Savills Singapore has made a strategic move into the Facilities Services sector, expanding and enhancing its Property and Integrated Facilities Management platform through the acquisition of a majority stake in Absolute Maintenance Services (“AMS”), a market leading facilities services group focused on providing innovative cleaning and sanitising solutions.
AMS will continue to be led by Ken Lee and Patrick Pek and trade as Absolute Maintenance Services Pte Ltd and Solute Pte Ltd. joining Savills with immediate effect. The teams will be integrated into the Savills existing platform reporting directly to Marcus Loo, CEO, Savills Singapore.
The acquisition will create a Property Management (“PM”), Integrated Facilities Management (“IFM”) and Facilities Services platform expanding Savills reach into Government and Institutional clients. It will also offer our existing Private and Corporate clients in the residential and commercial sectors a broader range of services and end-toend solutions.
AMS is Singapore’s leading provider of innovative cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitising solutions for large scale facilities, for a wide range of clientele across Government, Institutional and commercial assets. AMS has grown rapidly, as investors, asset owners, and operators across all sectors demand efficient and enhanced hygiene in private and public spaces to meet higher health and safety standards. AMS is at the cutting edge of technology incorporating state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (“AI”) driven robotics and internet of things (“IoT”) technology in its solutions. With AMS, Savills will also be seeking to enhance reporting on all aspects of environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”).
Marcus Loo, CEO, Savills Singapore said, “This is an exciting development for Savills Singapore business and an important milestone for the company. The acquisition expands the depth and breadth of our client offering in PM, IFM, and Facilities Services enabling us to offer clients greater value. I am excited to be working with Ken and his team to offer our collective clients, highly efficient end-to-end services leveraging robotics, IoT, and AI to optimise our services and help meet the ever growing demands of ESG reporting.”
Ken Lee, Managing Director, AMS said, “I am delighted to be joining forces with the Savills team here in Singapore. With their market leading position in MCST commercial and residential strata management and their growing presence in the IFM marketplace, we see many synergies and growth opportunities.”
Chris Marriott, CEO, Savills SE Asia commented, “This transaction is an important strategic step in the ongoing development of the Savills platform both in Singapore and SE Asia. In welcoming AMS, we have positioned ourselves as a leading player offering combined services in PM, IFM, and Facilities Services sectors. The acquisition also meets our corporate strategy: to build a robust business model that balances high value recurring income with our transactional agency income, creating a business that will thrive and survive under all economic circumstances.”
Horizon Towers, a collective sale site in the prestigious Leonie Hill locale, is launching for sale by tender by sole marketing agent JLL.
Sitting on elevated grounds in the coveted District 9, the site enjoys double road access with wide frontages nestled within the tree-lined Leonie Hill and Leonie Hill Road, exuding exclusivity amidst serenity. The 99-year leasehold development comprises 211 units in two towers.
The sprawling 1.9 ha site is zoned “Residential” in the 2019 Master Plan with an allowable height of up to 36 storeys. It has an “as-built” gross plot ratio (“GPR”) of around 3.28 and may be redeveloped into a luxury high-rise residential development with spectacular city views all round.
“A luxurious high-rise masterpiece on the elevated and sprawling grounds of Leonie Hill, complete with comprehensive amenities and bespoke services for its future well-heeled residents can be envisaged to be delivered by a very discerning developer on this premier address in the Orchard Road neighbourhood,” says Mr. Tan Hong Boon, Executive Director of Capital Markets at JLL Singapore. “The scale of the site will undoubtedly add to the grandeur of the development – a key selling feature that the developer should capitalize on.’’
At a reserve price of $1.1 billion, Horizon Towers’ unit land rate reflects about $2,049 per sq ft per plot ratio (psf/pr) over its 204,742 sq ft site at the GPR of ~3.28, inclusive of an estimated $277 million lease top-up premium. As there is no land betterment charge (formerly known as ‘development charge’) payable for intensification of the site even with the 10 per cent bonus gross floor area due to a high development baseline, the reflected unit land rate is $1,862 psf/pr.
“This is by far the most reasonably priced private residential site in and around the Orchard Road neighbourhood this collective sale cycle and it presents a great opportunity for developers and consortiums to acquire this one-of-its-kind sprawling choice site with its unparalleled attributes,” said Mr. Tan.
