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Building and Construction Sector Show Collective Force at COP28

23 December, 2023/in News, Sustainability/by Editor

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The built environment was centre stage during the ‘Multilevel Action, Urbanisation and Built Environment/Transport’ day at the UN Climate Summit COP28. The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), a global network of 75+ national Green Building Councils (GBCs), and leading businesses in the buildings and construction sector presented a unified call to action to political leaders, stressing the critical role of the built environment to deliver climate solutions.

The Open Letter was accompanied by a policy briefing that laid out the regulatory outcomes urgently needed to scale up action and deliver on the sector’s huge potential. It also supported the Buildings Breakthrough (a high-level political announcement that was launched and endorsed by 25+ countries in the context of the Breakthrough Agenda global process), calling for ‘near-zero emission and resilient buildings as the new normal by 2030’.

The statement

The Open Letter went beyond simply mitigating the negative impacts of the sector’s emissions, and made bold claims about its potential for enormous contributions to social equity and financial prosperity. The letter highlighted that beyond the opportunity to reduce 37% of total carbon emissions, the building and construction sector could also create $1.5 trillion in sustainable investment opportunities in emerging markets, and lift 2.8 billion people out of energy poverty.

The letter was fronted by signatories of WorldGBC’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment (a leadership initiative in the sustainable built environment arena), WorldGBC corporate partners (including ARUP, Buro Happold, CEMEX, Saint Gobain, Signify, Siemens, Skanska, Stora Enso, Schneider Electric, Knauf Insulation, WSP) and Green Building Councils (representing 46,000 private and public sector members around the world). A total of over 350 organisations and businesses put their support behind the letter and the numbers are growing daily. These leaders operate across every region on the planet, both on a local and global scale.

The challenge

The building and construction sector accounts for nearly 40% of global energy-related carbon emissions. It is a huge industry nexus and demand sector, with cities consuming 70% of all global resources. Whilst awareness of the sector’s impact and its potential as a climate solution is rising, so are its operating emissions, which have grown by an average of 1% year on year from 2015 to 2021.

The resilience of the global building stock is insufficient to cope with a growing population alongside the impacts of climate change. Flooding and extreme heat pose an imminent risk not only to human life, but also to social cohesion and economic stability.

Last but certainly not least, the financial stakes are high. We saw companies that are not treating decarbonisation as a serious business need and are therefore already paying a carbon premium in the short term; in the long term, they will miss out on emerging opportunities to secure market share, faced with shifting decarbonisation investment and regulatory environments.

The Open Letter ask

The WorldGBC network and its partners are calling for:

Strong political leadership to scale the sustainable transformation of the built environment.
Climate Mitigation: Parties commit to the integration of building codes, sub-national policy and commitment within their Nationally Determined Contributions, and pledge to double their energy efficiency improvements and triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Climate Adaptation: Parties agree on a global goal for adaptation and recognise the role of buildings in anticipating, adapting, and responding to climate impacts and commit to making greater efforts to integrate resilience and adaptation into existing policies and programmes, including within the building sector.
Climate Finance: Parties agree to increased funding for energy efficiency improvements and Loss and Damage, and support a global reform of financial institutions for more just, equitable and effective debt lending and borrowing.
The Global Stocktake: Parties to commit to the Buildings Breakthrough as a platform for collaboration between national governments and stakeholders to accelerate action and optimise the role of buildings in closing the gaps identified in the Global Stocktake.

Cristina Gamboa, CEO, WorldGBC, said, “Climate Action is often misunderstood as human efforts to save the planet. In fact, it is humanity’s effort to save itself and the environment we have created to facilitate prosperity, equity and growth. It’s about every government that wants to maintain stability and cohesion, every business that wants to remain successful and financially viable, and every person who enjoys the comforts of modern life. In the built environment, we are falling short of the goals that will preserve us. And we don’t need to. Solutions already exist to secure a better future. We can still get back on track. To do that, we need an enabling policy environment, industry ambition, and finance to leverage the huge potential of the built environment. The numbers of industry leaders backing our Open Letter make a powerful statement to send to policymakers. The industry is ready for change. The world is calling for change. This COP28 can be the moment where leaders uphold their commitments and set out an energy-efficient, regenerative, and just transition for the building sector. Are you ready?”

Find out more here or follow the campaign on social media at #BuildingTheTransition.

Lendlease Previews Podium for Development

22 December, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Lendlease recently gave an exciting preview of its game-changing digital platform solution Podium for Development (P4D) – a transformative digital ecosystem built on common data standards that connect developers, designers, and the supply chain, to deliver higher construction productivity and promote sustainable building methods – together with go-to-market partner Surbana Jurong, developers, partners and stakeholders across the built environment.

