Funan Capitaland

Funan Set to Open Singapore’s First O&O Shopping Mall in mid-2019

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Funan is racing ahead to open Singapore’s first online-and- offline (O&O) shopping mall integrating online, offline, data and logistics aimed at empowering retailers’ omnichannel strategy and transforming the customer experience. The retail as well as its office components are now slated to open in 2Q 2019, instead of the earlier announced 3Q 2019. The opening of lyf Funan Singapore, a coliving serviced residence component within Funan, managed by The Ascott Limited, has also been brought forward from 2020 to 4Q 2019.

Owned by CapitaLand Mall Trust and managed by CapitaLand Retail, Funan recently celebrated its structural completion ahead of schedule. The topping out ceremony held at Funan Showsuite was officiated by Guest of Honour Mr Heng Swee Keat, Singapore’s Minister for Finance. From groundbreaking to structural completion, Funan took about 19 months. To date, 72 percent of the overall construction has already been completed.

At the topping out event in September 2018, Minister Heng Swee Keat was given a preview of a range of digital innovations coming up at Funan. These include a smart interactive directory that uses facial recognition to provide shoppers with customised recommendations, video analytics that studies shopper traffic and crowd density and an all-in-one app for Ascott’s lyf coliving serviced residence – the first app by a serviced residence company that will allow social networking and room booking; and will also serve as a mobile key.

CapitaLand also showcased its groupwide innovations as part of its digitalisation strategy, including a merchant dashboard that enables retailers to tap consumer insights generated by CapitaLand’s CapitaStar loyalty programme and eCapitaVoucher, the digital version of CapitaVoucher – Singapore’s most popular shopping mall voucher – launching this November.

Funan’s innovation journey has scored several “firsts” in Singapore. These include the first to deploy automated guided vehicles to provide shoppers with a hands-free shopping experience and the first to utilise a robotic arm for its twenty-four-hour drive-through click-and-collect service. As part of Funan’s tech-enabled user experience, building users can also expect conveniences such as app-based booking of facilities within the development, video-based smart carparking facilities and facial recognition turnstiles at its office towers.

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Grundfos Launches New CR Product That Achieves New Efficiency Heights

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Pump manufacturer Grundfos has launched its new generation of CR pumps – which exceeds current energy efficiency limits for multi-stage in-line pumps. Grundfos’ renowned range of CR pumps are the world’s first vertical multistage centrifugal inline pumps, which line up pump pressure and pump suction port in a straight pipe.

The centrifugal CR pumps can transport corrosive, hot, and high-pressure liquids used across various applications including water supply, water treatment and almost all industrial solutions.

The new generation of Grundfos CR pumps introduces three new flow sizes (CR95, 125 and 155) and increases the maximum water flow to 220 cubic metre per hour.

Gary Flanagan, Regional Product Manager – Multistage, Grundfos Asia Pacific Region said the pump manufacturer is dedicated to continuous development and innovation to ensure that this new generation of CR pumps is meeting the evolving needs of industries in Asia and globally.

“The world has changed in many ways since the CR was first introduced many years ago. But our drive to set new standards for our customers has always remained the same. That is why we are so proud to announce the launch of this new generation of Grundfos CR pumps.

“Today, our new CR pump design features a full range of sizes and literally millions of customised solutions to suit the specific needs of companies and engineers.”

Based on extensive research, development and testing of new hydraulic designs, the CR pump is engineered using state-of-the-art production methods – including a fully automated and flexible production line.

Gary Flanagan added, “As industries in Asia expand to meet the growing consumption demand of the region, they need to take a smarter manufacturing approach to make sure their industrial processes are able to produce more with less, while reducing energy consumption and limiting their carbon footprint.

“Sustainability is a very important part of Grundfos’ DNA and we aim to create cleaner and more energy efficient technologies to help our customers reduce their carbon emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement commitments.”

JCB Telehandlers Take Pole Position At Formula One 2018 Singapore Grand Prix

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JCB has won a four-year contract to supply recovery equipment to the Formula One 2018 Singapore Grand Prix. The high profile race takes place in the heart of Singapore’s central business district from 14-16 September 2018 and – as the only Formula One event scheduled for Southeast Asia – it is often described as the region’s crown jewel. This spectacular night race is a highlight of the Formula One season and offers JCB a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate their renowned products to a global audience of millions.