“In the past few quarters, we have seen private residential prices breaching new highs in both the Outside Central Region (mass market segment) and the Rest of Central Region (mid-tier segment), rising significantly faster than the relatively flattish price trend of the Core Centre Region (“CCR”, high-end segment). This lagging price movement is expected to be bumped up by the other two segments and propel the rise in prime residential prices towards a new norm,” noted Mr. Tan.
Given Singapore’s safe-haven reputation amidst the post-pandemic environment and uncertainties caused by geopolitical conflicts, inflation and rising interest rates, JLL expects both locals and foreigners to enter the market and be increasingly committing to this prime asset class in the CCR, especially around the Orchard Road locale, for their capital preservation and investment diversification.
“With the decreasing unsold stock of new residential units in the CCR, especially quality and sizable luxury apartments around Orchard Road, and the projected incoming high demand for quality and bespoke apartments, we expect the Horizon Towers site to attract a good number of discerning developers capable of delivering an exceptional quality development comprising approximately 560 luxurious units at an average size of 1,200 sq ft,” adds Mr. Tan.
The tender for Horizon Towers closes on Thursday, 20 October 2022 at 3.00 p.m.
LIXIL, the maker of pioneering water and housing products, is pleased to announce the launch of the American Standard Design Award (ASDA) 2023. Organized through American Standard, the ASDA 2023 competition focuses on multi-generational living with the theme ‘A Home to Love, A Space for Everyone’. The ASDA 2023 is calling for innovative user-centric designs that are purposeful and practical from the next generation of designers across the Asia Pacific (APAC).
Multi-generational living continues to be popular across Asia. Prior to COVID-19, almost half of Asians (45%) were living with their extended families in one household.[1] The pandemic accelerated this trend; as families made space for older relatives, young adults moved back home, and households accommodated more family members to pool their living and financial resources. As families adjusted to longer term co-living in the same space, designers are met with a unique set of challenges around privacy, comfort and accessibility.
The ASDA competition aims to reflect the relevance of multi-generational living with a design approach that balances hygiene, ergonomics, safety and convenience for users of different age groups – from children to parents to grandparents.
“For over 140 years, American Standard has continuously raised the bar in delivering bathroom solutions that combines purposeful designs and pioneering technologies. With our deep industry and design expertise, we are delighted to collaborate with leading architects and designers to launch ASDA 2023. American Standard has been trusted for generations for its progressive and dependable products, and we chose this year’s ASDA theme to inspire student designers to create an inviting multi-generational bathroom space in the home that every generation will love, whilst competing against their peers across the APAC region.” said Antoine Besseyre Des Horts, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, Asia.
Last year’s inaugural ASDA received an overwhelming response of nearly 3,000 entries hailing from seven countries: Australia, Cambodia, India, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
“The ASDA provides a great platform for design enthusiasts to apply our knowledge and learnings into real-world scenarios. The opportunity to present our ideas to industry’s top professionals was highly motivating and offered valuable insight into crafting thoughtful and unique designs,” said Lê Đức Thinh, ASDA 2022 Residential Bathroom Space Design Grand Prize Winner.
This year, the ASDA is inviting entries for the category of Residential Bathroom Space Design, emphasizing the importance of bathroom aesthetics for urbanites living in high-mass housing. With limited living area shared by a mix of age groups, designers will have to optimize and create multi-functional homes that strike a balance between private and shared spaces. The competition will push the envelope on design, challenging students to create a safe, hygienic and comfortable bathroom that is loved by everyone in the family.
The ASDA 2023 is open to Year 2 and above tertiary design school students from ten countries across the Asia Pacific – Australia, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The competition will accept entry submissions from August 24th, 2022 until January 15th, 2023. Entries will be judged through to May 2023, when the Asia Pacific Grand Prize winner will be announced.
The entries will be judged at two levels – National Level and APAC Level. At the national level, a national judging panel made up of architecture and design luminaries from each country will evaluate entries received from local participants.
First prize winners from each country will then proceed to the APAC competition round and will be judged by a regional judging panel for the Grand Prize. In addition, the Grand Prize winner will also have the opportunity to join the award ceremony in Singapore and visit the LIXIL Design Centre for an opportunity to interact with the LIXIL global design team.
