This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 3, 2026 - August 9, 2026

The first thing visitors notice today as they approach Bangunan AmBank Group in Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur is its revamped façade. Some say it looks like a giant tablet, especially at night with the illumination.

Spanning the glass façade of the corporate headquarters is a vibrant LED illustration of AmBank’s camel mascot, one of cartoonist Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid’s (fondly known as Datuk Lat) most recognisable collaborations with the banking group. Introduced as part of AmBank Group’s 50th anniversary celebration, the refreshed façade breathes new life into one of Kuala Lumpur’s most recognisable corporate landmarks while preserving a symbol synonymous with the banking group for decades.

The refreshed façade is more than a visual upgrade. It encapsulates the approach that has kept Bangunan AmBank Group relevant for nearly four decades, not through total reinvention, but through continuous reinvestment and thoughtful upgrades that preserve the building’s identity while keeping pace with the changing times.

For a building completed in 1987, the recognition carries particular significance. While newer office towers are designed around the latest technologies and sustainability standards, mature buildings face a different challenge altogether. They must constantly adapt to changing workplace expectations, evolving environmental standards and increasingly sophisticated building systems, all while remaining fully operational for the people who use them every day.

Rather than viewing age as an inevitable disadvantage, Bangunan AmBank Group has embraced continuous reinvestment. Through proactive asset management, disciplined maintenance and close collaboration of the owner, property manager and tenant, the building has remained a relevant address in Kuala Lumpur’s city centre despite the emergence of a new generation of premium office developments.

That philosophy earned Bangunan AmBank Group the Silver award at The Edge Malaysia Best Managed & Sustainable Property Awards 2026 in the 10 Years and Above — Non-strata Office category.

The 26-storey Bangunan AmBank Group was officially launched in 1987. Today, it remains the headquarters of AMMB Holdings Bhd (KL:AMBANK) or AmBank Group, while accommodating a mix of corporate offices and long-standing commercial tenants. The building comprises about 360,000 sq ft of net lettable area and continues to record a healthy occupancy rate of more than 93%, underscoring its enduring appeal in an increasingly competitive office market.

Beyond its strategic location, however, the building also represents an important chapter in Kuala Lumpur’s commercial evolution. Many office buildings from the same era have struggled to keep pace with modern workplace expectations. Some have undergone extensive redevelopment, while others have gradually lost their competitiveness as tenants migrated to newer addresses.

Bangunan AmBank Group has chosen another path. Instead of relying on major overhauls every decade, the building has adopted a philosophy of continuous renewal, making incremental improvements year after year so that occupants experience a building that feels contemporary rather than dated.

The newly unveiled LED camel embodies that philosophy. Replacing the previous neon display, which was only visible at night, the upgraded installation gives the headquarters a refreshed identity throughout the day while preserving one of AmBank’s most recognisable visual symbols. Together with recently repainted façades and upgraded common areas, the enhancement demonstrates that modernisation does not necessarily require reinvention.

Maintaining a building approaching its fourth decade is fundamentally different from managing a newly completed development.

For Chong Hong Chuon, CEO of AmREIT Managers Sdn Bhd, success lies not in responding to failures but in preventing them altogether. AmREIT Managers is the manager of AmFIRST REIT (KL:AMFIRST), the owner of Bangunan AmBank Group.

“We don’t wait for things to break down. It would be wrong to save RM10,000 or RM100,000 today only to let the value of the property deteriorate because we ignored the issue,” he says.

That philosophy underpins every major investment undertaken at Bangunan AmBank Group.

Rather than extending the life of ageing systems until they fail, the management team continually evaluates the lifecycle of key assets before deciding whether to repair, overhaul or replace them. Where specialist expertise is required, consultants are engaged to assess the most appropriate solutions.

“If investment is necessary, we invest. That’s how you protect the value of the property,” says Chong.

This proactive approach is evident throughout the building’s infrastructure.

For instance, its 12 Mitsubishi passenger lifts underwent full modernisation in 2019, ensuring smoother operation and improved energy efficiency while maintaining reliability for thousands of daily users. Likewise, the building’s centralised chiller system, which supports 40 air-handling units and five cooling towers, undergoes continuous preventive maintenance and major overhauls every two years to ensure operational efficiency.

According to Chong, tenants rarely notice these investments because the objective is precisely that — they should never have to.

“If the lifts don’t break down and the air conditioning works well every day, people may not think about it. But that’s exactly what good building management is supposed to achieve,” he says.

Knight Frank Property Management Sdn Bhd (KFPM), which has managed Bangunan AmBank Group since 2016, shares the sentiment.

KFPM managing director Kuruvilla Abraham believes that one of the biggest misconceptions about ageing office buildings is that they must compete directly with newly completed skyscrapers. Instead, they should focus on becoming the very best version of themselves, he says.

