To celebrate its recent refresh, the family-friendly eco-mall brought together seniors, preschoolers, and residents from the surrounding community to create a record-breaking origami sculpture that anchors the mall’s community space
30 JUNE, 2025 — After almost 2 years of renovation works, the new City Square Mall is now in full bloom with refreshed interiors, an upgraded tenant mix, and a strengthened commitment to supporting and engaging the community. To celebrate the soft launch of the mall, City Square Mall invited members of the community to take part in a vibrant initiative that brought together students, seniors, and residents.
Through the month of June, the mall partnered with numerous community organisations and residents to fold 1,788 origami flowers to fill a large sculpture that spells out “CSM” in the mall’s atrium. This collective effort earned the mall a new record for the “Largest Acrylic Sculpture Filled With Origami Flowers” in the Singapore Book Of Records. Additionally, City Square Mall has plans in the pipeline to utilise the sculpture for similar initiatives.
Building on the spirit of community, the record was made possible by the multigenerational support of the mall’s surrounding community, including seniors from the nearby Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, children from MindSpace (#09-09), MindChamps PreSchool (#07-01), Blessed Kidz Learning Hub (#07-06), and nearby residents. This joint community effort reflects the mall’s ongoing efforts to provide not just a refreshed space to shop and dine, but to also serve as a community hub for meaningful interactions and collaborations.
Among the highlights of the initiative was a heartwarming gathering on 17 June, where 17 seniors from Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital’s Community Care Centre at McNair were invited for a special day out at the mall. They spent the morning with volunteers folding origami flowers and socialising, before enjoying a meal together, hosted by Food Republic (#B3-04).
In addition to creating meaningful experiences for the seniors, this initiative also seeks to tap on their skills so that they feel empowered to give back to the community. By recognising and valuing their contributions, this initiative fosters a greater sense of purpose and belonging among the elderly. This reflects the spirit of SG60, which celebrates intergenerational strength and unity, to build a more inclusive society.
“We are pleased to collaborate with City Square Mall on this meaningful initiative that celebrates creativity, connection, and community spirit. It offers our seniors a special platform to showcase their talents and engage with the public in an uplifting and purposeful way. This partnership aligns with Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital’s commitment to active ageing and meaningful social participation in the community. We welcome more of such collaborations that promote intergenerational understanding and inclusivity,” said Mr Eh Li Qi, Head of Corporate & Community Relations of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.
This community initiative involved seniors between the ages of 66 to 85. “I decided to take part in this origami activity because it has been my hobby ever since I picked it up during the COVID-19 lockdown. I enjoyed my day out at City Square Mall and I visit the Active Ageing Centre at McNair almost daily. Today’s session was a refreshing change and I am glad that I made new friends and felt a warm sense of community. If there are future activities like this, I would love to come again, as long as there is someone accompanying me due to my leg condition,” said Mdm Jessie Tang Foong Wan, 85.
From 24 to 28 June, City Square Mall invited its community on social media to join the celebration through a fun giveaway. Participants took a chance to guess how many origami flowers made up the vibrant community sculpture. The five closest entries — which will be revealed later today — will each take home $50 in F&B vouchers, a recyclable bag, and an umbrella from MindSpace. Be sure to follow City Square Mall on Instagram for the big reveal, and for more engaging contests!
City Square Mall as a Third Space
This initiative is in line with City Square Mall’s goal of establishing itself as an engaging third space for the community it serves. Going beyond simple transactions, it seeks to be a place where visitors can gather beyond the boundaries of home and work, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
Community spaces within the mall such as the Level 4 Gastro Square and Level 5 Discovery Square were also introduced to support the mall’s vision of becoming a third place. The Gastro Square is a vibrant 24,000 sq ft hub featuring diverse dining options and also serves as a community space where live performances by singers from MusicDreamer! Live Cafe (爱琴海民歌餐厅) and workshops are held to foster engagement and deepen community connections.
The Discovery Square complements this by providing an interactive space where visitors of all ages can engage in creative expression by swiping, drawing, or leaving encouraging messages on the eye-catching sequin wall. It also acts as the perfect backdrop for families to capture photos together.
To bring a touch of the Discovery Square to other parts of the mall, a smaller sequin wall has been placed at B2, right outside Hi Hot Pot (#B2-01). It invites shoppers to take a playful pause in their day, whether to doodle, leave a kind message, or simply to snap a photo — reinforcing the mall’s ethos of creating spaces and opportunities for interaction and connection.
City Square Mall’s Holistic Approach Towards Community Care
Since its inception in 2009, City Square Mall has been a strong purveyor of community initiatives, consistently launching initiatives that go beyond retail to support the wider community they serve.
Beyond the community origami initiative, the mall is also running an ongoing book donation drive, where shoppers are encouraged to drop off their pre-loved children’s storybooks at the Customer Service Counter located at Basement 2. These pre-loved books will then be donated to the Jalan Besar Community Club Library Corner for children in the neighbourhood to freely enjoy.
In December last year, City Square Mall and its brands hosted a community-centred event as part of the mall’s Christmas celebration, which was graced by Denise Phua, Mayor, Central Singapore District and MP, Jalan Besar GRC. More than $1,300 worth of presents from participating brands, comprising ‘back-to-school supplies’ and toys, were gifted to 30 underprivileged children from the Kampong Glam district.
Currently, the mall continues to evolve as a dynamic, family-friendly hub, rooted in community spirit and serving its patrons as a third space, where visitors can connect and gather beyond traditional retail activities. Looking ahead, the mall is planning to host educational tours for schools, teaching students on environmental sustainability and eco-friendly practices, strengthening its positioning as Singapore’s first eco-mall.