Instead of the months involved in design using conventional methods, P4D accelerates directly from design to supply by using its automation algorithms to configure optimal designs using a ‘kit of parts’¹ defined by manufacturers. This leads to reduced waste in time, cost and materials. At the event held at Google Singapore Campus attended by key players in the industry, many shared the challenges faced by the built environment sector, from persistently low productivity growth to continued supply chain issues. The consensus reached was that we are facing a critical need to transform our conventional building practices and leverage digital innovations like P4D, along with new ways of thinking including DfMA approaches to build better, faster and more sustainably.

With Managing Director of the Global AI Business at Google Cloud Caroline Yap delivering a keynote on the potential of generative AI in shaping the built environment, it is clear that now is the time for the built environment to reap the benefits of artificial intelligence and machine learning. P4D also signals that digitalisation will enable conventional career opportunities within the built environment to venture into new technology-based career pathways, further cementing Singapore’s role as a global technology hub for nurturing talents.

The recent exclusive look follows the go-to-market partnership announcement with Surbana Jurong in October to deliver P4D to the global built environment sector. Both parties are in advanced negotiations with other developers in Singapore and internationally, leveraging P4D to design and deliver projects in the future.

Government agencies like the Building and Construction Authority, Singapore Economic Development Board and JTC Corporation support the vision of a collaborative ecosystem designed to streamline the processes from design to supply, increasing project development certainty and reducing the materials and waste produced with the use of kits-of-parts. JTC collaborated with Lendlease to jointly develop design digitalisation tools that can automate preliminary industrial building design as Building Information Models (BIM). This function, which is built off P4D, allows for optimisation of the design process and enhanced coordination.

In addition, this initiative generates new job opportunities and enhances productivity in the built environment. At an industry level, coordinated and collective action is needed to reduce materials and waste, and consequently embodied carbon, and to deliver more sustainable outcomes for generations to come.

According to Richard Kuppusamy, Chief Product Officer and Head of Digital Asia, Lendlease Digital, “The existing approach to creating the built environment is unsustainable. P4D represents the possibilities we can achieve if we can reimagine how we build as an industry. We have a shared responsibility to adopt a more concerted and collaborative approach enabled by the technology we have today to build better and more sustainably.”

Junie Fo, Vice President and Head, Commercial & Professional Services, Singapore Economic Development Board said, “P4D is an example of how local businesses and talent in the built environment sector can leverage advanced digital and collaborative tools to enhance productivity and advance sustainable practices. With Singapore as an ideal testbed for innovative digital solutions, we welcome more like-minded companies to partner with our ecosystem and spearhead new initiatives that will shape the future of our industries and create new digital roles.”

Caroline Yap, Managing Director, Global AI Business, Google Cloud, adds, “Gen AI has the potential to dramatically transform our modern construction industry. Built entirely on Google Cloud and Vertex AI, P4D is an AI-powered digital ecosystem and platform which has the potential to increase the productivity, sustainability and profitability of the digital supply chain, and in ways we’ve not seen before.”

¹ Kit-of-parts refer to standardised prefabricated building components in modular dimensions which are applicable to various building typologies.

Fighting the Danger of Overprotection on Concrete Repairs

21 December, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Is it possible to give concrete too much protection against reinforcement corrosion? Research indicates that this is so, although no consensus exists on the exact mechanisms and how to avoid it. However, following logical reasoning, Cortec® recommends applying Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors to mitigate the problem.

What is overprotection?

Overprotection occurs when metal reinforcement in one part of the concrete is more protected than in another. This can happen when a new concrete patch is laid, replacing contaminated or carbonated concrete with uncontaminated concrete that has a high pH and therefore a naturally protective alkaline environment. The resulting difference in corrosion potential between the patch and the adjacent concrete eventually leads to corrosion in surrounding areas, thus transferring the original problem elsewhere. This is known as the ring anode/halo effect.

Examples of overprotection

Overprotection can also happen in a variety of other ways. One is through the common practice of cathodic protection (CP). The challenge of calculating the appropriate number of anodes for an area and removing concrete to install them is compounded by the fact that it is not possible to gain access to and treat all parts of the rebar equally.

This leaves some portions of the metal reinforcement with more protection than others, an imbalance that could show itself over time by corrosion in areas with less protection. A similar effect may happen with the application of an epoxy coating to one part of a rebar and not to another. Using other corrosion protection measures may cause a similar imbalance when over-applied.

Even Out the Corrosion Potential

The use of MCI® Surface Applied Corrosion Inhibitors (SACIs) makes it easier to balance out the corrosion potential. Rather than leaving a well-protected patch surrounded by chloride-contaminated concrete, contractors can apply MCI® SACIs to the undisturbed concrete to reduce the difference in corrosion potential between the two portions.