For more information about the design competition and a way to be part of an impactful movement that can make a difference to consumers’ lives, please visit the ASDA website at (https://americanstandard-apac.com/asda).
Lendlease Digital announced the launch of Podium Property Insights in Asia. Launched in partnership with Accenture and Google Cloud, the one of-a-kind software platform for workplace managers and real estate owners will optimise space utilisation and cost savings within buildings that support employers in improving the employee experience.
Designed for large scale enterprises, government agencies, and portfolios, the platform allows users to view, analyse and predict future requirements, as well as gain value from specific data at a portfolio, building and team level. The partners have begun pilots in select locations, including Accenture’s Singapore office and the Csuites flexible workspace at Paya Lebar Quarter.
Leveraging data for future insights
The Podium Property Insights software tool creates personalised insights and recommended actions to inform future workspace decisions, and drive improvements to employee satisfaction. Podium Property Insights intelligently supports 20 unique metrics – Employee Satisfaction, Space Utilisation, Health & Safety, and Sustainability – in any building to create real-time models for optimal building usage.
Unlike purely sensor led solutions, Podium Property Insights offers concise insights, analysis at the individual team level, and provides forward looking forecasts. The platform brings together place, people, and business data collected through sensors and surveys to create a staircase to value – from business intelligence to artificial intelligence, and ultimately operational intelligence. This means users have the insights needed to improve cost efficiency, employee engagement, and workplace productivity.
Workplaces where people thrive
Employees are now demanding dynamic, personalised workplace experiences. In response, Podium Property Insights sets employee satisfaction as the “hero metric,” which is unparalleled in the market. By combining AI with practical tools to enable workplace teams to respond to ever-changing employee needs, along with insights built on complete data sets, Podium focused on helping the workplace thrive by correlating building data with employee data.
Through the pilot phase of the rollout of Podium Property Insights, teams have discovered that sometimes it is the simple things that need changing – for instance replacing high-chairs with standard chairs. Other teams have been able to relook at the space requirements based on how unique teams prefer to work and collaborate.
Podium Property Insights promotes safer and healthier buildings through tracking real-time data analytics and predictive and immediate action recommendations, which aims to decrease employee complaints by up to 30% and increase workplace productivity by up to 12%.
Optimising space
For workplace managers seeking to reduce overhead costs, Podium Property Insights tracks underutilised floors and meeting rooms and places in the office that have the least engagement enabling an optimal model for space usage to produce a thriving office environment.
Companies will be able to monetise non-utilised spaces at non-peak times by reconfiguring floorplate designs and adjusting for a hybrid work model. By creating this model, companies will find maximum workplace performance, grow employee engagement and retention. Podium Property Insights will continuously evolve to include additional data sources and metrics based on feedback received.
Reducing carbon footprint
For building owners seeking to reduce their building’s carbon footprint, Podium Property Insights can monitor air quality, temperature, and acoustics across the office. The platform also identifies electricity intensity and use per occupant, enabling building owners to redeploy resources more efficiently. After piloting Podium Property Insights, buildings will have a much stronger visibility of utility spend against occupancy, enabling action to reduce energy consumption footprint by 10% to 20%, depending on building infrastructure design. Podium Property Insights supports the entire real estate value chain, while encouraging industry collaboration and co-innovation.
Users of Podium Property Insights can expect safer and healthier buildings through tracking real-time data analytics, and advise on immediate action recommendations, which is imperative in an ever-changing environment in light of the pandemic.
From L-R: Victor Maningo, Vice President Global Market Development, Asia Pacific at IWBI, Ng Hsueh Ling, Managing Director, Lendlease Singapore & Chairman, Lendlease Global Commercial REIT; Jack Noonan, Vice President, Asia Pacific at IWBI, Justin Gabbani, Chief Executive Officer, Lendlease Asia and Richard Paine, Head of Development, Lendlease Singapore, pose with a plaque of WELL Gold Certification at Lendlease Singapore office. Photo credit: Lendlease
Lendlease recently announced that it has been awarded the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) WELL Core & Shell Certification at Gold level for nearly one million square feet of Grade A workspaces across its three office towers at its mixed use development, Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ), in a first for Singapore.
