Myths Debunked: 4 Things You’ve Definitely Thought About Industrial Spaces And Why They Aren’t True
Forget everything you thought you knew about industrial spaces – a new generation of developments is here to break these age-old stereotypes.
While industrial districts are typically perceived as sensible clusters of factory blocks with little vibrancy, there are developments island-wide that have evolved with time to cater to a myriad of new business and leisure needs. In this article, we confront four common perceptions about Singapore’s industrial landscape, and how these modern-day properties put the lie to these myths.
Myth #1: Industrial Buildings Have Utilitarian Facades and Workspaces
Conventional, unattractive and purely functional – if these are some of your impressions of industrial buildings, you might have a change of mind after reading this.
Industrial developments today are no longer just traditional factory blocks, but have evolved to balance sensibility with elegance.
First impression counts. Many industrial developments now offer fashionable facades and posh lobbies that emulate office environments, enhancing the corporate image for companies and welcoming experiences for visitors.
For instance, KA Place and KA Centre at Tai Seng have recently undergone facelifts, unveiling new eye-catching building lobbies. The stylish 53 Serangoon North Ave 4 also boasts a newly-minted sheltered drop-off plaza after refurbishment last year, providing better convenience and grander welcomes for tenants and guests.
The five-storey prestigious industrial building UBIX is another development to look out for. Sited in the bustling Ubi industrial hub, UBIX will undoubtedly stand out with its full-glass façade and sleek welcome lobby when it achieves its TOP by Q4 2021. Businesses seeking high brand visibility can also choose from the prime ground floor units which boast prominent frontage and direct street-level access from the main road.
Beyond the exterior, some industrial facilities have also shifted away from traditional production setups and incorporated ultra-modern workspaces in its place. Take The Workshop for instance, a community-based collaborative workplace designed to meet present-day flexi-space needs. Nestled within city-fringe developments like Techplace II, Aperia and an upcoming branch at Pacific Tech Centre, it offers sophisticated agile environments perfect for small and micro-SMEs.
With access to chic common facilities like meeting rooms, event spaces and storage units, The Workshop provides convenience, affordability and varied product offerings for industries such as eCommerce, creatives, technology innovators and software developers. At the new facility at Pacific Tech Centre, there will also be a photo and broadcast studio specially catered for the creative sector.
Myth #2: Industrial Workspaces Are Only Suited For Heavy Industries
Industrial spaces are often misunderstood to host solely heavy-duty activities from manufacturing sectors.
In reality, selected industrial buildings such as those zoned Business 1 (B1) by URA, are assigned to house clean and light operations, as well as a variety of modern trades. For instance, there is a belt of light industrial properties under CapitaLand that provides efficiently designed spaces to facilitate business operations - from clean-room production to medical components and food manufacturing, and even R&D operations.
There is also a burgeoning trend of new industries taking up space within these industrial estates. In land-scarce Singapore, urban farming is gaining traction particularly in recent years. Developments like Techplace I and Techplace II house urban farming sites within their premises, which produce and distributes a variety of organic greens.
Strategically located within short driving distance from the Central Expressway and the city, Techplace I has also attracted eCommerce and online food-delivery service businesses to set up their distribution points within. As it is located near the residential district, the prime location allows these last mile delivery players to deliver their goods to the nearby consumers with ease and convenience.
The up-and-coming UBIX, too, is expected to welcome companies from fashionable industries like fintech, gaming, healthcare and biopharma. With its office-like specifications and proximity to town, it will undoubtedly draw in businesses looking to support their headquarter operations and customers residing in these precincts.
Myth #3: Industrial Properties Are Out Of The Way
Convenience is not a privilege that only employees in the city centre enjoy. Many key industrial precincts and properties are designed with connectivity and accessibility in mind, too.
At UBIX, a sheltered walkway links the development directly to the Ubi MRT station at its doorstep, providing future tenants with unparalleled connectivity. To cater to the growing numbers who cycle to work, end-of-trip facilities such as bicycle parking lots, showers facilities and lockers are available within its premises as well.
Located at the bustling Tai Seng district, light industrial spaces 3 Tai Seng Drive and 5 Tai Seng Drive are also just within minutes’ walk from the nearby MRT station.
Industrial properties are not all off the beaten track, too. Aside from its proximity to MRT stations, buildings like Aperia and 80 Bendemeer Road sit at the city fringe and are mere minutes away from the CBD by car.
Myth #4: Industrial Estates Are All Work and No Play
Who says it is all work and no fun in industrial districts? From fitness facilities to vibrant malls, you can find an array of leisure activities to engage in within and around the properties.
Located within the established Jurong Industrial Estate, Corporation Place boasts a tenants-only full-sized tennis court and a squash court – perfect for lunch-hour or after-work workouts.
If you prefer to sweat it out at a gym, consider the private Gym Pod with perks of having the whole space to yourself, with no peer pressure or the need to queue for equipment. If you are working near Ang Mo Kio or Bendemeer, you can conveniently reserve and access the facilities available at Techplace I and 80 Bendemeer Road.
If exercise is not your cup of tea, explore the Lavender-Kallang area where Aperia is! The development offers a three-storey retail and F&B podium integrated with business towers, where you can work, shop and eat – all under one roof. Alternatively, embark on a café-hopping trip with the thriving café scene in the area where you will be spoilt for choices. Think Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee Bar, Wimbly Lu and Tiramisu Hero, to name a few.
Want to explore further? Take a drive or the Downtown line to check out the hip café offerings amidst the clusters of industrial buildings in Kaki Bukit, such as Nasty Cookie Factory and Compound Coffee Co., which are nestled within Techview and Techlink respectively.
Now that the myths are debunked, are you ready to explore the industrial developments? Whether you are looking for an elevated workspace experience or a space boasting great connectivity, CapitaLand has extensive industrial offerings to meet your business needs.
Want to make CapitaLand’s modern industrial spaces your next place of business? Speak with us today.