Fortunately, MCI® SACIs are easy to apply by spraying onto the concrete like a standard surface treatment. As time progresses, Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors in the MCI® SACI work their way deeper in through the concrete pores toward the metal reinforcement. Their metal affinity allows them to form a protective molecular layer on the embedded rebar when they encounter it.

MCI® SACI Options

MCI®-2020 contains the highest concentration of surface applied Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors on the market and is therefore the number one recommended SACI for this purpose. Typically, a coating or water repellent should be applied on top of this to keep moisture out and MCI® in.

Two-in-one MCI®/ water repellents are also available for greater convenience, albeit with smaller doses of Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors (MCI®-2018 combines MCI® with a 100% silane water repellent, and MCI®-2019 combines MCI® with a 40% silane water repellent).

Take a Balanced Approach to Corrosion Protection

Concrete repairs are too labour-intensive to make the mistake of overprotection. By being sure to protect the concrete around the patch area with Migrating Corrosion Inhibitors, contractors can take one step ahead of the chain reaction of corrosion that is common in less protected areas. Contact Cortec® to learn more about the advantages of mitigating corrosion in reinforced concrete with MCI®.

Accor Opens Five New Hotels Across Asia

20 December, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Accor, a leader in hospitality, recently announced the openings of five distinctive properties across Asia, showcasing the Group’s commitment to providing diverse and unforgettable experiences for travellers. The new openings align with Accor’s vision of shaping the future of hospitality, and look forward to welcoming guests to these remarkable destinations for the holiday season.

Garth Simmons, Chief Executive Officer, Premium, Midscale and Economy Division for Accor in Asia, expressed excitement about these additions to the portfolio, stating “Accor is strategically expanding its presence across Asia to cater to the evolving needs of today’s travellers. Our vision is to provide elevated hospitality experiences for all segments, ensuring that each stay is marked by unparalleled service and comfort. These openings reflect our commitment to a diversified portfolio, offering a range of options for every type of traveller.”

To date, Accor has opened doors of 26 properties across Asia, continually strengthening the Group’s position in the region. The approach involves not only increasing the number of hotels but also upscaling properties across the premium, midscale, and economy portfolio simultaneously. Accor’s new openings include:

ibis PJCC Petaling Jaya (Malaysia)

Accor’s newly opened ibis PJCC Petaling Jaya sets the stage for accessible and quality travel experiences, catering to both business and leisure travellers. Located strategically in Petaling Jaya Commercial City, the hotel offers seamless connectivity to major expressways and renowned shopping destinations such as Sunway Pyramid. The hotel features 161 contemporary rooms with signature Sweet Beds™ by ibis, Smart TVs, and a complimentary minibar, with the lobby boasting a stylish design offering a Lobby Bar Café, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Facilities include a gym, a skyline-view swimming pool, and a children’s playroom. Dining options at ibis PJCC Petaling Jaya include ibis Kitchen, an all-day dining restaurant, and four meeting rooms for corporate events.

Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua (Philippines)

Situated in Metro Manila’s central business district, the Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua offers seamless access to corporate and leisure travellers, surrounded by upscale malls for shopping and dining. The 152 rooms and suites feature contemporary design. All suites come with spacious working, living, and dining areas, as well as a kitchen, suitable for corporate travellers and families on extended stays. Noteworthy amenities include the Tempus all-day dining restaurant, an infinity swimming pool, and a Lobby Lounge with panoramic city views on the 21st floor.

Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport (Japan)

Embracing the design concept of “Tokyo Eclectic,” the hotel seamlessly blends ancient Tokyo with its futuristic counterpart, featuring décor inspired by Japanese subcultures such as manga and anime. Boasting 363 guestrooms, a uniquely designed restaurant and bar with a modern take on a traditional Japanese teahouse, a fitness centre, meeting rooms, and a dedicated crew lounge, the property caters to both leisure and business travellers. The property is set to be the 9th Mercure hotel to operate in Japan, contributing to Accor’s portfolio of 21 properties in the country.

Grand Mercure Lampung (Indonesia)

Grand Mercure Lampung is located in Sumatra’s tallest building, residing above the upcoming Grand Mall. The 198-meter-high hotel blends modernity with cultural richness, showcasing 344 contemporary rooms, including rare Pool Suites and an exclusive Penthouse with a private indoor swimming pool and a breathtaking 360-degree city view. Dining options include Flamboyant Restaurant and Sora Lounge offering diverse culinary experiences. Other facilities include event spaces, a wellness floor featuring a swimming pool, a fitness centre, and a spa. As the ninth Grand Mercure in Indonesia, this property reflects Accor’s commitment to excellence in the country.

Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre (India)

Accor launched its 24th Novotel property in India, the Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre (NJCC), positioned near the Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre (JECC), South Asia’s premier venue for exhibitions and conventions. Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre offers 226 well-appointed rooms, strategic proximity to Jaipur International Airport, and 42 acres of space, featuring pillar-less exhibitions-convention-entertainment facilities. With a Grand Ball Room, breakout meeting rooms, and a 70,000 sq. ft. lawn, the property caters to MICE events, conferences, weddings, and celebrations. Three dining venues, including Food Exchange and Ravanta, provide guests with diverse culinary experiences.

As travellers gear up for the festive season and plan their journeys into 2024, Accor envisions these new hotel openings as a catalyst for reshaping the hospitality industry. So far in 2023, Accor has opened 26 hotels with over 6,000 keys across Asia. The group’s dedication to consistently delivering exceptional experiences positions it at the forefront of elevating and contributing significantly to the industry’s revival and growth.

Singapore Pavilion at COP28 Showcases Robust Ecosystem for Accelerating Collective Climate Action

19 December, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Singapore Pavilion at the 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) successfully concluded on 12 December 2023. Themed “Accelerating Collective Climate Action”, the programmes at the Pavilion showcased Singapore’s commitment to global climate goals, emphasised the city-state’s vision to achieve net zero by 2050, and highlighted innovative and collaborative solutions backed by a strong ecosystem of partners across the private and people sectors, international organisations, and governments.

The Pavilion attracted in-person visitorship of more than 6,000, along with nearly 60,000 unique online visitors across its 12 days of programming. The diverse range of programmes – involving around 100 partner entities, including panel discussions, workshops, fireside chats as well as “pitch days” — covered multifaceted climate issues and provided attendees with opportunities for knowledge exchange and partnership development.

Numerous noteworthy announcements, launches and memoranda of understanding (MOU) signings took place at the Pavilion, as well as key announcements demonstrating concrete action Singapore is taking to support and accelerate the green transition in the region and beyond. These include the FAST P (Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership), Singapore-Asia Taxonomy and the Transition Credits Coalition (TRACTION). In addition, Singapore signed its first Implementation Agreement with Papua New Guinea on carbon credits cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

During the Pavilion’s closing ceremony, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said: “I am heartened by the ‘bias to action’ that we have witnessed here at the Pavilion. Many new climate initiatives and partnerships have been unveiled on this stage, by the Singapore government as well as our Partners. Like Singapore itself, our Pavilion has been ‘small, but mighty’. It is not about size, but impact. It is not about quantity, but quality. And it is not about making a once-off splash, but a sustained commitment with follow-through actions.”

The Singapore Pavilion was visited by foreign dignitaries, organisational and business leaders and key change-makers in the global climate ecosystem, reflecting Singapore’s position as a trusted regional and international partner that convenes climate collaborators and solutions. The Pavilion has provided a space for the private, public and people sectors from various countries and backgrounds to gather and work towards advancing climate action and building a better and more sustainable future for all.

All images courtesy of COP28 Singapore Pavilion.

Newer Premium Office Buildings More Well-positioned to Build ESG-compliant Portfolio

18 December, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In Asia-Pacific, newer premium office buildings are well-positioned to meet the rising demand for the ‘flight-to-quality’ and ‘flight to green’ trends, as companies seek quality workspaces to attract top talent, as outlined in Knight Frank’s Horizon: Asia-Pacific Tomorrow report.

With 79.4% of buildings in Asia-Pacific aged 40 years or younger (vs 33.2% in North America and 55.0% in EMEA), the nascent office market offers an opportunity to build cutting-edge office buildings with the latest amenities without the risk of becoming obsolete. This aligns with the growing emphasis on high-quality office space.

The forecast is one of three top predictions from the real estate consultancy’s flagship report, which provides predictions for the commercial property market over the next 12 months, including emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges. Three reasons why the Asia-Pacific office sector is the backbone of the office-first hybrid strategy include:

Emphasis on newer and ESG-certified buildings
Access to a valuable talent pipeline in APAC
Prominent emergence of a two-speed market with a bifurcation in the Asia-Pacific office sector

Trend 1: Emphasis on newer and ESG-certified buildings

The newer premium office buildings in Asia-Pacific are more well-positioned to build an Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)-compliant portfolio aligned with the growing preference among APAC occupiers for modern, sustainable workspaces that enhance employee satisfaction, wellness, collaboration and productivity. The emphasis on newer and ESG-certified buildings is crucial as firms strive to create environments that seamlessly facilitate work, reflection, and collaboration.