PLQ as the first group of projects in Singapore to register for WELL Certification in 2017 has incorporated many key sustainability features into the development and was designed with access to nature in mind, which include 100,000 square feet of green public spaces, native plants and natural materials. In addition, the development incorporates superior indoor air quality through top of-line filtration systems; use of low or zero VOC materials; access to outdoor views and daylighting for office tenants; easy access to healthy amenities such as exercise areas and facilities; and, a wide array of healthy food options.
The three office towers – PLQ 1, 2 and 3 – are characterised by large, efficient floor plates to meet the regional needs of global organisations seeking to establish progressive workplaces to attract and retain talent.
Lendlease is the world’s first commercial owner to earn a WELL portfolio score for its office portfolio from IWBI. Lendlease’s International Towers Sydney in Australia was the first to be awarded WELL Core & Shell Certification at the Platinum level, the highest certification available from IWBI.
Ng Hsueh Ling, Managing Director of Lendlease Singapore, commented: “We are humbled to be recognised by the International WELL Building Institute again for our leadership and longstanding commitment in creating well-designed developments that focus on the well-being of our people and the communities around them. Clinching the WELL Certifications is a prestigious one and is even more imperative in a post-pandemic world. We will continue to focus on creating a happier, healthier and ultimately more thriving workforce and resilient community here in Paya Lebar Quarter.”
Cosentino Launches Two New Dekton®: Onirika and Kraftizen
Cosentino Group had just launched two collections, Dekton® Onirika and Kraftizen.
Dekton® is an unmatched category in the world of surfaces, not only is it impervious to elements such as scratches, stains, UV rays, fire and heat, it is the only surface brand that is certified carbon neutral from cradle to grave. By offsetting 100% of carbon dioxide emissions over its entire product life cycle, Dekton® is a sustainable material which reduces environmental impact.
Dekton® Onirika
Cosentino and international interior design powerhouse, Nina Magon, have come together to create a one-of-a-kind Dekton® collection that is bold and yet, elegant and timeless. Inspired by marble patterns and immersive living, the stunning series showcases eight daring colours: Awake, Lucid, Somnia, Neural, Trance, Vigil, Daze and Morpheus.
“We are not attempting to mimic any existing natural stone. With the Dekton technology, we are able to create our own colours and structures, bringing to life something that is unique, beautiful and irreplaceable. That is the purpose of Onirika – to showcase the versatility of Dekton,” shares the Houston-based designer, Nina Magon.
From Left to Right:
• Neural combines elegance and structure to bring peace and joy, calm sensations, and an overall feeling of well-being into a space. With fine, pale veins crossing the marbled pattern, the design creates a fascinating neural network, which teleports one into a white dream. It is best suited for bright, neutral spaces with soft textures, light colours, and wooden or metallic accents.
• Lucid displays many shades, reflections, and glints of colour to create an illuminative perception of colours best combined with wood, grey and gold shades, and frosted glass.
• Morpheus is the name of this same Lucid tonality but in Dekton® Velvet Texture finish.
• Awake is a re-interpretation of the precious Paonazzo stone. It features thick veins of light greys, exquisite oxide terracotta, and a hint of subtle, inky blues. This iteration pairs beautifully with white, neutral tones, lightwood, and golds of any shade.
• Trance features warm fine streaks that move between oxides and fade to reddish gold, combining perfectly with reddish oak wood and darker walnut tones. Blue furniture and warm golds in pale finishing bring sleekness to this vibrant colour.
• Somnia boasts captivating details of warm oxide browns and whites that merge under a grid of think lines that create a sober texture. Somnia is perfect with warm dark woods, frosted glass and textured metal surfaces such as copper.
• Vigil recreates a strong Calacatta structure with thick veins in gradients of light and dark greys, matched with a subtle touch of gold. This is a classic colour that is easy to combine with warm and cold hues, wood metal, and clean concrete.
• Daze is the name of this same Vigil tonality but in Dekton® Velvet texture finish.
Dekton® Kraftizen
Kraftizen boasts a series of five versatile, beautiful colours with rich, deep textures: Umber, Nacre, Argentium, Micron and Albarium. Reminiscent of Venetian stucco, these colours are rooted in minimalism and versatility, bringing serenity into any space.
The Dekton® Kraftizen collection reinterprets craftsmanship perfected over the centuries using the latest digital craft technology. Each trowel stroke from yesteryear transfers onto canvases made of millions of pixels, becoming part of an image and a reinterpretation which will stand the test of time.
