The project was previously referred to as Shaw Mansion in newspaper articles dated to as early as 1972,[2] and was then reported to cost S$36 million.

[1] They were located on two opposite ends of the building, with Prince facing Beach Road, and Jade angled towards Nicoll Highway.

It was then leased to Rock Productions, the business arm of New Creation Church in 2012, and subsequently refurbished as Shine Auditorium.

[9][10] Upon completion, the new Shaw Tower will form an integral part of the Ophir-Rochor Corridor,[11] a revamped, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use district centred around Bugis MRT station.

The L-shaped floor area of Shaw Tower, with a narrow section angled towards Nicoll Highway, was due to the building being constructed upon the site of two demolished cinemas and the now-expunged Hoi How Road.

Shaw Tower was designed by Singaporean architect Charles Ho of Iversen, van Sitteren & Partners.