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DATEM Bags Two Wins at the Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards

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Philippine construction company DATEM took home two major accolades at the inaugural Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards 2024 for its Green Materials Directory (GMD), which caters for the company’s design, planning, and acquisition of suitable materials for its green building projects. It also received the first LEED version 4 Building Design and Construction: Core and Shell Development for its Makati Commerce Tower project.

 

The GMD has been created to address challenges in identifying materials or products that may help obtain credits, which the rise of demand for green building and sustainability efforts has brought. It has become more needed as the Philippine green building community struggled to meet international demands for green buildings due to the local products not being up to par.

 

In the directory’s first edition, product descriptions are written, including its green features and the credits it contributes for green building certifications. GMD is to be updated annually to count more sustainable materials and provide relevant information and awareness to its readers about the importance of sustainable construction.

 

It is also going to provide ample information to employees who are not working onsite about the crucial role of responsibly produced and manufactured materials. DATEM highlights the importance of its GMD in encouraging like-minded suppliers and contractors to apply sustainable practices in their manufacturing processes and operations continuously.

 

“By utilising environmentally friendly construction materials, applying responsible harvesting and manufacturing of raw materials, and complying with methodologies and procedures set by green building councils locally and internationally, DATEM solidifies its commitment to energy efficiency and stewardship for the environment,” the company said.

 

With its commitment to further green building advocacy, DATEM received the win in the Innovation in Sustainable Materials of the Year – Philippines category. Amongst the green buildings it has constructed is the Makati Commerce Tower, which has also garnered the Office Construction of the Year – Philippines category win. The 37-storey landmark along the city underpins sustainability with its innovation, futureproofing, and wellness features. Flexibility and space are also guaranteed with typical floor plates of between 2,178 and 2,252 sq. m. on high-zone floors and 2,178 sq. m. in the mid-zone.

 

It includes touchless technology solutions to reduce common touchpoints, energy-saving features, parking with charging points for e-vehicles, a unitised glass curtain wall façade insulated with Low-E coating for improved thermal and acoustic properties, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The construction of the Makati Commerce Tower has utilised 55,548 cubic metres of concrete, solidifying the structure’s safety and resilient foundations. The concrete used in the project has been carefully and efficiently identified and applied to ensure the sturdiness of the structure, the safety of the building occupants, and its environmental sustainability.

 

This careful selection of concrete installed in the project also helped achieve LEED credits, particularly on sourcing raw materials due to its local harvesting and manufacture, as well as having pre-consumer recycled content in the form of fly ash. Based on the final construction review by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), the project was awarded points for the said credit for having complied with 49.4% of permanently installed materials based on cost. The pandemic also solidified the need for a building like Makati Commerce Tower, a structure for future-proofing office space structures, ensuring sustainability and durability, and prioritising the health and wellness of the occupants.

 

“The project team and developer’s collaboration responded to the importance of having a building that delivers not only commercially but also the whole being of the occupants and the surroundings,” the company said.

 

The Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards is a groundbreaking celebration of outstanding achievements in construction, architecture, and interior design across Asia, as well as recognition of innovation and sustainability in the industry.

 

 

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Gensler Wins Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards for ESG Initiatives

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Gensler’s Asia Pacific and Middle East (APME) region triumphed in the inaugural Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards 2024, winning for its meticulously detailed ESG report, which highlights the firm’s commitment to sustainability and diversity.

 

Founded in 1965, Gensler is a global design and architecture firm that boasts a team of 6,000 professionals who collaborate with clients across more than 100 countries annually. Winning the ESG Initiative of the Year – Singapore award establishes a new industry standard for others to follow, showcasing Gensler’s leadership in integrating environmental, social, and governance principles into its business practices.

