Current location site: Singapore

Supporting rapid expansion

Home to half of all internet, mobile and social media users worldwide, Asia Pacific has been driving the growth in Twitter users. In 2015, Twitter opened its Asia Pacific headquarters at CapitaGreen in Singapore. Following a few years of expansion, they outgrew the 22,000 sq ft office on Market Street.

But it was not as simple as just adding more desks to the existing space. For Twitter, the workplace is intentionally designed around how its Tweeps like to work, to ensure they feel the most comfortable and most productive. 

We see collaboration as the centre of the workplace, so we’ve put in curated spaces and activities where employees can interact, such as social areas and catered meals weekly.

Derrick Wong, Head of APAC for Real Estate & Workplace, Twitter

Best of both worlds

In early 2020, Twitter flagged the need for more room to CapitaLand but Grade A office space in the central business district was hard to come by, much less in the same building.

Following CapitaLand’s successful testbed of its core-flex model at Capital Tower in Tanjong Pagar and Asia Square Tower 2 in Marina Bay CBD with its coworking partner The Work Project (TWP), the latter had also started operating in CapitaGreen, with over 20,000 square feet of space.

As a result, CapitaLand and TWP were able to offer Twitter Asia Pacific a solution that integrates CapitaGreen’s conventional office space (core) and flexible workspace (flex). Under CapitaLand’s core-flex model, the social media company can continue to expand within TWP’s flex space or opt to move into CapitaLand’s core space when it becomes available. For now, Twitter Asia Pacific is starting with about 100 seats at the flex space.

While TWP typically customises its space for customers, the coworking operator was able to accommodate Twitter’s requests even further as it was fitting out the space at the same time.

The in-house interior design and graphic design teams from TWP visited Twitter Asia Pacific’s core space at CapitaGreen and spoke to various Twitter stakeholders across the regions such as Construction Project Managers, AV/IT staff to understand how Twitter designs their offices. Both TWP and CapitaLand aimed to make the flex space as similar to Twitter’s core space as possible, so that employees would experience both spaces as one seamless office.

Through regular engagements with the Twitter team, we found out early on about their wish to grow within CapitaGreen. This gave us enough runway to brainstorm internally and with TWP to come up with a solution that ticks all the boxes.

Corrine Toh, Head of Leasing & Enterprise Solutions, CapitaLand Singapore

MEETING NEEDS FLEXIBLY

While Wong knew intuitively that CapitaLand’s core-flex model would provide flexibility in meeting Twitter’s needs, it was during the pandemic that this came to the fore.

“I am very glad with the acquisition of the flex space since it really gives me the buffer that I need,” he added.

It is this flexibility that allows Wong to reconsider how he wants to use the flex space, which was meant to be an extension of office space. He is now planning to utilise the core space for employees’ general workplace needs and to use the flex space to meet targeted needs.

For example, while the sales teams might be able to do most of their work remotely, they would need a venue to host an inperson event for clients. This is where the TWP space, potentially, can come in.

The proximity between the core and flex spaces would make it even easier for them to run the event.

The pace of change evolves very quickly for tech companies and we need to be nimble in how we use our space. That's why it’s important that we have a sound partnership with a landlord who not only provides us with a physical space but also gives us support as we pivot and experiment to see what works.

Derrick Wong, Head of APAC for Real Estate & Workplace, Twitter

And it is crucial to get the space right, as it directly impacts employee productivity and even retention, especially in an industry where competition is rife for top talent, explained Wong. If a new hire does not have a great start such as having the basic provisions to enable him or his work or he does not feel readily as part of the community, the less than ideal start will have an adverse impact.

As the number of employees increases, more space would be needed invariably. But the conversation should not always be about committing more resources in tandem with growth. A flex space, which is also scalable, is a welcome alternative.

“What will a workplace in the new normal look like? The industry is still trying to work it out,” said Wong. “But what I do know is that having a core-flex model that’s super flexible will really enable us to navigate the uncertainties during this time.”

Having a core-flex model that’s super flexible will really help my costs and enable us to navigate the uncertainties during this time.

Derrick Wong, Head of APAC, Real Estate & Workplace, Twitter

Workspace of the future

Work has become increasingly flexible and collaborative and organisations are transforming their workspaces into intentional nodes for collaboration, engagement and interaction. With a wide-ranging portfolio, CapitaLand is able to integrate conventional office space and flexible space, such as coworking and meeting facilities, into a hybrid workplace solution that enables tenants to develop a culture of innovation, promote talent attraction and retention, while optimising costs.