At The Initial Sama serviced apartments in former Eusoff College, University of Malaya's first female residence hall

[Note: The writer's stay was hosted by the property as a complimentary media stay. EdgeProp Singapore maintains full editorial independence over its reviews.]

The Initial Sama at 26 Evans Road opened in July 2025 as a serviced apartment complex offering extended stays focused on wellness. Built in 1958, the property was originally Eusoff College, the University of Malaya’s first female hall of residence. Its adaptive reuse as The Initial Sama retains the former campus layout.

Cover Projects, a turnkey operator and hospitality manager, won the Singapore Land Authority tender to lease and manage the property in 2023. It subsequently reconfigured the four low-rise blocks into 92 serviced apartments.

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The buildings sit on a 153,821 sq ft site, with landscaping by Singapore-based landscape architect Grant Associates. The apartments comprise 35 studios of 226 sq ft; 33 one-bedroom superior units of 377 sq ft; 12 one-bedroom deluxe units of 452 sq ft; and 12 two-bedroom units of around 700 sq ft.

The minimum stay is one week. Nightly rates start at $200 for a studio, $240 for a one-bedroom superior, $280 for a one-bedroom deluxe and $500 for a two-bedroom deluxe.

Prime location

Nestled near Nassim Road, the property is about 500m from the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Nassim Gate entrance. Opposite The Initial Sama is the Ministry of Education’s Evans Road campus, which includes sporting facilities such as a stadium, swimming complex and running track that are open to the public.

Several hospitals are nearby, including Gleneagles Hospital on Napier Road, Camden Medical Centre along Orchard Boulevard, and Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Orchard. The Botanic Gardens MRT interchange on the Circle and Downtown lines is about a 12-minute walk away.

A spokesperson for The Initial Sama said its guests include expatriates, business travellers and medical tourists. Occupancy varies seasonally, with holidays and peak travel periods generally seeing stronger demand. Average occupancy was about 60% in the initial 12 months.

Comfortable one-bedroom superior unit with a practical layout

During my visit, I stayed in a one-bedroom superior apartment. At 377 sq ft, the unit has separate living and sleeping areas, making it more practical than a conventional studio for guests staying a week or longer.

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The living area has a daybed sofa and a small dining table positioned opposite the television, with a kitchenette along one side. In the bedroom is a long desk along one wall providing a practical workspace, while a clothing rail and shelving above add storage.

Warm lighting gives the apartment a comfortable feel in the evening.

The en suite bathroom is relatively spacious, with red tiles that echo the building’s distinctive red-brick exterior.

However, there are some shortcomings. While the apartment includes a kettle, drinking-water refill stations are on the ground floor of each block. So, guests staying on the upper floors have to head downstairs to refill their bottles.

The bathroom’s water temperature and pressure fluctuated occasionally during my stay, making for an uncomfortable shower experience at times. The air-conditioning kept the room cool, but was fairly audible at night, which light sleepers may find noticeable.

Fuss-free arrival and a range of communal facilities

The reception area is compact but has sufficient seating for guests waiting to check in or for their ride. Check-in during my stay was straightforward, with staff on hand to assist.

Beyond the reception, glass-panelled doors open onto a rectangular courtyard linking the apartment blocks. Four trees anchor the landscaped space, with seating for guests who want to work, read or spend time outdoors. The courtyard also reinforces the campus-like character inherited from the property’s former use.

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For a serviced apartment complex with fewer than 100 units, the range of communal facilities is relatively extensive. These include a gym equipped for Hyrox-style training and a movement studio for activities such as yoga and Pilates.

Haven, a dedicated co-working space, sits within the gym area. During my visit, a few guests in sportswear were using their laptops, suggesting that some were moving between exercise and work. The arrangement could be useful for busy working professionals who want both facilities within easy reach.

An outdoor swimming pool occupies what was previously a basketball court at the former college. Next to it is a tented events area, while a multipurpose room can accommodate about 40 people in a classroom-style setting or up to 60 for a standing-only event.

The property’s wellness positioning is highlighted at the 807 sq ft bath house, which has a cold plunge pool and a magnesium-infused hot pool, aimed at reducing inflammation, easing muscle tension and supporting deeper, restful sleep. Use of the bath house comes at an additional charge.

Designed as a calm sanctuary, the environment maintains a steady sense of serenity. Although the serviced apartments were near full occupancy during my stay, it was noticeably quiet overall, with the communal areas never feeling crowded.

Wellness beyond the gym

Sama Wellness also operates a four-room spa at the property, offering massages and body treatments from 10am to 9pm.

Treatments include the Signature Sama, Magnesium Muscle Melt and Zinc-infused Restoration. The spa also offers treatments for pre- and post-partum mothers.

Before the session, the therapist would ask about areas of concern, explain the available options and recommend a treatment. Guests can also choose from a selection of massage oils; in my case, the therapist prepared a custom blend.

I opted for the Signature Sama, one of the spa’s most popular treatments, which uses rhythmic massage techniques to ease tension and promote relaxation from head to toe. I found the session both soothing and a welcome mental reset.

Together with the gym, movement studio and bath house, the spa reinforces the focus on wellness, although the experience of staying at The Initial Sama is shaped just as much by its unconventional setting as a heritage property.

Ultimately, it is the adaptive reuse of the former Eusoff College that sets The Initial Sama apart. For guests staying a week or longer, its low-rise setting and greenery offer a distinctly different experience from a conventional serviced apartment.