 

The annual report aims to quantify and communicate the specific actions and initiatives undertaken by Gensler, offering a holistic portrayal of the firm’s dedication and accomplishments spanning critical domains, including climate action, diversity, equity, inclusion, and community engagement. Amongst the activities included in Gensler’s previous reports is the meticulous measurement of its projects’ carbon footprint since 2009, demonstrating a long-standing dedication to environmental sustainability. It also reveals how Gensler has been publishing carbon mitigation progress publicly since 2015, spotlighting cutting-edge strategies for crafting sustainable, carbon-neutral structures.

 

In addition to its sustainable and green efforts, the report also highlighted Gensler’s social initiatives, particularly its Community Impact model. This model organises philanthropic and volunteer efforts through a focused strategy aimed at addressing major urban challenges. The firm empowers team members to leverage their professional expertise, fostering tangible, positive change in communities through pro bono and low bono initiatives. For instance, Gensler collaborated with the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) to design their latest integrated centre, Space2Connect, as a pro bono project. Designers volunteered their time, skills, and passion for this project alongside their regular workload, demonstrating their commitment to being part of the solution and driving positive change. This proactive approach underscores Gensler’s steadfast commitment to nurturing a culture of community impact, serving as a model for others to emulate in striving for a more sustainable and equitable future.

 

These achievements have been made possible through Gensler’s guiding principles, which serve as the bedrock of the company’s organisational culture and provide the framework for its business model, strategies, and practices.

 

“Everything we do is guided by our mission to create a better world through the power of design. Our governance model reflects our shared values, culture, and strategic priorities. The firm’s leadership is committed to principles that prioritise diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, empowerment, growth opportunities, and mutual respect,” said David Calkins, Regional Managing Principal of Gensler APME.

 

The Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards is a groundbreaking celebration of outstanding achievements in construction, architecture, and interior design across Asia, as well as recognition of innovation and sustainability in the industry.

 

 

RSP Wins Big at Architizer A+Awards with Gaia and Changi Terminal 2

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RSP, a global multidisciplinary architectural and engineering design group headquartered in Singapore, has been recognised at the 12th Annual Architizer A+Awards with two big wins for Gaia and Changi Terminal 2 projects, beating world-class project submissions from over 80 countries.

 

Gaia, Asia’s largest timber building located at Nanyang Technological University (NTU)  and designed in partnership with Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects, received one of the top accolades of the Sustainability Awards as the Jury Winner in the Sustainable Institutional Building category. The Sustainability Awards recognises architecture and design firms who are actively working towards a more sustainable built environment, taking into consideration each project’s local characteristics, while rewarding projects that push the envelope and form a positive precedent for greener building practices in its specific region and the wider world.

 

“It is an honour for the whole team who had worked tirelessly with NTU on Gaia to win the hearts of the prestigious jury comprised of thought leaders from every continent. Gaia is a testament to our commitment to designing remarkable and radical spaces that are intelligent, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, efficient,  and more thoughtful for users. I truly hope Gaia could inspire a future where architecture is a bridge between humanity and the natural world,” quips project leader Loh Kee Soon, Senior Associate at RSP.

 

Changi Terminal 2, designed in collaboration with Paris-based BOIFFILS  Architectures, clinches the Popular Choice Winner award in the Transport Interiors category with its relaxing and organic space inspired by Singapore’s garden city.

 

“Receiving the Popular Choice Winner for Changi Terminal 2 is about so much more than winning a prize. In closer perspective, it is about successfully creating an impact on the millions of overseas users and designers who voted for this project,” shared Law Yoke Foong, Head of Business and Executive Director at RSP, who led the project.

 

“I have always loved working on airports as an architect, having completed Changi  Terminal 1 Expansion, pockets of works in Terminals 3 and 4, and now Terminal 2. It is my mission to use design as a means to cushion passenger fatigue and  disorientation by welcoming them into our garden city with relaxing and calming spaces.”

 

Architizer A+Awards spotlights the work of architects and designers who are not content with the status quo. This year’s theme celebrates creative courage, highlighting the extraordinary ability of architects to respond to clients’ changing needs, our growing climate crisis, and the rapid evolution of technology. The award programme received unprecedented submissions, which were reviewed by an illustrious international jury panel and the global public.