Christine Li, head of research, Asia-Pacific and report author, says “The less mature office market in Asia-Pacific proves advantageous, enabling the development of state-of-the-art office buildings with modern facilities without the concurrent risk of obsolescence, a preference gaining traction among occupiers in the region. Most of these CBD (Central Business District) office buildings in Asia-Pacific are newer, which suggests that they are more likely integrated with the latest technologies that enhance user experiences. Obsolescence is also minimised as retrofit works are less complicated and cost-effective.”

Ms Li adds, “As the ‘flight to quality’ and ‘flight to green’ trends gain momentum, Asia-Pacific emerges as the optimal choice for workplace transformation due to its up-to-date building technologies and availability of prime, ESG-compliant spaces tailored to company requirements. It also starkly contrasts to North America and EMEA where over 30% of office buildings, built before 1960, face a high risk of obsolescence, unable to keep pace with evolving tenant preferences in the hybrid work era.”

Trend 2: Access to a valuable talent pipeline

As the global ‘war for talent’ intensifies, Asia-Pacific stands out with its sizeable working population, with a significant portion of them residing in urban areas and a literacy rate averaging around 94%, per Knight Frank research analysis. The region boasts a valuable talent pipeline characterised by youth and skill. Given this advantageous demographic landscape, Asia-Pacific remains an attractive location for multinational corporations to establish their presence, minimising manpower challenges. This, in turn, ensures a consistent demand for office space.

Trend 3: Prominent emergence of a two-speed market

Multiple evidence indicates a bifurcation in the Asia-Pacific office sector. On the one hand, we are observing occupiers with some financial capabilities taking advantage of the softening leasing market to relocate to newer and ESG-compliant buildings to enhance the employee experience and fortify ESG credentials; on the other, occupiers are being financially prudent towards portfolio planning amidst the prevailing headwinds and expansionary sentiments remained subdued.

Ms Li adds, “Growth in headcount and capital expenditure (CAPEX) is highly contingent on the macroeconomic situation for the latter, and with economic turmoil brewing, companies continue to be conservative. This is supported by the Q3 2023 Knight Frank Cresa Corporate Real Estate Sentiment Index – a unique index assessing the outlook of the global corporate real estate community in relation to the growth, portfolio, and workplace dynamics – where growth dynamics have seen two consecutive quarters of improving sentiment, although they remain negative.”

Tim Armstrong, global head of occupier strategy and solutions, said, “Although office attendance has now stabilised in the Asia-Pacific region, the rebound in demand for office space has yet to keep up with the strong employment rate. For 2024, while the trends of ‘flight-to-quality’ and ‘flight-to-green’ persist, the enthusiasm for expansion will be restrained. Tenants will continue to approach portfolio planning cautiously due to the difficult macroeconomic conditions. However, it also proves to be a good time to review portfolios to capitalise on softer rents.”

MTR Lab Announces Investment in WeMaintain

15 December, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

MTR Lab Company Limited (“MTR Lab”) has joined as a new investor in WeMaintain alongside existing investors including Eurazeo, Red River West and Bpifrance, the French Sovereign Wealth Fund. The investment will support WeMaintain’s expansion across Asia-Pacific, including entering the Hong Kong market, as the scaleup company looks to digitally transform the building operations industry, starting with lift and escalator maintenance. This marks MTR Lab’s first foray into investing in an overseas startup and supporting a B Corporation – a company verified to meet high standards of accountability, transparency, and social and environmental performance.

Founded in France in 2017, WeMaintain has disrupted the traditional model of building maintenance with end-to-end solutions, Internet of Things (IoT) integration, and predictive maintenance capabilities. Through its digital platform and on-site engineering expertise, WeMaintain allows for remote, live monitoring of building operations, including lifts and escalators, and leverages data analytics to enable predictive and prescriptive maintenance. Today, the company stands as an international PropTech pioneer, actively redefining building operations and facilities maintenance with its transformative technologies.

Powering a smarter and greener future together

WeMaintain’s data-driven solutions not only reduce equipment downtime and safety incidents, they also enhance the efficiency of lift and escalator maintenance by saving time and energy consumed for a smarter, safer, and more sustainable urban environment. The equipment data collected by WeMaintain’s devices, coupled with input from field engineers, provides valuable insights into component utilisation which, in turn, enables the identification of repair and replacement needs.

This facilitates the implementation of prescriptive maintenance solutions that proactively flag necessary repairs, optimise maintenance schedules and priorities, and facilitate capital expenditure planning. With the investment from MTR Lab and other investors, WeMaintain will strengthen its research and development efforts, enhance product development in both software and hardware and expand in Asia-Pacific.

