GEORGE TOWN, Oct 27 — Two dilapidated godowns, which used to house new immigrants back in the 19th century, will be given a new lease of life and converted into a Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status office space.
The century-old godowns and a shoplot along Victoria Street are now being restored with modern infrastructure to fit its new purpose; to spur industry 4.0 focusing on big data analytics, cloud computing and Internet of things.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who launched the RM10.3 million project at the heart of the George Town world heritage site, said these godowns — number 161 and 165 — are possibly the oldest godowns that still exist in the inner city.
“The conceptual design proposal is to physically revitalise a complex of badly dilapidated godowns and shop lot, built in 1900s, into a modern MSC status office while still maintaining and respecting the old world charm and traditions of the place,” he said in his speech when launching the project at the site this morning.
The re-adaptive use project, spearheaded by Penang Development Corporation (PDC), is fully funded by the state government.
The project was awarded via open tender to Image Facade Construction Sdn Bhd while PDC is the project manager to monitor the work.
Back in the 19th venture, the godowns were facing the waterfront and were used as accommodations for new immigrants from China who were on transition to the tin mines in South Thailand.
The buildings were subsequently used as storage and distribution centres for goods in the late 1900s.
The project commenced on March 27 this year and is now at 13 per cent completion with an expected full completion on September 26, 2018.
After the restoration works, the floor space at the godowns will be increased from 847.11 sq metres to 1,223.8 sq metres.
“This restoration project will be good training ground for the PDC Human Resources to further its expertise in heritage buildings,” Lim said.
The Lebuh Victoria Godowns, once completed, will be an extension of Centre for Creative Animation Triggers (CAT) in Wisma Yeap Chor Ee, also within the heritage zone.
“I was told the creative types involved in creating apps and technological inventions will be further inspired if they are based within a heritage building so we are creating more space to inspire this group,” Lim added.
He said the CAT Centre in Wisma Yeap Chor Ee is now 90 per cent occupied and the co-working space in the building was also in high demand.
He also said with another CAT Centre in Victoria Street, it might spur more activities on another side of the inner city.
