Chijmes's a-changing

WHEN you're 160 years old, sometimes just one facelift isn't enough. That's why Chijmes - the former convent girls' school turned lifestyle destination on Victoria Street - announced plans to undergo a S$45-million renovation in June last year, and now things are finally starting to fall into place. While there's still some way to go, a fresh look and new restaurants form added incentives for visitors to rediscover this heritage complex.

The first thing you'll notice is how much more visible Chijmes is from the streets, thanks to a lowering of the cloister walls along Victoria Street. New entrances on Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road allow easy access to the building. The old cobblestone flo…