JCB successfully managed to secure the rights to supply recovery equipment following a competitive, high-level tender process. The race organising committee were particularly impressed with JCB’s products, and the role of Aly – JCB’s newly appointed Singapore dealer – in negotiations; as well as JCB’s commitment to motorsport through its existing sponsorship agreement with Williams Martini Racing.

Albert Foo, Executive Director Corporate Strategy, Aly JCB – JCB’s exclusive dealer for Singapore – states: “Supplying equipment to the Singapore Grand Prix is a big opportunity for JCB. It’s a statement of intent, which shows our customers that Aly and JCB are rapidly growing in Singapore ready to support them. If such significant, high profile customers as the Singapore Grand Prix have confidence in JCB to provide the solutions for their operations, and are making the switch to our brand, our customers will trust us to provide them with the same world class solutions.”

JCB will exclusively supply the Singapore Grand Prix with 20 Telescopic Handlers – ranging from the 527-58, all the way up to the 540-170 and the 560-80 models – in a package that also includes JCB’s flagship model, the 541-70 Telescopic Handler. These machines will be deployed at several prominent locations within the race track area for the full three days of the race weekend.

The Telehandlers will be used in the event of a crash or car malfunction. They will lift and remove the affected race cars from the track into the holding area. Familiarisation training is being provided using machines with appropriate jibs and spreader bars, while both JCB and Aly’s technical resources are on standby for the whole event.

Max Lytle, Managing Director JCB Southeast Asia, comments: “The local knowledge and insight of Aly JCB played a crucial part in JCB winning the race for this contract. It is another string to our bow that shows customers we are serious about the Singapore market and are a world class manufacturer of construction equipment. What better way to demonstrate our products than in a high profile event such as the Singapore Grand Prix that will attract vast global interest and provide an excellent opportunity to raise our brand visibility?”

Max continues: “The Telehandler concept is one that can revolutionise customers’ applications across Southeast Asia. The ability to quickly and easily pick up and move a load – be that a Formula One car, brick pack, or whatever it may be – is the very essence of a Telescopic Handler.”

Tender Awarded For Integrated Retail, Dining And Entertainment Development In SKYCITY

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Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) recently announced that Roxy Limited, a subsidiary wholly-owned by New World Development Company Limited, has been awarded the right to develop and manage a world-class destination commercial development (Site A2 and A3, the Development) in SKYCITY at Hong Kong International Airport.

The Development is a crucial part of the overall long-term development of HKIA. The award follows an open tender exercise held earlier, which received a number of strong bids from local and international developers and retail operators.

Scheduled to be opened in phases from 2023 to 2027, the Development, adjacent to HKIA’s passenger terminals, will provide a maximum gross floor area of 350,000 square metres, with retail, dining and state-of-the-art entertainment facilities tailor-made for visitors and local residents of different ages. Under the agreement, Roxy Limited will design, construct, finance and manage the Development, which will be the largest integrated retail, dining and entertainment development in Hong Kong.

Apart from the Development, a hotel is being developed on another site of SKYCITY(Site A1a), for which Regal Hotels Group has been awarded the development and management right earlier. The new hotel is scheduled to be opened in the year 2020-2021.

SKYCITY occupies approximately 25 hectares of land and benefit from the customer base of HKIA which served 72.9 million passengers in the past year. The passenger traffic at HKIA is projected to rise to more than 100 million by 2030 with the completion of the Three-runway System. SKYCITY will also tap into the full potential brought by the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge that will greatly enhance the connectivity is well-positioned to of the SKYCITY not only within Hong Kong, but also the Pearl River Delta.

Hamad International Airport Ranked 5th Best Airport In The World By Skytrax World Airport Awards 2018

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Hamad International Airport has been ranked the 5th best airport in the world at the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2018, which took place during the Passenger Terminal Expo 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. HIA has also been honoured with the title of ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the fourth year in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the third year in a row.

The award recognises HIA’s innovative facilities, five-star customer service and state-of-the-art terminal which can accommodate more than 30 million passengers annually. The terminal has been described as the most architecturally significant terminal complex in the world, as well as being the most luxurious.

