A Bespoke Experience: The Perfect Work Space
The “Convert-To-Suit” space by CapitaLand Singapore (Business Park & Industrial) was customised to meet the innovation requirements of Schneider Electric’s East Asia & Japan headquarters.
When French MNC and Fortune Global 500 company Schneider Electric wanted to bring some 1,200 employees from different offices (Changi, Ang Mo Kio and Ayer Rajah) under one roof, it decided to consolidate its operations at a building along 50 Kallang Avenue.
Schneider Electric’s core business is in providing solutions designed to boost energy efficiency and sustainability; whether it is building a distribution facility that runs on renewable energy in all-weather conditions, or helping manufacturers automate their factory processes. The CapitaLand-owned property would house the energy management and automation company’s East Asia and Japan headquarters, as well as its first Innovation Hub in the region.
The company’s new space is conveniently located along the Kallang industrial belt at the fringe of Singapore’s thriving Central Business District (CBD) and within a short walk to Kallang and Bendemeer MRT Stations. As a high-specifications class building, it not only offers a mix of office and industrial spaces, but flexible arrangements for tenants with special requirements as well, including customised fit-out solutions.
Designed to showcase unique capabilities
To meet Schneider Electric’s unique requirements, CapitaLand set to work with the company to construct a “Convert-to-Suit” in the existing building. The refurbishment took about one year to complete, and the new space was officially opened in March 2018.
Prior to that, CapitaLand also provided support in relocating some of its other tenants to make the building available for Schneider Electric, and worked closely with them to seek a productivity grant for energy saving solutions from the Economic Development Board.
In keeping with the company’s energy efficiency and sustainability tenet, the nine-storey infrastructure — which has a gross floor area of over 18,500 square metres — has been retrofitted so that it can be powered by a hybrid electricity power source, with solar panels installed both onsite and offsite.
Other unique features that have been tailored to the company’s needs include the air conditioning and lift systems. The air conditioning system has been designed to meet the Green Mark requirement for energy efficiency. Meanwhile, Schneider Electric converted their cargo lifts to serve specific floors, facilitating faster movement of their employees within the building. To brighten up the office environment, windows were added to draw in more sunlight. The company also built an additional garden space on the previously empty rooftop, to host outdoor activities such as barbecues and other employee events.
A notable feature highlight is the space set aside for an Innovation Hub, a platform that enables the company to develop tailored solutions to optimise energy efficiencies. It is located on Level 1 of the building to better showcase Schneider Electric’s solutions and innovations to customers, partners, the media and educational institutions. Among its facilities are a Live Building Management System Room, a Live Data Center, Control Command Centre and a 120-seater auditorium.
Visitors to the Innovation Hub will get a chance to go on a free immersive and interactive guided tour with experts, who will walk them through Schneider Electric’s latest innovations and technology.
A Living Lab
In fact, Schneider Electric’s refurbished office space acts as a ‘living laboratory’ of the company’s own building and engineering technology, and showcases what the company is able to achieve with its own technology. For instance, it uses a system developed by Schneider Electric that can monitor and optimise energy usage throughout the facility.
“In our first year of operation, we welcomed 4,500 visitors to our Innovation Hub in 2018. The building is a good exhibition for us to promote our own products in real situations, and show that Schneider Electric truly walks the talk,” said a company spokesperson.
Looking ahead, Schneider Electric will continue to leverage its customised space to test out new technologies and innovations, as it grows its business in Singapore and the region.
Adapting to Growth
CapitaLand’s expertise in the “Build-to-Suit” and “Convert-to-Suit” categories has been honed by several years of experience across diverse industries and customers. The group sees such solutions, which involve redeveloping buildings and incorporating smart technologies to suit customers’ needs, as a way to unlock untapped value in its portfolio.
Its capability to develop properties stretches as far back as Courts Megastore in 2006 and Giant Hypermart in 2007, to DBS Asia Hub Phase 2 in 2015 and 50 Kallang Avenue in more recent years.
Its latest “Build-to-Suit” deals include the development and management of Grab’s new S$181 million headquarters in one-north business park, which was announced earlier this year. The building will house all of Grab’s employees in Singapore and consolidate its current offices to create the ride hailing company’s first dedicated physical facility. Its largest R&D centre will also be based in the building.
To learn how CapitaLand can customise a space to meet your organisation’s unique needs, reach out to us today.