 

 

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Kohler Co. Captures Coveted Gold iF Design Award and 12 Additional iF Design Accolades

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Kohler Co. secured 13 iF product design awards under its Kohler, Mira and Klafs brands, emphasizing the company’s significant impact on global design and innovation. In this year’s iF design competition, Kohler’s product designs secured recognition in several categories, including the coveted Gold award, which earned Kohler a place among only 75 Gold winners at the upcoming award ceremony in Berlin. Kohler’s multiple awards represent innovative designs and technologies developed in each of the company’s global studios – United States, United Kingdom, India, and China.

 

With 10,800 entries from 72 countries, the iF Design Awards is one of the most prestigious and relevant design competitions in the world. To be the recipient of the iF Design Award means passing a rigorous two-stage selection by renowned design experts, who evaluate submissions based on idea, form, function, differentiation, and impact.

 

Creativity and leading-edge design are the heart and soul of the Kohler ethos and its teams of bold creators around the world are the foundation of some of the most iconic brands in home design. The company has forged a reputation for innovation, artistry, and design while also possessing an operating philosophy rooted in entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity, and humility.

 

“For more than 150 years, Kohler has been dedicated to advancing innovation and unparalleled design. It is a tremendous honor to be recognized for the passion and ingenuity of our development teams,” says David Kohler, Chair and CEO of Kohler Co. “This recognition from iF affirms our ongoing commitment to creating impactful solutions in all markets across the globe.”

 

Kohler’s design prowess has been celebrated for well over a century, including a 1920s feature installation of the company’s color bathroom fixtures in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, major partnerships with globally renowned artists and designers, showstopping installations in some of the most revered design meccas and world-class designed environments, and dozens of accolades spanning myriad product categories. Kohler product designs have garnered nearly 100 iF awards in the past two decades alone, as well as earning top rankings in all leading global design awards including Red Dot, IDEA and Fast Company.

 

The KOHLER Loope container-based sanitation toilet, a 2024 iF GOLD Product Design Award recipient – and the company’s first-ever Gold level award recipient – is a waterless sanitation solution that integrates with container-based sanitation waste collection models. It was designed to bring safe sanitation to dense urban environments where alternative options are often nonexistent. The Loope toilet was developed within Kohler’s Innovation for Good (IfG) platform, an in-house incubator focused on creating new business opportunities with a social and environmental purpose. The IfG solutions are rooted in making positive impacts on communities and lives around the world by increasing access to safe water and sanitation.

 

The Loope toilet was inspired by UN Sustainable Development Goal #6 of “ensuring access to safe and affordable sanitation for all,” and iF design award jurors noted that “this is a great example of design innovation in the service of humanity.”

 

“As part of our Innovation for Good portfolio, Loope has the real potential to positively impact a significant number of lives around the world. Winning the Gold iF design award brings much needed attention to the issue of unsafe sanitation that affects so many people,” says Laura Kohler, Chief Sustainable Living Officer for Kohler Co. “This and other products stemming from our IfG incubator program harness associates’ passions to develop meaningful solutions that provide greater access to sustainable living.”

 

Kohler Co. – under its Kohler, Mira and Klafs brands – received 12 additional iF Product Design Awards for solutions in showering, bathroom faucets, toilets, sinks, storage, kitchen faucets and saunas:

 

 

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SIMPPLE Wins at SBR Technology Excellence Awards 2024

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Advanced technology solution provider SIMPPLE brought home the SBR Technology Excellence Awards 2024 for the Software – Real Estate category with its autonomic intelligence engine SIMPPLE A.I. that leverages machine learning and computer vision capabilities to automate workflows.

 

SIMPPLE enables facility managers and building contractors to adopt a data-driven approach, consolidating operations on a single unified dashboard through SIMPPLE Software. This approach enhances accountability and transparency across building managers and service contractors.

