OCBC Building (Penang)
| OCBC Building | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Address | 28–30, Beach Street, George Town, Penang, Malaysia |
| Town or city | George Town |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Coordinates | 5°25′02″N 100°20′31″E / 5.41725°N 100.34192°E |
| Current tenants | OCBC Bank |
| Completed | 1938 |
| Opened | 1938 |
| Owner | OCBC Bank |
| Height | |
| Top floor | 3 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Charles Geoffrey Boutcher |
The OCBC Building is a historical building in George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. Completed in 1938, the office building, situated at Beach Street within the city's Central Business District (CBD), forms part of the Penang branch of the OCBC Bank.
History
Singapore-based Oversea-Chinese Bank Limited – a predecessor to the OCBC Bank – opened its Penang branch at 24 Beach Street in 1920. It moved to the present-day site in the following year.[3] After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the Oversea-Chinese Bank merged with the Chinese Commercial Bank and Ho Hong Bank to form OCBC in 1932.[3][4]
As the economy rebounded, OCBC's Penang branch was reopened in 1934.[3] The building, originally constructed in the 1880s, underwent renovations that were completed by 1938, incorporating designs from Charles Geoffrey Boutcher.[1][3] In the 1960s, OCBC relocated its Penang branch to a newly-constructed building nearby.[3]
In 2014, OCBC launched its new premier banking centre, which includes the current building as well as adjacent structures such as the 1886 Building and Kongsoon House.[1][2] The premier banking centre, costing RM5 million, is OCBC's largest in Malaysia, spanning a total of 8,000 sq ft (740 m2).[2]
Description
The building was designed in Art Deco style, featuring a dull grey façade surfaced in Shanghai plaster.[1][3] The top two levels were constructed with vertical plaster columns, incorporating a ring motif that frames the central section.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Hockton, Keith (2012). Penang: An Inside Guide to Its Historic Homes, Buildings, Monuments and Parks. MPH Group. ISBN 978-967-415-303-8.
- ^ a b c Amarthalingam, Sangeetha (14 Nov 2014). "OCBC Bank (M) looks to outsourcing, F&B sectors to boost premier banking in Penang". The Edge. Retrieved 8 Oct 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Langdon, Marcus (2014). A Guide to George Town's Historic Commercial and Civic Precincts. George Town: George Town World Heritage Incorporated. p. 22.
- ^ "Lee Kong Chian". National Library Board - Singapore Infopedia. Retrieved 2019-01-30.