Orchard Towers, a Singapore building once infamous for illicit activities, is undergoing a transformation with the opening of Cornerstone Community Church. The church purchased six units on the fourth floor for S$54.5 million, reflecting a trend of religious organizations acquiring commercial spaces.
The acquisition of a notorious Singaporean building by a megachurch highlights a growing trend of religious organizations repurposing commercial real estate, reflecting changing urban landscapes and evolving community needs.
Orchard Towers, a building in Singapore once notorious for its association with illicit activities and earning the nickname “Four Floors of Whores,” is undergoing a significant transformation with the establishment of Cornerstone Community Church.
The church officially opened its weekly services at the Orchard Road landmark in January, following the purchase of six units on the fourth floor—previously a nightclub—for S$54.5 million (US$42.3 million) in 2025.
Experts suggest this move is indicative of a broader trend across Southeast Asia, where megachurches are increasingly acquiring retail and commercial spaces for expansion. Reverend Yang Tuck Yoong, the senior pastor of Cornerstone, noted that the church has a history of setting up in locations with complex pasts. Its first property, acquired in 1997, was the Music World Discotheque at Odeon Katong, which now serves as the site for its main services. The church has since acquired six additional units in the same building, all of which were formerly KTVs, pubs, or massage parlors.
The Golden Landmark Shopping Complex, another commercial building in Singapore, is noted for its mix of traditional Malay fashion, Islamic bookstores, and thrift stores, indicating a diverse use of commercial real estate in the city-state.