From Left to Right:
• Nacre is a colour with plenty of movement to engage all senses. Trowel marks bring the colour to life, while the subtle interplay of light and shadow accompanies every inch of the design. The silky finish is pleasant to the touch. Meanwhile, the scattered gradients are highly decorative and reminiscent of sea waves.
• Micron is elegant and minimalistic. Its markings and trowelled texture give it depth. This deep, dark grey conveys a comforting sense of calm and serenity.
• Albarium is a peaceful, powdery white colour, reminiscent of marble dust. The subtle trowel achieves a rich continuity that makes it easy to apply on large surfaces. Albarium captivates with its fine, elegant texture and the refinement and light it brings to the spaces where it is used.
• Umber is a timeless colour with its own personality and a special charisma. The terracotta is warm and cosy, an earthy colour closely connected to nature.
• Argentium is a perfect matte grey that can be combined with both warm and cold tones. Its trowelled structure, typical of lime plastering, provides a bold design option to the range. In ancient times, silver was considered a gift of nature created by the influence of the moon. This legend lives on in Argentium.
Dekton® offers endless design possibilities with its multiple applications for both indoors and outdoors spaces. It has won over many architects and designers around the world who chose the high-performance surface for facades, countertops, floors, cabinetry and claddings.
The two new collections are available for viewing at Cosentino City Singapore, located at 5 Straits View, Marina One The Heart (West Tower) #01-16/17, Singapore 018935.
LG Electronics (LG) recently showcased its total air care solutions by unveiling the latest air conditioners and air purifiers at the LG Air Solutions event. The event highlights LG’s newly launched climate-friendly R32 refrigerant for air conditioners and the LG PuriCare™ AeroTower™ Air Purifying Fan to emphasise the importance of clean air and healthy homes. Together, the company’s latest innovations provide fresh air for homeowners looking to upgrade their appliances.
Mr Gerald Chun, Managing Director, LG Electronics Singapore, said, “As one of the global leaders in air solutions, LG has been diversifying efforts to introduce forward looking products that deliver clean air to users at their comfort and convenience. Striving to make life better for all, we are focusing on developing sustainable innovations that protect the earth and cater to the evolving consumers’ needs for a healthier and better life at home.”
The R32: Environmentally Friendly Refrigerant
Taking ecological responsibility to the next level, LG has adopted the industry’s next generation R32 refrigerant for its single and multi-split air conditioners in commercial and residential settings. The energy-efficient R32 refrigerant is combined with LG air conditioners’ intelligent features and innovative product design to deliver cool air in a greener way.
With zero ozone depletion potential and significantly lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to the mainstream R410A refrigerant1, the R32 refrigerant is widely known to be more environmentally friendly for Mother Nature. The R32 conveys heat efficiently and offers a higher cooling capacity, so less energy is required to cool indoor spaces – this highlights the industry’s gold standard in heat transfer. Users can then reduce their carbon footprint and enjoy more significant savings on electricity costs. The R32, a single-component refrigerant, can also be easily recycled or reused, minimising the environmental impact of HVAC equipment, making it the refrigerant of choice for many businesses like LG today.
Unique to its multi-split residential air conditioners line-up, LG also developed the peak current control technology to manage energy consumption efficiently. Users can set a maximum consumption level to limit the total power used. An internal test result shows that usage patterns at 1.9kW and 1.7kW compared to the maximum power consumption of 2.5kW will help to save 24 per cent and 32 per cent energy, respectively2.
With an excellent 5-tick rating on Singapore’s Energy Guide3, LG’s Multi-Split Smart Inverter Air-Conditioner has a coefficient of performance (COP) that surpasses regulatory expectations 4. The Dual Inverter Compressor is also structured to operate with low vibration and less noise, resulting in optimised airflow that cools the room quickly and ensures greater energy efficiency.
The compact size of the outdoor unit makes it easy to install, perfect for those with HDBs looking to upgrade their air-cooling systems. To help users make an informed decision when choosing new air conditioners, LG’s air conditioners that use the R32 refrigerant will be identified with a Climate-Friendly label.
Enjoy Clean, Cool Air with LG PuriCare™ AeroTower™
The LG PuriCare™ AeroTower™ Air Purifying Fan features the perfect combination of an air purifier and a fan, with adjustable, three-way airflow modes that deliver fresh and clean air to every corner of the house.
