The Initial Sama, a 92-unit serviced apartment and wellness compound located at 26 Evans Road, is the latest project by homegrown turn-key operator Cover Projects. The property, which was unveiled on July 21, derives its name from the Sanskrit word “sama”, meaning “balanced” or “well-maintained”. The building reconstruction, site planning, and unit layouts were designed by Cover Projects, a hospitality management company co-founded in 2015 by Lim Keong Wee, part of the Lim family that controls Malaysia’s Genting Group, and Victoria Loh. The landscape design was managed by Grant Associates, a Singapore-based landscape architect.
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The property, which spans 153,821 square feet and comprises four low-rise blocks, offers 92 serviced apartments ranging from studios to two-bedroom units. The studios are 226 square feet, the one-bedroom superior units are 376 square feet, and the one-bedroom deluxe units are 452 square feet. The largest units are the two-bedroom units at 699 square feet. In-room amenities include a TV, bathroom essentials and toiletries, linens and bedding, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The studios and one-bedroom superior units feature a pantry and a compact kitchenette, while the one-bedroom deluxe and two-bedroom units come with a fully equipped kitchenette.
Cover Projects’ managing director, Lim Keong Wee, has highlighted the property’s prime location as its strongest selling point. Located in a mature and upscale neighborhood, The Initial Sama is in close proximity to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, with the Nassim Road entrance being less than 500 meters away. Across the road from the compound is MOE HQ (Evans Road), which includes a stadium, running track, sports hall, swimming complex, and hockey pitch managed by Sport Singapore. In addition, several hospitals, such as Gleneagles Hospital, Camden Medical Centre, and Mount Elizabeth Hospital, are situated nearby. The compound is also a 12-minute walk away from the Botanic Gardens Interchange on the Circle and Downtown Lines.
The Initial Sama has attracted a lot of interest from expectant mothers and their families, as it offers a comfortable and convenient post-partum accommodation option during the confinement period. This demographic is among the target audience for Cover Projects, as the wellness services offered at the compound are designed to aid in medical recovery. Lim Keong Wee also notes that the property has been designed to cater to the needs of PMET expatriates, who are increasingly seeking affordable accommodation options with added value, such as access to wellness facilities. He expects that around half of the property’s guests will come from corporate bookings.
The Initial Sama is the second major project undertaken by Cover Projects. The company’s previous experience in the lodging market includes the management of a 30-room serviced apartment, called The Initial Residence, located at 355 Balestier Road. The company gained significant recognition in 2023, when it won the tender to manage the heritage properties at 26 Evans Road, which was assessed by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) based on price and quality. Cover Projects’ bid of $265,000 per month was impressed by the SLA, exceeding the bids of established co-living operators LHN Group’s Coliwoo and The Assembly Place, which ranged from $165,000 to $168,000.
Lim Keong Wee believes that the launch of The Initial Sama is a major milestone for Cover Projects as a relatively new design consultant and lodging operator. The company has invested between $10 million and $13 million in reconstruction to bring the project up to standard. The state-owned site has a 5+4 year lease term, and as it nears the end of its lease, the company is taking a more disciplined approach towards the design and management of the property. Lim Keong Wee also mentions that Cover Projects has attracted the interest of private backers who recognize the company’s potential as a premium provider and operator of wellness-based residences in Singapore. With a view to grow their profile in Singapore’s hospitality market, the company is looking to work with asset owners to either reposition their existing properties or uplift under-performing properties with their brand and value proposition.