Sime Darby Property Reaches Structural Milestone at Elmina City Centre Tower

Vertical Expansion in Selangor's Fastest-Growing Corridor

Sime Darby Property Bhd has completed the structural frame of Kanopi Residences, the first tower to rise within the 141.6-hectare Elmina City Centre precinct in Sungai Buloh, Selangor. The topping-out ceremony signals that the 36-storey development remains on schedule for handover in the third quarter of 2027, according to the developer.

Kanopi Residences carries a gross development value of RM299 million and comprises 499 apartments ranging from 550 to 1,200 square feet. The project sits on Persiaran Garcinia, adjacent to Elmina Lakeside Mall, and forms part of the broader City of Elmina masterplan, which positions the township as a mixed-use hub for commuters working in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.

Apollo Leong, chief operating officer for township development at Sime Darby Property, described the milestone as evidence of the company's ability to meet construction timelines in a market where delays have become common. He emphasized that the project supports a compact urban model, with schools, retail and green space accessible within a 15-minute walk or bicycle ride.

Compact Units Appeal to First-Time Buyers

The unit mix at Kanopi Residences targets young professionals, dual-income households and first-time buyers, a demographic that has driven much of the absorption in Selangor's outer townships over the past three years. Since launching in the fourth quarter of 2024, the project has recorded a 90 percent take-up rate, a figure that reflects both competitive pricing and limited supply of new high-rise inventory in the Sungai Buloh corridor.

Compact apartments in the 550 to 800 square foot range have gained traction across Greater Kuala Lumpur as land costs push developers toward higher-density typologies. Kanopi Residences offers studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations, with layouts designed to maximize usable floor area. The smallest units cater to single professionals and young couples, while the larger two-bedroom flats appeal to small families seeking proximity to international schools.

The development includes more than 35 amenities spread across multiple levels. Level 7 hosts community and recreational facilities, while the upper floors feature co-working lounges, fitness zones and sky terraces. The amenity program borrows design cues from the adjacent Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve, integrating biophilic elements and green walls throughout common areas.

Strategic Position Within Elmina Masterplan

Elmina City Centre occupies a central position within the broader 3,200-hectare City of Elmina township, which Sime Darby Property has been developing since 2013. The precinct is envisioned as a transit-oriented commercial and residential core, anchored by Elmina Lakeside Mall and connected to major expressways including the Guthrie Corridor Expressway and the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway.

Kanopi Residences is located approximately 300 meters from the mall, which opened in phases between 2021 and 2023 and now hosts over 200 retail and food-and-beverage tenants. The proximity to the mall reduces car dependency for daily errands, a feature the developer has marketed heavily to younger buyers concerned about traffic congestion and fuel costs.

Residents will also have access to the 121-hectare Elmina Central Park, a linear green corridor that connects six themed gardens via a five-kilometer biodiversity trail. The park functions as both a recreational asset and a stormwater management system, using bio-retention ponds and wetlands to manage runoff from the surrounding built-up areas.

Several national and international schools operate within a three-kilometer radius of Kanopi Residences, including institutions offering British, Australian and International Baccalaureate curricula. The presence of these schools has made Elmina attractive to expatriate families and Malaysian households seeking English-medium education for their children.

Recognition and Market Context

In 2025, Kanopi Residences received a Gold Award for Best Lifestyle High-Rise Development at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Malaysia, a regional industry competition that evaluates design, amenities and sustainability credentials. The award adds to a growing list of accolades for projects within the Elmina township, which has been recognized for its integrated planning and green infrastructure.

The project's strong absorption rate contrasts with weaker performance in other parts of the Klang Valley, where oversupply of serviced apartments and small-format condominiums has weighed on prices and transaction volumes. Analysts attribute Kanopi's success to its location within an established township with completed infrastructure, a factor that reduces execution risk for buyers.

Sime Darby Property has stated that Kanopi Residences will expand the residential offering at Elmina City Centre and contribute to the creation of sustainable, livable communities. The developer is expected to launch additional high-rise phases in the precinct over the next two years as it continues to monetize land parcels within the city centre zone.

Broader Implications for Selangor's Housing Market

The structural completion of Kanopi Residences arrives at a time when Selangor's housing market is recalibrating after a period of rapid supply growth. Developers are shifting focus from large suburban landed schemes to higher-density projects near transport corridors and employment nodes, a trend driven by rising land costs and changing buyer preferences.

Compact apartments priced below RM600,000 have emerged as the sweet spot for absorption in outer townships, particularly among millennials and Gen Z buyers who prioritize location and connectivity over unit size. Projects that offer completed infrastructure, proximity to retail and access to public amenities have consistently outperformed those in less mature precincts.

Kanopi Residences exemplifies this shift. By concentrating density within a mixed-use precinct and integrating wellness amenities, the project aligns with evolving demand for urban convenience in a suburban setting. The 15-minute city concept, while not yet fully realized across the entire Elmina township, represents a planning approach that is gaining traction among developers seeking to differentiate their projects in a crowded market.

As construction progresses toward the 2027 completion target, the project will serve as a test case for the viability of high-rise development in secondary townships outside Kuala Lumpur's core. If delivery timelines hold and unit quality meets expectations, Kanopi Residences could set a benchmark for similar projects in other parts of Greater Kuala Lumpur.