380 Jalan Besar, Singapore 209000  ·  A rare freehold commercial icon of the city fringe
ARC 380 freehold commercial tower on Jalan Besar, Singapore

Myth or Fact: Four Office Claims Checked

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Two claims tend to follow any headline about Singapore office rents: that the gains rest on a flood of fresh demand, and that Hong Kong is winning back the regional crown. A Stacked Homes article of 13 October 2026, drawing on quarterly data from a research house, puts both to the test, along with two other common assumptions.

Is a Demand Boom Driving CBD Rents? The ARC 380 Myth Check

Myth. The research house cited by Stacked Homes credits limited supply more than any sharp rise in demand. By its count, core CBD Grade A rents rose 1.8% quarter on quarter in 3Q2026 and 6.1% year on year, while vacancy in the segment slipped to 2.7% from 3.3%. The CBD has added no major Grade A tower since 2024, and the next one, Newport Tower, is due in 2027. Leasing shows no structural deterioration, the research house adds, though occupiers weigh their space needs carefully.

Has Hong Kong Reclaimed the Office Crown? An ARC 380 Perspective

Largely a myth, because the two cities no longer chase the same role, Stacked Homes argues: Hong Kong serves as the gateway for mainland Chinese capital, while Singapore draws technology and AI firms as a regional hub. Hong Kong's Central Triple A rents jumped 15.0% year on year, yet that figure covers Central's top tier only. Across Hong Kong's whole prime market, rents gained 1.3% quarter on quarter in 2Q2026 and remained 42.7% under their 1Q2019 peak, according to Stacked Homes. A research house read the Central rebound as banks and other financial institutions moving into premium space, not a broad recovery.

Do Only Trophy Towers Gain? An ARC 380 Fact Check

Myth again. Fringe Grade A, core CBD Grade B and fringe Grade B rents grew between 5% and 9% year on year depending on segment, the research house cited by Stacked Homes reported. Prime CBD rents have risen since bottoming in 1Q2021, even as IOI Central Boulevard Towers opened in 2024.

Is Co-Working a Dead End for Growing Firms? The ARC 380 Answer

Myth. Stacked Homes describes flexible co-working as a frequent first step before tenants trade up, a flight to quality. OpenAI is reportedly leaving co-working premises for the newly completed Shaw Tower with about 100,000 sq ft, according to Stacked Homes. Technology firms and non-bank financial companies, fintechs included, form most new-to-market demand.

On the city fringe, ARC 380 is a freehold commercial development by Tong Eng Group at 380 Jalan Besar in District 12, about five minutes on foot from Bendemeer MRT, completed with TOP in 2018. Its 16 storeys stack retail and F&B on Level 1, a Sky Terrace on the 4th storey, strata offices on Levels 5 to 16, and a roof terrace with a 25 m pool on the 17th storey. Offices run from about 700 sq ft to a full floor of about 9,500 sq ft, with specifications on the project details page.

Stacking plans and unit availability can be requested from the Sales Concierge via the contact page.

Source: Stacked Homes (13 October 2026), with figures from a research house it cites.

General information only, not financial or legal advice.

Source: Stacked Homes. This article is independent commentary; ARC 380 is not affiliated with the parties mentioned.