Although frequently referred to as the Hotel New World, the building in question was actually the Lian Yak Building (联益大厦), which was completed in 1971 and consisted of six-storeys and a basement garage.[3] The Hotel New World, previously known as the New Serangoon Hotel until 1984, was the main tenant occupying the top three floors,[5] and a branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank (now merged with United Overseas Bank) took up the ground level. A nightclub, Universal Neptune Nite-Club and Restaurant, was also situated on the second level of the building at the time of the collapse.[1][better source needed] The building had previously experienced a poisonous gas leak (caused by carbon monoxide) in some of the hotel rooms, first hitting the headlines on 30 August 1975, the day after the poisonous gas leak was reported