As an innovation investor, MTR Lab is committed to introducing technologies across sectors to drive improvements and co-create a smarter, greener future. This investment in WeMaintain aligns with MTR Lab’s focus on smart city technology and sustainability, as well as the Hong Kong SAR Government’s policy direction of encouraging the introduction of smart technologies in housing estate management, by advancing the digitalisation of lift maintenance and building operations. Beyond financial investment, MTR Lab hopes to support WeMaintain as a strategic investor to help the scaleup company grow in Asia-Pacific including Hong Kong.

“WeMaintain’s vision to advance how people and technology come together to manage buildings, and its efforts in fostering more efficient, predictive and sustainable infrastructure solutions, strongly align with MTR Lab’s goal of promoting smart city development,” said Mr Michael Chan, Managing Director of MTR Lab. “By supporting the company’s expansion and enabling it to extend its industry-leading maintenance solutions across borders, we hope to contribute to the development and adoption of smart city solutions in Asia-Pacific and help improve the region’s building operations sector in an efficient and sustainable way.”

Mr Benoit Dupont, Co-founder & CEO of WeMaintain, said, “Asia is central to our global strategy, and we’re thrilled to leverage the expertise and support of MTR Lab as we expand operations across the region. What distinguishes WeMaintain is our unique combination of on-the-ground expertise, an in-house team of skilled data scientists, and IoT engineers dedicated to ensuring the highest data quality. Substantial investments have been made in data science and IoT, with rigorous training of our algorithmic models to proficiently recognise and identify pertinent information. Armed with these capabilities, our goal is to revolutionise the building operations sector, not only in Europe but worldwide.”

Elevating the future of building operations

WeMaintain’s mission is to put the best of people and technology at the heart of the built environment. With an existing presence in France, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, and over 2,500 buildings in its maintenance portfolio, the company’s IoT-based solutions have demonstrated exceptional results, including an average of 30% energy savings per year on frequently used elevators and a 20% reduction in breakdowns on high-density sites.

With clients like SNCF (France’s national state-owned railway company) and Keolis, the company has proven its solution delivers higher efficiencies and a superior customer experience. The successful investment from MTR Lab will accelerate WeMaintain’s future advancements and growth in high-potential Asia-Pacific markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore, where it established an operational base in 2021, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. This expansion aligns with MTR Lab’s mission to support innovative startups driving positive impact in the regions they serve.

Kaer Delivers Cooling as a Service Model for Paya Lebar Green

14 December, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Singapore-headquartered Kaer is executing its third project with global real estate group Lendlease, this time for Paya Lebar Green, a development between Certis and Lendlease. Lendlease’s adoption of the CaaS model on its third project demonstrates the growing large-scale adoption of sustainable cooling solutions in building projects across the region. Kaer’s CaaS solution is currently deployed at two of Lendlease’s projects – Paya Lebar Quarter and The Exchange, TRX. The introduction of the CaaS model at Paya Lebar Green brings Kaer’s CaaS portfolio to 20 million sq. ft of space with 250,000 tons of CO2 saved every year.

Justin Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Kaer, said: “The CaaS business model is playing a crucial role in decarbonising our built environment, while simultaneously reducing operating costs for owners and driving up building valuations. We are extremely proud to continue our partnership with Lendlease, a global leader in delivering low-carbon, Grade-A offices and mixed-use developments. We look forward to unveiling this latest project in Singapore’s vibrant Paya Lebar precinct.”

Set to comprise the most sustainable development in Singapore, Paya Lebar Green has been awarded the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification and is the first development in Singapore to attain all five sustainability badges under the latest BCA Green Mark 2021 scheme. Set for completion in 2024, Paya Lebar Green will serve as the headquarters for Certis, with approximately 220,000 square feet of prime, decentralised Grade-A office space.

Kaer’s CaaS offering will deliver another efficient cooling system for Lendlease’s portfolio, and through the Kaer Connect app, will allow Kaer and Lendlease to measure and report carbon emissions down to the minute. It provides real-time tracking to assess energy efficiency and associated carbon emissions data for regulatory reporting, making it seamless to monitor, report and, improve ESG metrics over time.

Richard Paine, Head of Development (Singapore), Lendlease, added: “Through Kaer’s CaaS model, we’ve achieved significant portfolio efficiency gains, reducing our carbon emissions. With this sustainable cooling model introduced at Paya Lebar Green, we are elevating our sustainability efforts even further, as part of broader strides towards Lendlease’s global Mission Zero ambitions.”

As part of its Mission Zero commitment, Lendlease is tracking to achieve Net Zero Carbon (Scope 1 & 2) in Asia by 2025. With approximately 90% of total carbon emissions by Lendlease globally attributed to Scope 3 emissions – from upstream activities, such as the manufacturing of building materials and downstream activities, such as emissions from the use of electricity and natural gas by building tenants – Lendlease is turning to tackling Scope 3 emissions in its journey to reach Absolute Zero by 2040.