 

The API-enabled platform allows easy integration with other solution providers, resulting in a holistic dashboard filled with multiple touchpoints of a facility, making it a more cost-effective and efficient one-stop shop for end-users. The development of this technology comes amidst companies exploring new ways to manage their ESG and sustainability goals more efficiently, incorporating data into operations, and reinventing property management.

 

SIMPPLE A.I. serves as an add-on engine powering the SIMPPLE Ecosystem to perform autonomous operations. This groundbreaking A.I. model is being developed and piloted at select sites in Singapore through an innovation grant call supported by the Singapore Government.

 

With support from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Enterprise Singapore, SIMPPLE has become a promising technology innovator under NEA’s INCUBATE programme. Its goal is to revolutionise the way buildings operate by equipping them with smart and green technologies, addressing the manpower crunch with greater transparency and accountability within the operations in developed nations.

 

The development of this technology comes amidst companies exploring new ways to manage their ESG and sustainability goals more efficiently, incorporating data into operations, and reinventing property management.

 

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SIMPPLE A.I. serves as an add-on engine powering the SIMPPLE Ecosystem to perform autonomous operations. This groundbreaking A.I. model is being developed and piloted at select sites in Singapore through an innovation grant call supported by the Singapore Government.

 

With support from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Enterprise Singapore, SIMPPLE has become a promising technology innovator under NEA’s INCUBATE programme. Its goal is to revolutionise the way buildings operate by equipping them with smart and green technologies, addressing the manpower crunch with greater transparency and accountability within the operations in developed nations.

 

It has also launched the world’s first multi-functional robot covering two industry domains – cleaning and security – enabling greater proliferation of robotics and automation. “Through the ecosystem solution approach, the facility workforce can upskill, taking on greater responsibilities to enhance the customer experience within a property,” the company said. Such technology adoption helps building owners achieve Green Mark certification and aligns well with the Singapore Government’s push for a sustainable future.

 

 

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GuocoLand Wins Top Honours at Three Major Award Ceremonies

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At The Edge Singapore Billion Dollar Club Awards held recently, GuocoLand Limited was named the Overall Sector Winner for the Real Estate Companies category. The Billion Dollar Club honours the best and most valuable companies listed on the Singapore Exchange with at least S$1 billion in market capitalisation.

 

The title of The Edge Singapore Billion Dollar Club’s Overall Sector Winner is awarded to companies based on the following evaluation components:

  • Returns to shareholders over three years;
  • Growth in profit after tax over three years;
  • Weighted return on equity over three years; and
  • ESG score based on ESG risk rating score as provided by Morningstar Sustainalytics.

In addition, GuocoLand won a total of fourteen awards and took top honours at Singapore’s two major real estate industry awards – including its third consecutive year as Top Developer at the 7th EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2023 and the Best Developer at the 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) 2023.

 

GuocoLand’s latest integrated development, Lentor Modern, emerged as one of the biggest winners with a haul of 10 wins across both awards. The development received three wins at the 13th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Singapore) 2023 (“APA 2023”) on 27 October 2023, namely Best Integrated Development, Best Private Condo Development and Best Private Condo Architectural Design. For its commitment to sustainability in the built environment, GuocoLand was also conferred the Special Recognition in Sustainable Design and Construction and Special Recognition in ESG awards for the third year.

 

At the 7th EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2023 (“EPEA 2023”) held on 6 October 2023, Lentor Modern clinched seven awards, including Top Development, Landscape Excellence, Design Excellence, Sustainability Excellence, Innovation Excellence, Marketing Excellence, and Showflat Excellence in the Mixed-use (Uncompleted) category.

 

Mr Cheng Hsing Yao, Group Chief Executive Officer of GuocoLand, said, “In the twin engines of our development and investment businesses, we always focus on the experience of our customers. In conceptualising our products and services, we also look at emerging trends, so that they can be future relevant. We are very honoured to be conferred these awards.”

