Located at Hill Street is a prominent building with colourful windows. The MICA building, which is the headquarters of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, can be identified easily even from afar.
This heritage building, located in the central business district, has window shutters that are painted in various colours to reflect Singapore's multi-cultural tradition and was designed by F. Dorrington in Classical Renaissance architectural style.
In the 19th century, from 1845 to 1856, this site was once associated with education and entertainment. There were Assembly rooms used for public functions and a theatre where amateurs performed. It was a centre of many social activities at that time.
The MICA Building is more well-known as the former site of the Old Hill Street Police Station. In 1927, the Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements requested to use the site to construct a police station, which was completed in 1934. It consists of blocks arranged around two courtyards: one rectangular and the other triangular, providing accommodation for many police personnel.
When it was constructed in 1934, the six-storey building was the biggest building in Singapore to be built up to that time, and was even regarded as a "skyscraper" in its time. It was also among the first to be fitted with electric lifts since 1933. On the 25th anniversary of the reign of King George, the building was renamed the Silver Jubilee Building to honour the occasion.
During the Japanese Occupation, it was used by the Kempeitai (Japanese military police) to hold their prisoners and also, as a torture chamber.
Several changes were made to the old building, such as the stabilization of the Fort Canning slope, as well as raising the flooring to fit the current air-conditional requirements of the offices. Staircases with the original railings are retained as today’s fire escape staircases. A new replacement block was built as well. Although there were some changes made to the structure of the building, it is still well conserved, and more modern than it was before.
Art activities and performances are also held at the atrium, called the ARTrium, which was once the parade ground of the police station.
An interesting fact is that the location where the building stands today was said to look like the peh toh, a Chinese New Year fish which is also known as rabbit fish that signifies good fortune. However, by the construction of the building, the Chinese who used to live there believed that it disturbed the good feng shui of the area.