The LG AeroTower™ graces any home with its sleek design that blends seamlessly into the interior. Employing a 3-step filtration system – comprising the Pre-Filter, 360-degree HEPA filter and Deodorisation Filter, the LG AeroTower™ effectively removes allergens, fine dust5, odours and harmful gases6in the air, improving indoor air quality significantly. In addition, the air purifying fan is equipped with LG UVnano™ technology to remove up to 99.9 percent of bacteria7on the fan blades, ensuring that clean air is delivered to every corner of the house.
Control Usage Remotely with the LG ThinQ™ App
The LG ThinQ™ app provides next-level convenience for users to remotely control and manage their LG products. The LG ThinQ™ app allows users to switch on/off the device and adjust temperature settings to avoid energy wastage. It also provides updates on indoor air quality and notifications to replace air purifier’s filters.
LG air conditioners with R32 refrigerants and AeroTower™ Air Purifying Fan are available at LG official brand stores – KrisShop, Lazada and Shopee, and authorised retailers.
For more information, visit https://www.lg.com/sg/air-solutions.
1 R410A: Ozone Depletion Potential of 0, Global Warming Potential of 2,088.
R32: Ozone Depletion Potential of 0, Global Warming Potential of 675.
2 LG internal test results on 7kW model. Cooling: Indoor Ambient Temp. 27°CDB / 19°CWB, Outdoor Ambient Temp. 35°CDB / 24°CWB
3 Model Z3UQ18GFA0 – Energy Rating: 5 ticks, Annual Energy Consumption: 1956kWh, Annual Energy Cost: S$528, Cooling Capacity: 5.21kW
Model Z3UQ26GFA0 – Energy Rating: 5 ticks, Annual Energy Consumption: 2389Wh, Annual Energy Cost: S$645, Cooling Capacity: 6.46kW
Model Z4UQ28GFA0– Energy Rating: 5 ticks, Annual Energy Consumption: 2786Wh, Annual Energy Cost: S$752, Cooling Capacity: 7.51kW
4 For more information, please refer to https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/climate-change-energy efficiency/energy-efficiency/household-sector/tick-rating
5 Tested by SGS IBR Laboratories in November, 2021 with DOE radial-pleat filter element using test method in compliance with IEST RP CC001.6 (2016) HEPA and ULPA Filters. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment.
6 Tested by Korea Air Cleaning Association in April, 2021 using test model FS061PWHA, test method in compliance with SPS-KACA 002-0132 indoor air purifier. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. 7 Tested by TÜV Rheinland using test model FS061PWHA measuring a bacteria solution (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae) on the blower fan blade at speed Level 1 for an hour exposed to LG UVnano UV-C LED test method in compliance with ISO22196:2011. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment.
HIMA, the leading provider of safety-related automation solutions, has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) under the National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering (NUS CDE). The partnership will contribute towards nurturing competent engineers in the field of functional safety and security. The MoU signing ceremony took place at HIMA Customer Solutions Center on 24 August 2022 in Singapore. The MoU has been signed by Friedhelm Best, Vice-President Asia Pacific, HIMA and Associate Professor Chai Kah Hin, Vice Dean of Masters’ Programmes and Lifelong Learning at NUS CDE.
For centuries, functional safety has been practised as a field of safety management in critical infrastructure, oil and gas, chemical and rail industries. While safety standards have improved, the advent of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in the chemical industry is accompanied by safety risks and cybersecurity threats. Tragic incidents in chemical plants that posed detrimental impacts to facilities and the environment have been reported over the years. As Singapore continues to push towards advanced manufacturing, HIMA and NUS CDE recognise the need for future engineers to be equipped with adequate skills and a strong foundation in functional safety and security.
“The Asia Pacific region has always been an important core market for us. For more than 30 years, we have been expanding in Asia. Our recently launched Customer Solutions Center in Singapore is a testimony to our continued commitment to this region, to support regional societal initiatives, and to nurture industries with safety and security competencies. We are proud to call Singapore home and we are committed to continue serving Singapore and the Asia Pacific moving forward,” said Mr Jörg de la Motte, CEO, HIMA.
Establishing a partnership between HIMA and NUS ChBE
As Singapore has solidified its reputation as a regional education hub, HIMA is steadfastly committed to helping to shape and nurture young engineering talents in the Asia Pacific region. Under the new partnership, HIMA and NUS ChBE will proactively organise activities to promote educational excellence in functional safety.
