In 1988, United Overseas Bank hired Japanese architect Kenzo Tange to retrofits its 30-storey headquarters at Raffles Place. This resulted in the creation of a new 66-storey skyscraper next to it as well as a plaza.

The local architect in the upgrading, Architects 61, commissioned Canadian-based designer Yew Wei Lee to develop an identity and wayfinding signage for the two buildings. Yew, who was born in Singapore, is friends with one of the firm's co-founder Yang Soo Suan.