Setia SPICE

Proposals for an indoor sports arena at Bayan Lepas had been mooted in the early 1990s, leading to the construction of PISA by the Penang Island Municipal Council (now Penang Island City Council) at a cost of RM102.5 million.{{Cite news |date=17 May 1992 |title=Celebrity event gets donations totalling $26,000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_aFUAAAAIBAJ&dq=Bayan+Baru+sports+complex&pg=PA3 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=New Straits Times |page=4}} Completed in November 1997, PISA included an indoor sports arena and aquatics centre.{{Cite web |title=MESYUARAT PERTAMA PENGGAL KEEMPAT DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI PULAU PINANG KESEMBILAN |url=https://adun.penang.gov.my/soalan/displayportal?soal_id=753&pers_id=36 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |website=Penang State Legislative Assembly |language=ms}}{{Cite news |last=Rafee |first=Hannah |date=2 Nov 2018 |title=Green convention centre raises the bar |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/green-convention-centre-raises-bar |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=The Edge}} Local company Maxifield was appointed as the operator of the complex.{{Cite news |date=1 Aug 1998 |title=Pisa complex: Council explains |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1_VOAAAAIBAJ&dq=Penang+international+sports+arena&pg=PA8 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=New Straits Times |page=14}}

Design deficiencies emerged shortly after completion, prompting Maxifield to spend RM4 million on upgrades prior to the 2000 Sukma Games. {{Cite news |date=24 Jul 1998 |title=Funds needed to spruce up $4m stadium |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19980724-1.2.41.13 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=The Straits Times |page=34 |via=National Library Board}} Following financial difficulties, Penevents took over as the operator in 1999, but poor design issues persisted.{{Cite news |date=16 Oct 1999 |title=Sports arena operator's debts settled with security deposit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4k1OAAAAIBAJ&dq=PISA+sukma&pg=PA4 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=New Straits Times |page=6}}{{Cite web |title=MESYUARAT PERTAMA PENGGAL KETIGA DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI PULAU PINANG KESEPULUH |url=https://adun.penang.gov.my/soalan/displayportal?soal_id=2779&pers_id=3 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |website=Penang State Legislative Assembly |language=ms}}{{Cite news |date=20 Jun 2000 |title=Poor Seating Facilities For Fans At Sukma |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-p0WAAAAIBAJ&dq=PISA+sukma&pg=PA34 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=New Straits Times |pages=34}} PISA hosted events in the 2001 SEA Games, yet afterwards fell into disrepair.{{Cite news |date=15 Sep 2001 |title=Judo gets local and foreign assistance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nqktAAAAIBAJ&dq=Sea+Games+PISA&pg=PA20 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=New Straits Times |page=38}}{{Cite news |date=9 Sep 2001 |title=Cabbies make a killing |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=36ktAAAAIBAJ&dq=Sea+Games+PISA&pg=PA18 |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=New Straits Times |page=34}} By 2011, the municipal government estimated that RM25 million was needed for extensive repairs.{{Cite news |date=Nov 2011 |title=The economic flavor that sPICE will bring |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/download/2011/BuletinMutiaraNov12011-MIX.pdf |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=Buletin Mutiara}}

In the 2008 state election, Pakatan Rakyat (predecessor to the present-day Pakatan Harapan coalition) seized power from the incumbent Barisan Nasional administration. Recognising the need to diversify the state's economy through the construction of an international convention centre, in 2009 the new state government initiated a request for proposal to redevelop PISA. At the time, the municipal government lacked the capital to undertake the redevelopment project independently.{{Cite journal |last=Katahenggam |first=Nagathisen |title=Fiscal Analysis and Governance of the City Council of Penang Island 2002–2011 |url=http://eprints.usm.my/40851/1/ART_68.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Taylor's University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204031830/http://eprints.usm.my/40851/1/ART_68.pdf |archive-date=4 February 2024 |access-date=4 February 2024}} Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng noted that although PISA had been completed in 1997, its true value remained unknown and that Penevents was only beginning to break even in terms of revenue. Lim's administration sought an open tender process to assess PISA's valuation and to appoint a new operator for the facility.{{Cite news |date=8 May 2009 |title=Penang govt to implement FRS 139 |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/penang-govt-implement-frs-139 |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |work=The Edge}}

One of the requirements for the tender was to maintain the acreage of greenery at the complex. Malaysian property developer S P Setia proposed a design that featured a new subterranean convention centre covered by a layer of grass, alongside a playground and a spice garden.{{Cite news |last=White |first=Steve |date=1 Jun 2017 |title=Meet in Penang: Malaysian spice |url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/features/meet-penang-malaysian-spice/ |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=Business Traveller}} In 2011, S P Setia obtained a 30-year concession from the municipal government to build and operate the complex, which was renamed Setia SPICE.{{Cite news |date=18 Jan 2011 |title=SP Setia's long term growth banks on recent land bid wins – Analysts |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2011/01/18/sp-setia%E2%80%99s-long-term-growth-banks-on-recent-land-bid-wins-%E2%80%93-analysts/ |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=The Borneo Post}}{{Cite news |last=Ann Tan |date=16 Jan 2011 |title=RM300mil SPICE Centre for Penang |url=https://www.penangpropertytalk.com/2011/01/rm300mil-spice-centre-for-penang/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20company%20will%20manage%20the,and%20sports%20activities%20(play). |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=The Star}} The redevelopment project was valued at RM300 million; however, due to cost savings from the open tender process, the municipal government was only obligated to invest a nett amount of RM11.5 million.{{Cite news |date=17 Jan 2011 |title=Penang to pay RM11.5m for sPICE |url=https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/penang-pay-rm115m-spice |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=The Edge}}{{Cite news |date=17 Jan 2011 |title=SP Setia wins Penang convention centre deal |url=https://www.penangpropertytalk.com/2011/01/sp-setia-wins-penang-convention-centre-deal/ |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=Business Times |via=Penang Property Talk}} In return, S P Setia was subsequently granted planning approval to build Setia V Residences at Gurney Drive, as part of an additional 1,500 residential units exceeding the density limit of its existing and future projects in the state.{{Cite news |date=21 Jan 2012 |title=SP Setia must take possession of Pisa first |url=https://www.penangpropertytalk.com/2012/01/sp-setia-must-take-possession-of-pisa-first/ |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=Business Times |via=Penang Property Talk}}