“I told my team: I can’t make this building like those in TRX (Tun Razak Exchange), but I can make it among the best buildings in its class,” says Kuruvilla.

He adds that the management team understands that while the building’s structural design cannot be fundamentally changed, almost everything affecting the occupant experience can continue evolving.

“We won’t say that something cannot be done because it’s an old building. If there’s technology that can improve operations or the tenant experience, we will look at it,” says Kuruvilla.

That mindset has resulted in numerous enhancements over the years. Visitors today are welcomed by upgraded lift lobbies, refreshed landscaping, customer service counters, improved common areas and upgraded amenities. New additions such as electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, nursing facilities and dedicated women’s parking further reflect changing workplace expectations while ensuring the building remains relevant for contemporary users.

The objective is straightforward, says Kuruvilla. “We don’t want people walking into the building and immediately thinking it’s almost 40 years old.”

Perhaps the strongest endorsement of the building’s management comes from those who occupy it every day. Among its tenants are law firms that have remained in the building for more than three decades, a testament to both operational consistency and tenant satisfaction.

For Kuruvilla, tenant retention often comes down to one simple principle. They do not want lifts breaking down unexpectedly. They do not want prolonged interruptions to electricity supply. They certainly do not want the air conditioning failing in Malaysia’s tropical climate.

“People don’t want surprises. As a tenant, you want peace. When nothing goes wrong, it means people are doing their jobs,” says AmBank Group senior vice-president of group administration Vincent Chew.

That expectation is even more critical, given Bangunan AmBank Group’s role as the headquarters of one of Malaysia’s leading banking groups.

Any prolonged disruption could affect thousands of employees as well as critical and sensitive business operations. Such disruptions must be reported to Bank Negara Malaysia, so it’s best to avoid them, says Chew.

Consequently, KFPM adopts a preventive maintenance philosophy, supported by detailed, planned preventive maintenance schedules that cover every aspect of the building, from electrical systems and fire protection to HVAC equipment, security infrastructure and vertical transport. These programmes are complemented by regular audits, lifecycle assessments and specialist inspections to ensure systems continue to operate at optimal performance.

Kuruvilla emphasises that transparency is equally important whenever issues do arise. “I can’t promise there will never be problems because certain things are beyond anyone’s control. But tenants appreciate honesty. Tell them what happened, explain what you’re doing and keep communicating.”

One misconception about older buildings is that sustainability is only achieved through new developments.

Bangunan AmBank Group demonstrates otherwise. Rather than relying solely on new technologies, the building has steadily improved its environmental performance through disciplined operational management and continuous optimisation.

Among its notable achievements are the GreenRE Bronze certification and the Energy Management Gold Standard recognition, reflecting sustained efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce operational costs.

According to Chong, electricity consumption has been reduced by about 50% compared with the building’s baseline through a combination of operational improvements and targeted investments. These include LED lighting upgrades, motion sensors for parking area lighting, lift scheduling during off-peak hours, continuous monitoring of energy consumption and optimisation of cooling systems. A descaling electromagnetic treatment system has also been introduced to improve cooling tower efficiency by preventing limescale formation, enhancing heat transfer, reducing maintenance requirements and extending equipment lifespan.

For Chong, sustainability ultimately begins with maintaining what already exists. He notes that an existing building that continues operating efficiently for decades represents a significant conservation of resources, particularly when supported by ongoing investments that improve environmental performance over time.

Behind the building’s long-term success is constant communication between the owner, property manager and tenants. Rather than functioning independently, they work together through regular operational meetings, covering everything from occupational safety and technical upgrades to tenant feedback and future planning.

Kuruvilla says this collaborative culture has become one of the building’s greatest strengths. “We don’t see problems as belonging to one party. We solve them together.”

That shared responsibility enables faster decision-making while ensuring upgrades align with both operational needs and long-term asset value. The same collaborative approach extends to contractors, consultants and service providers, creating an ecosystem where continuous improvement becomes part of everyday operations rather than an occasional exercise.

As Bangunan AmBank Group approaches its fourth decade, the work of keeping it relevant is far from complete. Mechanical systems will continue to be upgraded. New technologies will be assessed. Sustainability initiatives will evolve further as workplace expectations continue changing.

Despite that, the building’s guiding philosophy is unlikely to change. It is not about making a mature office tower resemble the newest development in Kuala Lumpur’s skyline. Rather, it is about ensuring the building continues to serve its occupants with the same reliability, efficiency and relevance that have defined it for nearly 40 years.

The newly illuminated camel may be the most visible reminder of Bangunan AmBank Group’s ongoing evolution, but behind that familiar symbol lies something even more enduring. It is a commitment to continuous reinvestment and the belief that while buildings inevitably grow older, they never have to become obsolete.

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