Built in 1898, this haven in the city hub of Singapore, known as Chijmes (pronounced "chimes"), is a S$100 million project unmatched for its location and unique ambience. Located in the heart of the Civic and Cultural District, CHIJMES is a National Heritage Site consisting of magnificntly restored 19th century buildings which previously housed a Catholic girls school - the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus - and a chapel.

After almost five and a half years of painstaking conservation and construction work, what was once the seat of education for generations of Singapore girls, has been converted into a plaza of theme retail and F&B outlets interspersed with ample outdoor spaces and courtyards, cloistered walls and long, covered walkways. 

CHIJMES Hall

The actual building in which the Asian Packaging Summit will be held, CHIJMES Hall was gazetted by the Preservation of Monuments Board of Singapore for restoration and re-adaptation for a new purpose. Unlike a new development which is built with facilities to suit its tenants, Chijmes had to work the other way round-determining the functions and facilities that would work best within the constraints and specifications of the site. The heritage aspects of the site, the design features and the quality of restoration were foremost in the planning stages. High standards and criteria were set for careful preservation and adapting the building for new use. What visitors at Chijmes can look forward to is a variety of theme food & beverage outlets offering cuisine from all over the world in a unique setting.

The piece de resistance of the Chijmes complex is CHIJMES Hall, which once served as the Convent's chapel. The Hall is one of the two buildings at the site which have been gazetted by the Preservation of Monuments Board for their historical and architectural significance. Much of the original fabric of the historic building has been retained and restored, notably the beautiful 19th-century stained-glass windows, the intricate plasterwork on the column capitals and the facade of the buildings, the steeple, the original floor tiles, terracotta roof tiles and the marble plaques listing the names of benefactors.