences and the built environment of tomorrow.

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE HEART OF DESIGN

Coral Bay Sutera, Malaysia

SMG embeds sustainability and social responsibility into every project, recognising its duty to create spaces that serve both present and future generations. Across its portfolio, the firm applies environmentally conscious strategies to ensure durability, efficiency, and harmony with the natural world.

SMG embeds sustainability and social responsibility into every project, recognising its duty to create spaces that serve both present and future generations.

From using eco-friendly materials and reducing construction waste to incorporating passive design features like natural ventilation, daylighting, and thermal cooling, SMG is committed to reducing carbon footprints, lowering energy use, and fostering resilient urban environments. Where feasible, it also supports the incorporation of solar panels, advancing clean energy adoption and reinforcing long-term sustainability goals. These measures are not just technical choices but part of a broader effort to contribute to a more resilient urban future. Whether by reducing carbon footprints, lowering energy consumption, or supporting sustainable resource use, the firm remains dedicated to designing spaces that leave a positive environmental impact.

Beyond architecture, SMG promotes sustainability through community initiatives. Annual beach cleanups highlight the importance of environmental stewardship, while mentorship programmes nurture emerging talent, shaping the next generation of responsible designers. By combining visionary design with social responsibility, SMG balances architectural excellence with enduring positive contributions to the communities and ecosystems it serves.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE, INSPIRING GROWTH

Paradise City, Cambodia

At SMG, people lie at the heart of every project. Behind each design is a team of skilled professionals whose creativity and expertise drive innovation and ingenuity. The firm fosters a supportive environment where individuals are encouraged to grow through meaningful opportunities and collaboration.

As a performance-driven organisation, SMG values contributions, offering structured appraisals, performance-based incentives, and employee stock grants. Beyond financial rewards, it prioritises career development through mentorship, cross-border exposure, and inter-disciplinary teamwork. Open access to leadership strengthens trust, enabling designers at all levels to engage directly with senior leadership through project reviews and collaborative discussions.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion shape SMG’s identity, reflecting the communities it serves. With a workforce spanning different backgrounds, nationalities, and disciplines, the firm embraces a merit-based culture that celebrates talent and ideas. Through internships, mentorship programmes, and hands-on project experience, SMG nurtures emerging professionals – ensuring that the future of design is driven by creativity, innovation, and visionary leadership.

STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND DRIVING GROWTH

239 & 241 Cantonment Road, Singapore

Partnerships have played a key role in SMG’s transformation from a heritage architecture firm into a multidisciplinary design group. Through strategic collaborations, the firm has expanded its expertise, embraced innovation, and developed integrated solutions to meet the increasing complexities of the built environment.

A major step in this journey was SMG’s 2022 integration with C2R Lighting (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., now known as SM C2R Corporate Pte. Ltd. As one of Singapore’s leading providers of integrated building solutions, SM C2R brings expanded capabilities beyond lighting, including MEP engineering, project management, interior fit-out, and turnkey delivery.

This strategic integration has enabled SMG to offer comprehensive, end-to-end project solutions – seamlessly blending visionary design with technical execution under a unified platform.

SMG’s illumination engineering at The Twins, Hong Kong

Beyond business growth, the firm is dedicated to partnerships that support talent and community engagement. Collaborations with educational institutions across Singapore and the region offer mentorship, industry exposure, and career development for emerging designers. Regionally, SMG’s network of consultants, developers, and public agencies have helped integrate local insights with global standards, shaping projects from large-scale infrastructure to urban renewal. These alliances remain essential to growth, innovation, and lasting impact.

Ar. Mr Lim Chai Boon mentoring architects

BUILDING A LEGACY THROUGH DESIGN AND COMMUNITY

Employees at the annual beach clean-up

SMG’s impact goes beyond the structures it creates – it is seen in the communities it nurtures and the history it has had a hand in shaping. From early civic landmarks to Singapore’s evolving skyline, the firm’s legacy is built on spaces that remain relevant and resilient, continuously adapting to the needs of the people and communities who inhabit them.

Many of its projects have become lasting symbols of Singapore’s architectural identity, with some continuing to evolve long after their completion. One such example is the former St. Andrew’s Mission Hospital, originally designed by the firm. Today, the building has been transformed into KADA, a vibrant café hub. While SMG was not involved in the recent works, the project reflects how thoughtful architectural foundations can support adaptive reuse and breathe new life into historic spaces. Across its portfolio, SMG remains dedicated to conservation and urban renewal, carefully restoring and reimagining architectural heritage to enhance cultural and social value while retaining its essence.

Many of its projects have become lasting symbols of Singapore’s architectural identity, with some continuing to evolve long after their completion. One such example is the former St. Andrew’s Mission Hospital, originally designed by the firm. Today, the building has been transformed into KADA, a vibrant café hub. While SMG was not involved in the recent works, the project reflects how thoughtful architectural foundations can support adaptive reuse and breathe new life into historic spaces. Across its portfolio, SMG remains dedicated to conservation and urban renewal, carefully restoring and reimagining architectural heritage to enhance cultural and social value while retaining its essence.

RESILIENCE THROUGH CHANGE

SMG has navigated periods of challenge that have tested not only its operations but also its identity and purpose as a design practice. One of the most defining challenges in recent memory was the COVID-19 pandemic – an experience that reinforced the firm’s resilience while also sharpening its vision for the future.

The pandemic saw global disruptions that impacted projects, timelines, and client priorities, yet it also revealed the strength of the firm’s people. Amid uncertainty, many of its designers remained steadfast, contributing their expertise and continuing to believe in the firm’s future. Their commitment became the foundation of SMG’s recovery and renewal, underscoring the notion that true resilience requires a collective effort.

This period provided valuable lessons including the importance of trust, empathy, and shared vision. It highlighted the necessity of agility in the face of disruption, aligned with the enduring value of investing in culture and communication alongside systems and tools. It also accelerated the firm’s expansion into new areas of design thinking and delivery. No longer focused solely on functionality, SMG now creates immersive environments that integrate spatial experience, illumination, storytelling, and technology.

EXPANDING HORIZONS: DESIGNING WITH GLOBAL IMPACT

Casting an eye firmly on the future, SMG continues to expand its reach while staying true to its Singaporean roots. As its presence grows across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and beyond, the firm remains committed to sharing Singapore’s design values – precision, integrity, and innovation – on a global scale.

To stay future-ready, SMG continues to invest in experience-led environments, digital capabilities, and cross-border delivery platforms, while strengthening regional leadership. Strategic initiatives – such as the firm’s involvement in the Six Flags Qiddiya development in Saudi Arabia, where it provides lighting design, supply, and project management – and the expansion of capabilities through SM C2R Corporate have positioned SMG as both globally agile and firmly rooted in Singaporean design traditions. Looking ahead, the firm remains committed to purposeful growth, shaping architecture that honours its legacy while defining the future.