Numerous Accolades for Lentor Modern Set the Bar for Lentor Hills Estate

Lentor Modern, the first and only integrated mixed-use development in the Lentor Hills Estate, is spearheading the transformation of the neighbourhood. Surrounded by greenery, the development bridges nature with modern conveniences. When completed, it will have a wide selection of retail offerings, including a 12,000 sq ft supermarket and 10,000 sq ft childcare centre, and direct access to the Lentor MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line. Designed by ADDP Architects and Ortus Design as landscape architect, the development boasts unique features such as a Flex Room within the 2- to 4-bedroom units, which provide adaptable spaces to cater to various living needs and an abundance of shared amenities that support a live-work-play lifestyle.

 

Ms Dora Chng, Director (Residential), GuocoLand, said, “Lentor Modern is our third project in the ‘Modern’ series, and the recognition it has received from both buyers and our industry peers affirms our team’s capabilities to conceptualise and design quality residential and integrated developments that meet the needs of residents, tenants and visitors. Lentor Modern will be pivotal in the transformation of the Lentor Hills estate, and will create lasting value for the community and enhance the residents’ quality of life.”

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Grundfos Wins Climate Award at Sustainability Awards 2023

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Grundfos, Salling Group and Nykredit were finalists for the Climate Impact Award, which was awarded on the basis of, among other things, goals, ambitions and documented results. Between inspiring presentations and heated debates, winners of this year’s awards were announced when the Sustainability Awards were held by the Danish Chamber of Commerce and EY on 14  September 2023.

 

The Climate Impact Award was among the awards presented in the Stock Exchange Hall, which was filled to the last row of chairs. The winner of the Climate Impact Award was selected by an independent jury that assessed eight nominated companies based on a number of criteria. Out of  the eight nominees, three finalists were selected:

  • Grundfos
  • Salling Group
  • Nykredit

And so it was Grundfos that came out on top. The Climate Impact Award is an award given to a company that has particularly ambitious goals and actions in its work on climate change, says Jan C. Olsen, CEO of EY in Denmark.

 

“With the Climate Impact Award, the focus is on companies that are already doing well but want even more. For example, by introducing new initiatives that can inspire and set new standards. It is therefore about clear impact, and the criteria for the award are tough, so solid results must be shown that support ambitions and goals. The independent jury found Grundfos to be a good  example of this.”

The value of lifting together

Among other things, the jury justified the choice of Grundfos with their solid results and a complete plan for net zero. The jury also highlighted Grundfos’ partnerships to find solutions to, for example,  more climate-friendly production.

 

“This year’s winner of the Climate Impact Award is very ambitious and at the same time understands the value of pulling together. Many exciting initiatives can be highlighted, and at the same time,  Grundfos also has a global impact across the value chain. They go beyond the country’s borders – with positive impact and change,” says Brian Mikkelsen, CEO of the Danish Chamber of Commerce.

 

Mikael Geday, Group Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at Grundfos, says: “Making a positive impact on the world’s water and climate challenges is deeply rooted in our business. Thanks to strong collaboration across Grundfos, our Science-Based Targets were approved last year, and we have already, in 2023, allocated DKK 150 million to support initiatives that will enable the realisation of our 2050 Net Zero target. We are immensely proud of the recognition it is  to receive the Climate Impact Award for this work.”

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World Architecture Festival 2023 Shortlist Reveals Most Inspiring Projects

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The most inspiring architectural projects from around the world were recently revealed as the shortlist for the 2023 World Architecture Festival (WAF) was announced. This is ahead of the live event, which will take place in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands from 29 November to 1 December 2023. WAF represents the world’s biggest live-judged architectural awards programme, where all finalists present their projects to a panel of judges at the international festival. Today’s shortlist celebrates the best newly completed buildings and landscapes, as well as the most inspiring future architectural concepts across 33 categories, ranging from residential and cultural to creative reuse.