Commenting on the results of the Skytrax World Airport Awards, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport stated: “HIA sets itself apart from other airports with its optimised passenger journey, unmatched retail offering, five-star customer service, punctuality, cleanliness, iconic architecture and unique art programme, making the airport a destination on its own. These Skytrax results mark yet another milestone in HIA’s journey in solidifying its position as one of the world’s best airports. We are grateful to our passengers who gave us their trust and endorsement during the voting process.

Mr. Al Meer continued: “In spite of the challenging situation in the region, HIA succeeded in proving its resiliency by maintaining 5 Star passenger’ experience, and smooth operations.

As we are gearing up to welcome more than 50 million travellers by 2022, we will continue to invest in our facilities, services and the newest technologies to provide a world-class passenger experience.”

The Skytrax World Airport Awards are a global benchmark of airport excellence, based on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and include 410 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product – from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, through to departure at the gate.

HIA – The Gateway to Qatar and to the World
Positioned at the edge of the Arabian Gulf, Hamad International Airport’s tranquil waterside setting provides a perfect backdrop for its stylish architectural elements, underpinned by advanced airport systems in line with its ‘Smart Airport’ vision.

Operating 24/7, the airport features two runways, a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower and currently processes 30 million passengers per year and 360,00 aircrafts per year. With over 40,000 square meters of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, unmatched spa facilities and a collection of unique art pieces from internationally acclaimed artists, HIA is a destination on its own, designed for the modern traveller.

John Mcaslan + Partners And Woods Bagot Are Lead Designers On Sydney’s Central Station

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John McAslan + Partners and Woods Bagot are the architectural partners delivering the Sydney Metro upgrade to Central Station, a key component of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.

The renewal of Australia’s biggest railway station is underway, with a recent announcement that Laing O’Rourke has won the $955 million contract for the Sydney Metro City & Southwest upgrade of Central Station, including Central Walk. The station is a key one within the $20 billion Sydney Metro project, Australia’s biggest public transport infrastructure project.

Jointly leading the multi-disciplinary, international design team are architects John McAslan + Partners and Woods Bagot, whose bold, can-do architecture will give the station an entirely new functional and experiential vibe.

Key heritage qualities of the 112-year-old station will be emphasised along with the introduction of new architecturally-inspiring elements as part of a scheme that amplifies Central Station as a Sydney icon. Signalling a step-change in the station’s functional, urban and cultural contributions to the city, the project will trigger much higher levels of people-movement and energy, and wider civic and commercial renewal.

The design team has impeccable credentials. Renowned UK architect John McAslan + Partners designed the highly celebrated and multi-awarded regeneration of London’s King’s Cross Station, restoring the 170-year-old station and adding a highly innovative concourse to accommodate up to 150,000 passengers per day. Woods Bagot’s exemplary transformation of Sydney’s Wynyard Walk commuter link injects civic, cultural and commercial energy by connecting Wynyard Station with Barangaroo and the waterfront.

Below ground, the atmospheric qualities of volume, surface, and natural light characterise the design scheme for the Central Station upgrade. With respect to existing hierarchies of arches and materials, the proposal has a clear relationship with Walter Vernon’s architecture of the station above. While the interfaces between old and new will be quite distinct, they will be architectural segues rather than jump-cuts.

The Central Station metro upgrade includes the main concourse, Central Walk (connecting the Sydney Metro platforms to Chalmers Street), northern concourse (interface between the new metro and the existing station) and the metro box platforms.

Central Station is the backbone of Sydney’s public transport network, with more than 250,000 people passing through the station every day. That number is forecast to grow to 450,000 in the next two decades. The Central Walk concourse will better connect customers to trains, buses, light rail and the new Sydney Metro. Features of Central Walk include:

  • A 19-metre wide tunnel from Chalmers Street, linking to new metro platforms under Central
  • New, easy access points to Sydney Trains platforms 16 to 23
  • Escalators directly to suburban platforms for the first time.

As Sydney director Domenic Alvaro explains, the project is a significant win for Woods Bagot and the result of the firm’s deliberate expansion in the Australian transport sector.

Sydney Metro is Australia’s largest public transport project. It will transform Sydney, delivering more trains and faster services for customers across the network. A new stand-alone railway network, Sydney Metro is the solution to clearing the city’s public transport bottlenecks and will deliver a quality of rail service never before seen in Australia.