Kaer’s ongoing expansion across Asia underscores the escalating demand for sustainable cooling solutions, driven by rapid urbanisation and climate change, and aligns with global calls for a carbon-resilient future.

Crafting a New Era of Workspaces: Cultivating Environments for Well-being and Sustainability

30 November, 2023/in News/by Editor

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Building Review Journal speaks to Joanne Morris, Head of Design and Delivery for Asia, at Unispace about the intersection of contemporary workspace design, sustainability, and the imperative shift towards holistic, community-centric environments

In today’s swiftly evolving corporate landscape, the nexus between employee well-being, productivity, and environmental sustainability has become a pivotal focus for businesses worldwide. The seismic shift triggered by the COVID era has rendered traditional office setups obsolete. As we emerge into a post-pandemic world, the call is for adaptive, responsive workspaces that transcend the confines of home offices.

Biophilic Design: Transforming Workplaces for Wellness and Sustainability

In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, businesses are more than ever recognising the critical value of prioritising employee well-being and productivity. Unispace shares this view and believes it is critical to develop viable buildings and public spaces that contribute to resilient communities. Our method aims to reestablish the connection to nature and encourage biodiversity, particularly in the workplace, where people spend a substantial amount of time – essentially becoming their “second home.” Fostering such relationships positively impacts individual health and overall organisational resilience and success.

The emergence of a new type of workplace

The advent of COVID marked a transformative shift in the growth landscape, particularly in the context of work environments. The post-COVID era has brought about a significant transformation in workplace dynamics, making traditional office setups obsolete. The new approach requires offices to be adaptable and responsive to the changing needs of the workforce.

As we emerge from the pandemic, workspaces should go beyond what home offices offer, incorporating improved ergonomic design, attractive environments, increased social interaction, ample space for contemplation, and versatile micro-environments. The rationale behind daily commuting is now under scrutiny, prompting offices to articulate compelling reasons for in-person presence. Essentially, the modern office must evolve into a dynamic space that exceeds the expectations of a workforce influenced by pandemic experiences, highlighting its distinct advantages over remote work.

Our “Returning for Good” workplace insights report underscores that employees now have new or refined expectations, with collaboration and concentration standing out as the most crucial. Current workspaces must be flexible to accommodate all work modes, providing collaborative spaces, secluded work areas, routine workspaces, and even areas for focused learning. A significant portion (53%) of employees noted that their workplaces lack access to amenities that would enhance their well-being, such as prayer rooms, lactation spaces, and digital-free zones.

Wellness and connection with nature and community become of paramount importance

In response to the increasing acknowledgement of the importance of prioritising employees’ physical and mental well-being, businesses are exploring the potential of integrating green spaces and biophilic design into their workplaces. The impact of wellness on the design of workspaces is crucial as it addresses the diverse needs of individuals. It goes beyond creating functional offices; it involves shaping environments where people can genuinely live, work, play, heal, and learn. A workplace that promotes health and harmony can enhance employee satisfaction, productivity, and performance.

The trend towards holistic, healthy living and interior design that extends beyond aesthetics to encompass the well-being of the mind and body is emphasised in the report from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Workspaces embracing this concept focus on creating environments that encourage physical activity, mental relaxation, social interaction, and personal growth. Recognising that a balanced and nurturing space contributes to employees’ happiness and increased productivity, this approach represents a profound shift in contemporary workspace design.

The need for biophilic design

In the commercial context, biophilic design revolves around viewing the office as a community, striving to establish workspaces that foster social integration and communal well-being. This design approach, gaining rapid popularity, draws inspiration from nature’s patterns, forms, and processes to craft environments that either mimic or incorporate natural elements. Research indicates that exposure to nature in design can alleviate stress, decrease blood pressure, and enhance cognitive function.

A favourable habitat, characterised by ecologically sound and productive environments, facilitates individuals in operating at their optimal potential. Additionally, it advocates for the use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient practices to reduce an organisation’s environmental impact.

Biophilic elements integrated into the workplace have the potential to enhance creativity and focus, leading to heightened productivity and job satisfaction. The inclusion of features like greenery, natural light, and outdoor connections not only improves the indoor air quality and energy efficiency of a building but also elevates the well-being of its occupants. In healthcare settings, design inspired by nature has been proven to expedite recovery times and enhance patient well-being.