Jointly, HIMA and NUS ChBE will collaborate in the following areas:
Organise training and seminars to enhance education in functional safety and security
HIMA Customer Solutions Center will be available for NUS ChBE students to observe the actual operations within critical infrastructures
Jointly develop use cases to demonstrate how functional safety will assist Singapore’s transition toward advanced manufacturing
HIMA will offer internship opportunities for NUS ChBE students to gain practical industry experience
Jointly research on the potential of safe low-carbon hydrogen technology pathways
Announcing this partnership opportunity, Friedhelm Best, Vice-President Asia Pacific, HIMA, said “We are delighted to announce our collaboration with NUS Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Together, we hope to improve functional safety and security knowledge to enhance engineering education. We foresee performing a pivotal role in energising young engineers for future STEM career opportunities and further supporting the nation’s growth in advanced manufacturing.”
“We are honoured to partner HIMA, a world-leading specialist in safety-related automation, to develop field-worthy solutions and upskill the next generation of engineers. Our collaboration with HIMA will create meaningful opportunities for our students. Together with HIMA, we look forward to building a stronger pipeline of engineering talents,” said Associate Professor Chai Kah Hin, Vice Dean (Masters’ Programmes and Lifelong Learning), NUS CDE.
“The knowledge and skills that our students gain in the classroom, along with the hands-on opportunities offered by HIMA, will empower students with the confidence and competencies to solve complex real-world problems. This exciting collaboration with HIMA will better prepare our students for their engineering careers,” said Associate Professor Ivan Sin, Programme Chair for Masters of Science in Safety, Health & Environmental Technology at NUS CDE.
GuocoLand Limited (“GuocoLand” and together with its subsidiaries “the Group”) today announced the development concept of Lentor Modern (“曲 水伦庭”). Located among the tranquil landed estates and nature area, Lentor Modern will be the first and only integrated mixed-use development to be built in the area.
Lentor Modern is situated on a 1.7-hectare site surrounded by various parks and reservoirs in the vicinity. It comprises three 25-storey residential towers above a mall with more than 96,000 square feet (“sq ft”) of F&B and retail shops, a supermarket and a childcare centre. The development is directly integrated with Lentor MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line (“TEL”).
Lentor Modern’s 605 residences offer layouts of 1- to 4-bedroom units. The 2- to 4-bedroom units all come with an additional Flex Room. Residents can enjoy the verdant greenery within and around the integrated development, as well as unblocked views of the nature parks or low-rise landed homes in the area.
Units at Lentor Modern are attractively priced, starting from S$1,880 price per square foot (“psf”).
“One Lift Ride Lifestyle” – Direct connection to MRT, F&B, retail, supermarket and childcare
Lentor Modern offers homeowners a “One Lift Ride Lifestyle”. Being part of a transit-oriented mixed-use development, homeowners of Lentor Modern can just take the lift from their condominium straight down to the integrated mall which will have a wide range of retail and F&B options, as well as a 12,000 sq ft supermarket. Families with young children will also enjoy the convenience and safety of having a 10,000 sq ft childcare facility within the same development.
The Lentor MRT station entrance building is seamlessly integrated with the Lentor Modern mall. From Lentor MRT station, with just one train ride, homeowners can reach Orchard Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, the Central Business District (“CBD”), Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay and the East Coast. Other job centres, such as the Woodlands Regional Centre, can also be reached by MRT along the TEL.
In addition, with several interchange stations on the TEL at present and in the future, residents of Lentor Modern can transfer to all other MRT lines and travel to almost every part of the island.
Lentor Modern’s mall includes a Public Plaza flanked by F&B units. The plaza is conceived to be the social heart of the neighbourhood, providing a space for the local community to unwind and connect with family and friends. It can also be a place to hold activities such as street markets, group exercises or performances.
Living in a stream-inspired green sanctuary
On the site of Lentor Modern there used to exist a freshwater stream. The architectural and landscape design pays homage to the stream by drawing inspiration from an old Chinese cultural activity known as 曲水流觞 (roughly translated as “winding stream party”), where participants compose poems by a winding stream. Level 4 of Lentor Modern features a series of inter-connected waterbodies totalling more than 200-metres in length. Lining this stream inspired waterbody are various gardens, pavilions and amenities dedicated to wellness and social interaction. Residents can recharge and relax while taking in picturesque views of the landed estates and nature areas.