 

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The Inside World Festival of Interiors shortlist was announced during the week of 13 July 2023. WAF’s sister awards programme celebrates the finest examples of global interior design, across eleven categories. The shortlist has been selected from more than 800 entries and comprises 495 projects from 333 unique practices. This year’s finalists range from major world architects including Foster + Partners, UNStudio, Grimshaw Architects, MAD Architects, WilkinsonEyre, Safdie Architects and Nikken Sekkei, while many smaller practices will also be on stage, live pitching against the big names.

 

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The international judging panel for this year’s awards consists of more than 140 industry experts, representing 43 countries, and will include Lily Jencks, Nigel Coates, Rafiq Azam, Albert Williamson-Taylor, Tracy Meller, Jason Bruges, Annette Fisher, Roland Schnizer and Issa Diabaté. This year’s finalists span the globe, with the top ten shortlisted countries including China, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, the United States, Iran, Thailand, Singapore, Canada, and Japan.

 

On the final day of the festival, category winners from across all 44 category prizes will go head-to-head for the ultimate accolades of World Building of the Year, Landscape of the Year, Future Project of the Year and Interior of the Year. A host of special prizes, including WAFX, which celebrates imaginative cutting-edge designs addressing major world issues, will also be awarded to projects from the main shortlist.

 

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WAF programme director Paul Finch comments: “We are delighted with both the quantity and quality of this year’s entries. They are a reminder in a world experiencing numerous crises that architects continue to address both everyday and unusual challenges with skill and imagination. We look forward to seeing the shortlisted architects in Singapore.”

 

WAF and its co-located event, InsideWorld Festival of Interiors, will welcome the world’s leading architects and designers for three days of talks programmes, awards, exhibitions and fringe events, showcasing leading international practices, the best new projects, and most pressing live debates.

 

Click here to read more about the 2023 World Architecture Festival, or click here for the full shortlist for this year’s completed buildings, future and landscape project awards.

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IOI Properties Singapore Cements Sustainability & Connectivity Credentials for IOI Central Boulevard Towers Development

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IOI Properties Singapore has achieved the prestigious WiredScore Platinum certification, an accolade for excellence in digital connectivity and future-ready buildings, for IOI Central Boulevard Towers. The WiredScore Platinum Certification, the highest award from WiredScore, is given to the most outstanding buildings around the world.

 

This achievement is a testament to IOI Central Boulevard Towers’ digitally connected space, forward-thinking design, and ability to support the future technological needs of its tenants. The building is the first in the Central Business District (CBD) to achieve the Platinum certification after meeting exceptional standards for the quality of its wired infrastructure, resilience, and wireless network.

 

In further recognition of the developments’ excellence, the premium Grade A office building has scored a hat-trick with three prestigious awards at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2023/2024. It has been conferred with the highest industry honour of 5-Stars in the Best Mixed Use Development (Singapore), Best Commercial High Rise Development (Singapore), and Best Mixed Use Architecture (Singapore) categories. The Asia Pacific Property Awards are seen as a mark of excellence for the highest levels of achievement by companies in the property industry and are judged by more than 70 industry experts.

 

Karen Lau, Head of Business, IOI Properties Singapore, said: “For our teams’ vision and dedication to creating future-ready spaces to be recognised by both the Asia Pacific Property Awards as well as WiredScore, is a fantastic achievement. Our IOI Central Boulevard Towers development is designed not just for today’s modern workforce, but also for the workforce of tomorrow. For environmentally-conscious and innovative businesses looking for state-of-the-art spaces, the development truly ticks all these boxes.”

 

Thomasin Crowley, Global Director of APAC at WiredScore, said: “IOI Central Boulevard Towers’ WiredScore Platinum certification is a well-deserved recognition of their commitment to providing a best-in-class internet and mobile experience within their property, delivering seamless digital connectivity solutions that meet the highest standards of performance and resiliency for the modern-day tenant. The development’s physical infrastructure for telecommunications is world-class.”

 

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In addition to its newly achieved WiredScore Platinum Certification, the development is also Green Mark Platinum Certified, a mark of sustainable building design awarded to projects that demonstrate 30% energy and water savings, as well as environmentally sustainable building practices and innovative green features.