Sydney Metro City & Southwest will extend metro rail between Chatswood and Bankstown, including a new crossing beneath Sydney Harbour, new railway stations in the lower North Shore and CBD, and the upgrade and conversion of the current line between Sydenham and Bankstown.

New Business District Takes Shape as Lendlease’s First Commercial Office Tower Tops Out

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Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) by Lendlease marked a significant milestone today with the successful construction topping out of its first office tower structure at a ceremony graced by Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong. The S$3.2 billion mixed-use development, set to transform Paya Lebar into Singapore’s newest business hub, is well progressed, having secured strong pre-commitment for its office, residential and retail components.

 

 

Strong interest and demand for PLQ office, retail and residential
As the most centrally located business hub outside the core city centre, PLQ’s three office towers will provide close to one million square feet of Grade A prime office space. Currently, over 50 percent of this space is either leased, under final offer or in advanced negotiations. Prospective tenants include leading corporations from the financial services, infrastructure, real estate and co-working solutions sectors, as well as a premium gym. The office towers will be progressively completed and are on program to be occupied from September 2018.

With a projected annual footfall of close to 45 million, the new four-hectare PLQ office, residential, leisure and retail development will be one of the largest business and lifestyle precincts in Singapore. PLQ mall, which is due to be occupied from late 2018, is already over 40 percent pre-committed, including shops and restaurants leased or under final offer.

Over 400 new apartments are also being developed at PLQ providing a modern connected lifestyle with excellent facilities. The first phase was launched last March with all 210 allocated units sold in just one day and the second phase is now eagerly anticipated to be released in coming months.

Mr Tony Lombardo, CEO, Asia, Lendlease, commented: “The significant market demand Lendlease has received for PLQ signals a sustained market appetite in Singapore for quality integrated business and lifestyle precincts underpinned by excellent public realm, superb connectivity and designed with people foremost in mind. PLQ represents the best of inclusive urban spaces and workplace ecosystems for seamless and vibrant lifestyles, where people want to work, live, dine and shop.”

Singapore’s most centrally located commercial hub outside the city centre
Leveraging Lendlease’s expertise in urban regeneration, PLQ is a key catalyst to the plans to transform Paya Lebar into a bustling, pedestrian-friendly new city precinct and a dynamic business hub. It is 1 of 13 major urban regeneration projects across key international gateway cities undertaken by Lendlease, as part of its global development pipeline estimated at over S$50 billion as at 30 June 2017.

In alignment with the government’s drive to bring businesses and jobs closer to home, PLQ will deliver a complete ecosystem representing the best in placemaking by integrating Grade A workplaces with a diverse range of lifestyle, entertainment and recreational activities within an active, green and engaging environment.

Ms. Ng Hsueh Ling, Lendlease’s Managing Director for Singapore commented: “The workplace of the future is going to be more mobile, flexible and wellness-centric. To attract and retain the best talent, progressive companies will require sustainable modern workplaces which leverage technology to benefit its employees and enhance productivity.”

To address the growing demand for flexible spaces in Singapore, up to 15 percent of the available office space across PLQ’s three office towers is proposed to house co-working facilities designed to cater to both smaller space users like start-ups and established SMEs with larger headcount requirements.

Mr Richard Paine, PLQ Managing Director, Lendlease, commented: “This approach is designed to support the agility of businesses within a flexible co-working and business environment. Companies at PLQ will benefit not just from the superb transport connectivity here, but a complete ecosystem designed to support corporate, professional and lifestyle needs.”

To enable the projected 10,000-strong future workforce at PLQ’s three office towers to collaborate and connect beyond their office, employees will have access to approximately 100,000 square feet of public landscaped green spaces, which will be Wi-Fi-enabled. They will also enjoy convenient access to over 200 shops at PLQ mall with quality retail, entertainment and F&B options including a range of alfresco dining choices.

Additionally, PLQ will provide walking and cycling paths integrated into the wider Park Connector Network (PCN) and premier end-of-trip facilities including showers, towel service and secure lockers to enable employees to adopt healthier and more flexible commuting options.