SPICE Canopy was the first component of the project to be completed in 2015.{{Cite news |last=Tan |first=Sin Chow |date=21 Oct 2015 |title=SPICE project to wrap up final 20% of construction by end 2016 |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/Metro/Community/2015/10/21/Last-lap-to-finish-line-SPICE-project-to-wrap-up-final-20-of-construction-by-end-2016/ |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=The Star}} In the following year, upgrading works for SPICE Arena and the SPICE Aquatic Centre were finished.{{Cite news |last=Emmanuel |first=Marina |date=28 Jan 2016 |title=SP Setia unveils SPICE Aquatic Centre in Penang |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/01/124486/sp-setia-unveils-spice-aquatic-centre-penang |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=New Straits Times}} The SPICE Convention Centre opened in 2017. Amari SPICE Hotel, the final component, was operational by 2022.{{Cite news |last=Christopher Tan |date=13 Dec 2022 |title=Amari SPICE Penang targets Q1 2023 to be fully operational |url=https://www.buletinmutiara.com/amari-spice-penang-targets-q1-2023-to-be-fully-operational/ |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=Buletin Mutiara}} Excluding the hotel, the GBI-certified Setia SPICE complex had a gross development value of RM400 million.

File:SPICE Arena 2023.jpg at night]]{{Main|SPICE Arena}}Formerly named PISA, SPICE Arena is a multipurpose indoor sports arena containing an event space of {{Convert|80000|sqft|abbr=on}}. It is touted as the largest of its kind in northern Malaysia, with a maximum capacity of 18,000.{{Cite web |title=SETIA SPICE ARENA |url=https://spsetia.com/en-us/venues/setia-spice/our-facilities/arena |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |website=Setia SPICE |publisher=S P Setia}} Renovations between 2011 and 2016 included upgrades to the roof, façade, and air conditioning, chiller and surveillance systems. A covered walkway connects the arena to the SPICE Convention Centre.{{Cite book |url=https://www.pceb.my/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/pceb_miceguide.pdf |title=Penang Meeting Planners Guide 2022–2023 |publisher=Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau |year=2024}}

File:SPICE Arena 02.jpg]]{{Main|SPICE Convention Centre}}

Opened in 2017, the SPICE Convention Centre is an underground convention centre containing an event space of {{Convert|78959|m2|abbr=on}}, the largest of all convention centres in Penang.{{Cite web |title=SETIA SPICE CONVENTION CENTRE |url=https://spsetia.com/en-us/venues/setia-spice/our-facilities/setia-spice-convention-centre |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |website=Setia SPICE |publisher=S P Setia}} Its design was developed by Arup Group, which incorporated the concept of creating convention spaces underground while transforming the roof into a public garden.{{Cite web |date=Sep 2019 |title=Setia SPICE Convention Centre honoured at ACEM Engineering Awards 2019 |url=https://www.spsetia.com/en-us/in-the-news/content/2019/09/setia-spice-convention-centre-honoured-at-acem-eng |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |website=S P Setia}} The SPICE Convention Centre is recognised as the first hybrid solar-powered meeting venue in the world, equipped with a roof adorned by 654 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and daylighting features.{{Cite news |last=Thevadass |first=Logeiswary |date=20 Mar 2017 |title=SPICE Convention Centre runs on hybrid solar power |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2017/03/20/a-most-outstanding-convention-centre/ |access-date=18 Apr 2025 |work=The Star}}

File:SPICE Aqua.jpg]]{{Main|SPICE Aquatic Centre}}

Opened in 2016, the SPICE Aquatic Centre contains an Olympic-size swimming pool, diving platforms, function rooms, a gym, a sports clinic, and amenities catering for various indoor sports such as badminton and squash. A RM4 million photovoltaic system capable of generating up to {{Convert|980|MW|abbr=on}} per year has been installed on both the centre and the adjoining SPICE Canopy.

SPICE Canopy is a commercial development comprising 59 retail and foodservice outlets, with a total lettable floor area of {{Convert|98000|sqft|abbr=on}}. Completed in 2015, it draws electricity from the photovoltaic system that covers its inverted “trumpet” roof, which functions as a self-cleaning water funnel.

The last of the five components to be completed, Amari SPICE Hotel was opened in 2022 to coincide with the World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) held at Setia SPICE that year. The business hotel contains a total of 453 rooms.

• KL Sports City

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Spice Arena}}

• {{Official website|https://spsetia.com/en-us/venues/setia-spice/home}}

Category:1997 establishments in Malaysia

Category:Sports complexes