 

IOI Properties Group views sustainability as a transgenerational mission, striving to uphold the principles of sustainability amongst its employees, customers, and communities. Built with sustainable materials, energy-efficient lighting and cooling systems, as well as water-efficient appliances, the result reduces an estimated of over 4,146 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

 

Leisure spaces and greenery are integrated throughout the development, with more than 120,000 square feet of green landscaping, including Central Green – Marina Bay’s largest urban sky park and a 200-metre jogging track. These create spaces for tenants to relax, unwind, and reconnect, prioritising wellness in the workplace.

 

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Ideally situated in the Central Business District, IOI Central Boulevard Towers has unmatched connectivity with seamless access to Downtown MRT station, through an underground linkway, as well as sheltered connections to Marina Bay, Raffles Place, and Shenton Way stations. With dedicated bicycle parking lots and end-of-trip facilities – including changing and shower areas, IOI Central Boulevard Towers offers tenants a greener commute to work that supports the reduction of its carbon footprint.

Bangladesh Hospital Wins RIBA International Prize 2021 for World’s Best New Building

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The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has named Friendship Hospital in Bangladesh designed by Kashef Chowdury/URBANA as the winner of the RIBA International Prize 2021

A remote community hospital set in the water-laden landscape of the Bengal in southwest Bangladesh and designed by Kashef Chowdhury/URBANA has won the RIBA International Prize 2021, architecture’s highest global accolade for design excellence and social impact. The sustainable and low-cost hospital delivers essential healthcare services to the local communities of Satkhira in the southern region of Bangladesh, providing a medical lifeline for thousands of people in an area of the coast that was heavily affected by a major cyclone in 2007.

Photograph by Asif Salman Courtesy of URBANA

Lauded for the care and humanity at the heart of its design, the building responds innovatively to the challenging environmental conditions of the Bengal, a fragile and dynamic environment, directly impacted, without protection, to rising sea levels. Working with a long-standing NGO client, Friendship, the hospital was commissioned as part of the organisation’s mission to strengthen and empower remote rural areas. Once surrounded by grain fields, the rising seawater has resulted in this agricultural land being converted into shrimp fisheries. Water is therefore central to the hospital’s design scheme; a canal cuts through the length of the site, separating the inpatients and outpatients. Rainwater from all areas of the complex is drained and stored in a newly built tank – an essential resource and tool to prevent waterlogging as the saline groundwater is unusable for most practical purposes, and draining is needed from increasingly incessant rains. This water channel also helps with microclimatic cooling during the unbearably hot summers, avoiding the need for high energy-consuming air-conditioning.

Reflecting the NGO’s commitment to lasting social change, Kashef Chowdhury/URBANA’s design creates an uplifting and inviting experience for visitors, patients and healthcare professionals and a peaceful environment consistent with health and healing. A series of intimate courtyards bring light and natural ventilation to the wards, providing spaces for patients and visitors to rest with viewpoints of the natural surroundings. Sensitive areas of the hospital are protected from direct tropical light through shielded corridors and double-layered arches. Built for longevity, the hospital campus is crafted in local brickwork chosen for its resilient qualities and low cost, with openings in the brickwork offering private shaded areas and natural cooling.

Friendship Hospital was selected as the winner of the RIBA International Prize 2021 from a selection of three outstanding shortlisted entries. The winning project was judged by a distinguished Grand Jury chaired by world-renowned multidisciplinary French architect and urban planner, Odile Decq. The jury members are: Es Devlin CBE, acclaimed British artist and designer, Jeanne Gang, American architect and founder of Studio Gang with offices in the USA and Paris, Rossana Hu, architect and founding Partner of Neri&Hu based in Shanghai, China and Gustavo Utrabo, Brazilian architect and winner of the 2018 RIBA International Prize and named the 2018 International Emerging Architect.

Click here for more information on the RIBA International Awards and previous winners