AECOM to Provide Site Supervision Services for Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link Project

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AECOM, a premier, fully integrated global infrastructure firm, has been appointed by China Communications Construction Company to provide site supervision services for the stations, viaducts, tunnels and depots of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

“AECOM is proud to be involved with this project, which is a tremendous game-changer for the economy of the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia,” said Ailee Loh, Vice President, Transportation, AECOM Malaysia. “To deliver this large-scale project, we are tapping into our strong local and international experience in delivering transport infrastructure, particularly in the rail sector. We look forward to leveraging world-class innovative approaches on this complex project that will ultimately benefit all of Malaysia.”

“Such massive rail infrastructure will open up new opportunities for the people in the East Coast states by facilitating the creation of new jobs, stimulating industries and enhancing mobility, in tandem with the growth that is being driven by the East Coast Economic Region initiative,” said Patrick Wong, Country Director, AECOM Malaysia.

The ECRL project is part of the Malaysian government’s comprehensive transportation plan and will link Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang to the East Coast through a strategic railway network. It is envisaged to serve all the main hubs of the East Coast Region, traversing Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and parts of Selangor, and be connected to Malaysia’s main rail network by the time it is completed in 2024.

“This project is also a great opportunity to further grow local talent in this field and create rail industry leaders whose expertise are very much sought after globally,” said Mr. Billy Wong, Regional Executive, Southeast Asia.

Multivista and Procore Announce Partnership

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Multivista, a leading global provider of documentation and software services for the construction industry, recently announced a partnership with Procore, a leading provider of cloud-based apps for construction.

Through an advanced integration, users of both services can immediately attach and reference Multivista-captured visual data to perform critical project functions within Procore.

“We’re excited to launch the Multivista integration to all users on our Procore App Marketplace,” said Laura Paciano, Senior Manager, Partner Programs, at Procore. “With this integration we are providing direct access to critical information that will allow Procore users to deliver quality projects, safely, on-time, and within budget.”

Desktop, tablet, and mobile functionality included
The complimentary integration directly enables more robust and efficient processes for Procore and Multivista users. By leveraging comprehensive as-built project photo and webcam feeds, provided by Multivista, users can quickly respond to RFIs and change orders on Procore. Additionally, project teams in the field can use the visual data to quickly complete quality and safety items, like daily logs, observations and punch lists.

The partnership enhances workflows for the entire team, from the field to the board room, through all phases of construction. “An RFI that previously would have required a costly site visit and taken days or weeks to respond to can now be handled in minutes,” says Russ Bollig, Multivista’s Product Manager responsible for the integration. “Users just select a relevant photo from their Multivista database, click the new ‘Add to Procore’ button, and the image, precise location, and any comments they include appear in their Procore RFI within seconds.”

For maximum workflow efficiency, Multivista and Procore developers have ensured the functionality of this integration is the same on both the desktop and mobile versions of their respective platforms.

Alstom to Supply Signalling System for Singapore Circle Line Stage 6

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Alstom has signed a contract with Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) to supply the signalling system for Singapore Circle Line (CCL) final phase, stage 6. This includes the supply of its Urbalis driverless signalling system, the equipment of news trains and locomotives of the existing line and upgrade of the Automatic Train Supervision system (ATS). Besides, Alstom will almost double the capacity of the existing Kim Chuan Depot with new stablings.

Singapore CCL Stage 6 will be 4 kilometres long and will add three stations, Keppel, Cantonment and Prince Edward, to the existing line of 30 stations across 35.5 kilometres. Once completed around 2025, it will close the loop of CCL by connecting HarbourFront Station to Marina Bay Station. By then, commuters will enjoy overall connectivity between areas in the West and key employment areas in the CBD as well as upcoming developments in the Marina Bay area.

So far, Alstom has been supplying signalling systems for three metro lines in Singapore, in total representing over 100 kilometres. They are North East Line (20 kilometres), the first full underground driverless metro line in Singapore, the entire Circle Line (39.5 kilometres) and Thomson East Coast Line (43 kilometres), which will start revenue service in five stages from 2019 until 2024.

“Alstom is pleased to win this contract to continue supporting our customer, LTA, to develop the Circle Line. By closing the loop of the line with a service-proven signalling system, commuters will have an easier and faster travel experience from the western to the eastern part of Singapore. Alstom will work closely with LTA to execute this project in order to deliver the highest level of excellence”, said Ling Fang, Managing Director of China & East Asia, Alstom.