Singtel, Lendlease break ground on new Comcentre

Source: Singtel. From left: Singtel Group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon, Singapore Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat, and Lendlease Group CEO and MD, Tony Lombardo at the ground-breaking ceremony.

Singtel and Lendlease have officially broken ground on the new S$3 B Comcentre, Singtel's headquarters, which is in the heart of the Orchard Road precinct.

Slated to be completed in 2028, Comcentre is on track to be Singapore’s first end-to-end carbon neutral development. The two companies are partnering to redevelop Comcentre into a sustainable workplace featuring the latest smart building and digital technologies.

With Singtel as co-developer and anchor tenant, the new Comcentre will be a showcase of the latest innovation, including the 5G+ connectivity that the company currently provides across Singapore, with a slice of network dedicated to the actual development. This new benchmark in global connectivity will deliver ultra-fast speeds, seamless connectivity and robust security for tenants – a community of innovators, tech and finance leaders and retailers looking to the future.

The 5G+ network slice provides a critical platform for the deployment of technologies such as AI, which Singtel is both using and providing businesses for digital transformation.

The development will also feature AI-enabled robotics deployment, smart building systems that adapt to the environment as well as tech-enabled spaces for the future of work and retail.

Singtel Group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon said: “The transformation of Comcentre into a next- generation workplace reflects Singtel’s commitment to driving Singapore’s digital future and contributing to the rejuvenation of the Orchard Road precinct. We are remaking Comcentre into a new icon of innovation by integrating world-class 5G+ network slicing technology into the AI- enabled building, creating a place not just for ourselves but for businesses to use the latest technologies to develop new products and solutions and thrive.

"This will showcase how advanced connectivity, data and intelligent systems can transform the way people work, live and engage with their environment.”

Lendlease is providing development, construction and property and asset management services, complementing the digital and technology leadership skills of Singtel. Lendlease Group CEO and MD Tony Lombardo said: “The new Comcentre represents the kind of transformational placemaking Lendlease is known for – combining our deep expertise in sustainable development with a vision for how people will live, work and connect in the future. We are proud to partner with Singtel to deliver a world-class asset that not only redefines the workplace, but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable and connected living in Singapore and beyond.”

Designed by New York-based architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox and landscape architecture firm Field Operations, the new Comcentre is expected to have a total gross floor area of more than 110,000 sq m, comprising two 20-storey buildings of premium Grade A office space. A large, sheltered arcade and an urban space will integrate and connect the surrounding neighbourhood with the development.

The new Comcentre will also feature the largest elevated urban park in central Singapore and 20,000 sq m of lifestyle and retail spaces, including Singtel’s new flagship store, various food and beverage offerings, medical suites, a gym and an auditorium.

Underscoring its holistic approach to sustainability, the project is on track to be the first development to achieve ‘Triple Certification’ in Singapore and Asia: Green Mark 2021 Platinum Zero Energy Certification (2nd edition), International WELL Building Institute’s WELL v2 Core Platinum Certification, and International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) Zero Carbon Certification version 1.0. 

The new Comcentre is targeting to be the first large-scale high- rise commercial building in Singapore to achieve an ILFI Zero Carbon certification for environmentally-sustainable design, one of the most ambitious sustainability certifications globally. It also aims to be the first Green Mark Platinum (Zero Energy) building for a new build high-rise commercial building in Singapore, alongside all five sustainability badges.

It is designed to achieve 70% energy savings (from Green Mark 2005), a significant improvement from the base line for a large-scale high-rise commercial building. The redevelopment employs integrated digital delivery, which uses innovative technologies to streamline work processes, enhance collaboration and improve efficiency across the entire building lifecycle. The project will also employ advanced construction methods to reduce on-site labour needs by up to 30% and accelerate project delivery by up to 20%.