Increasing focus on DEIB globally

Globally, organisations and governments strongly emphasise Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives to cultivate inclusive environments where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel valued and empowered. Unispace collaborates with businesses worldwide, designing sustainable, adaptable, and innovative workplaces that align with current and future needs. The company adopts a holistic approach to decision-making, considering the entire life cycle of projects to minimise unintended downstream impacts and ensure alignment with sustainable design principles.

For our client Arup, a global specialist engineering firm that targeted the world’s most stringent sustainability accreditation, the Living Building Challenge, we followed sustainable and regenerative building practices to achieve their goals of creating one of the most sustainable workplaces in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Arup’s new workplace integrates net-positive sustainability and storytelling. Guided by Ngati Whatua Orakei (local iwi), the workplace is connected to the cultural, spiritual and historical context of New Zealand. Embracing Te Ao Maori, a holistic approach to Maori culture and way of thinking, Arup’s new workplace is embedded in the natural environment.

With te taiao (Natural World) and sustainability as the weave (raranga), the journey began by implementing design principles through the first stage and leading through procurement of local iwi and Maori businesses. It ended in the blessing and powhiri (welcome) for Arup whanau (extended family group) on opening day.

During the project, 90% of the materials we used were free of toxic ingredients, and 50% were sourced locally within New Zealand. We have also diverted 99% of waste from landfills. Using upcycled and salvaged materials, its kitchen bench top comprises 5,000 pieces of plastic waste.

Based on Arup’s post-occupancy survey, 100% of employees believe that the design of the office supports good employee well-being, boasting a 95% occupancy rate. It proves the success of Arup’s new workplace as a space that reduces stress, creates a sense of wellbeing, supports creativity and emotional resilience, and encourages employees back to the office.

Into the future

According to “Forefront: 2023 global life sciences benchmarking report”, which we published earlier this year, “Optimising energy and material usage” and “waste reduction/recycling” are currently the two most popular areas of sustainability investment right now and will remain the focus for the next five years.

It is vital to embody sustainability at the core of your business. One way we manage our carbon footprint is to ensure all vendors we work with hold sustainability certifications and are willing to collaborate to reduce embodied carbon on projects. 94% of our recent projects’ construction waste has been recycled and/or diverted from landfills. Over 30 completed projects have achieved sustainability certifications.

At its heart, sustainability entails creating a mobile, community-focused work environment that operates efficiently, reduces waste, ensures employee health and safety, and conserves energy.

Acousticork by Amorim Underscreeds Have a Negative Carbon Balance

29 November, 2023/in News, Product/by Editor

Reading Time: 2 minutes

A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study conducted by Itecons confirms that Acousticork by Amorim U36 and U38 floor mats have a negative carbon balance. These innovative solutions, produced by Amorim Cork Composites, contribute to the performance of the flooring solutions where they are applied, in terms of acoustic insulation and thermal comfort, while at the same time improving air quality.

According to the study conducted by Itecons, Acousticork U36 and U38 underscreeds have a negative carbon balance of -13.6 kg CO₂ eq/ m2 and -24.5 kg CO₂ eq/ m2, respectively. This means that the carbon sequestered by the cork oak forest, associated with the cork used in these products, is greater than the CO₂ emissions resulting from their production.

The Life Cycle Assessment study of the Acousticork U36 and U38 floor mats was conducted by Itecons, in order to determine the environmental impact of the U36 [6/3], U36 [8/4], U38 [12/6] and U38 [17/8] floor mats produced by Amorim Cork Composites. Two Environmental Product Declarations were thereby obtained, which are available in the EPD system.

This study considered the following life cycle modules: Extraction and processing of raw materials (A1), Transport to the factory (A2), Production (A3) and End of life (C1-C4). The LCA study was conducted in accordance with international standards EN ISO 14040, EN ISO 14044 and EN 15804, as well as the requirements specified in the RCP (Rules for Product Categorisation) documents.

The study also calculated the carbon balance of these products, using a methodology supplied by Amorim Cork Composites, which takes into account both the carbon sequestered by the cork oak forest and the GHG emissions from the production stage, calculated using the methodology of the EN 15804 standard.

Acousticork U36 and U38 underscreeds are made from circular economy materials and cork – a 100% natural, reusable and recyclable raw material. They offer high performance and impact resistance, enabling greater durability over time. They are therefore quality options for customers seeking to achieve a balance between performance and environmental sustainability.

The study’s results reinforce Corticeira Amorim’s position in terms of developing a business activity that promotes the conservation of ecosystems and climate regulation since it offers customers products with CO2 sequestration levels that are higher than the emissions associated with their production, as well as offering an alternative to synthetic-based solutions, thereby minimising dependence on the use of fossil fuels. These results also reinforce the company’s commitment to sustainable innovation and the constant search for solutions that benefit both the environment and customers.