The extensive facilities and amenities on Level 4 include a 50-metre and a 25-metre Lap Pool; a Leisure Pool, Spa Pool and Jacuzzi Alcove; two signature lawns; a tennis court; a Grand Clubhouse (with two function rooms, Business Lounge, Games Room and Dance Studio); indoor and outdoor gyms; as well as multiple dining and entertainment spaces and pavilions. Residents can also enjoy sleeping under the stars in the specially designed glamping tents, while an Allotment Garden with community planters provides farming enthusiasts with a farm to-table experience.
At Level 14 of each of the three residential towers is a Sky Club that offers a verdant environment with open areas for exercise, relaxation and meditation; two dining rooms for entertaining; as well as naturally ventilated work corners and an air-conditioned Club Lounge.
Special effort is made to support residents’ new hybrid work lifestyle. In addition to the work corners and Club Lounge on Level 14, the multiple pavilions on Level 4 offer residents plenty of alternative work and study spaces where they can hold private calls, meetings, private tuition classes or study groups, while the Business Lounge in the Grand Clubhouse comes with private booths for hot-desking, setting for informal meetings and a meeting room for six people.
Efficient and Flexible Living Spaces
People’s lifestyle needs have evolved, and having an additional flexible space that can serve a variety of functions is very useful. Thus, in addition to the typical bedrooms, a versatile Flex Room has been incorporated in all 2- to 4-bedroom units. The dimensions of the Flex Room are carefully designed so that it can be used in a variety of ways to suit different needs. For example, the Flex Room can be used as nursery or playroom, a study room, a walk-in wardrobe, a small guest bedroom, or workshop for home-based entrepreneurs.
Lentor Modern’s Flex Room offers a host of possibilities in usage (Artist Impressions)
Connected to Nature Parks and Education Institutions
Families and nature enthusiasts can enjoy greenery at the nearby Hillock and Linear Parks in the future. They can also exercise and unwind at the many other parks in the area, such as Lower Peirce Reservoir Park, Upper Peirce Reservoir Park, Thomson Nature Park, Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park, Lower Seletar Reservoir Park and Upper Seletar Reservoir Park.
Lentor Modern is in close proximity to several well-regarded institutions, including Anderson Primary School, Ang Mo Kio Primary School, CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Primary and
Secondary), Mayflower Primary School, Anderson Secondary School, Presbyterian High School, Anderson Serangoon Junior College and Nanyang Polytechnic.
GuocoLand’s signature “Modern” series arrives at Lentor
Lentor Modern takes inspiration from two earlier luxury developments in GuocoLand’s “Modern” series – Martin Modern which debuted in 2017, and Midtown Modern which was launched in 2021. With its “Modern” series of residences, GuocoLand has defined a modern luxury lifestyle through the use of architecture that is timeless and classic, efficient and adaptable layouts that supports living, working and entertaining at home, a strong focus on wellness through accessibility to nature, and shared amenities to promote social activities. Similar to Midtown Modern, Lentor Modern provides an elevated level of convenience and connectivity by being directly linked to an integrated mall and MRT station.
Lentor Modern’s project and landscape architects are ADDP Architects and Ortus Design, respectively. Each well-appointed unit comes with high-quality appliances from Smeg and luxurious sanitary wares from Hansgrohe and Roca.
Expected to be completed in 2026, Lentor Modern will be the first private condominium launch in the Lentor neighbourhood in more than two decades. Lentor Modern’s show gallery will be opened for preview from 2 September 2022.
DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION
Total Units
605 residential units
Land Size
17,279.9 sq m / Approx 186,000 sq ft
Commercial Component
Over 96,000 sq ft of Commercial Spaces, including 12,000 sq ft Supermarket and 10,000 sq ft Childcare Centre
Tenure
99 years from 26 October 2021
Construction Method
PPVC
Estimated TOP
Estimated 2026
No of Units Per Floor
Tower 3 – 10 units per floor
Tower 5 – 9 units per floor
Tower 7 – 10 units per floor
No of Residential Carpark lots
547 carpark lots consisting of 542 carpark lots and 5 accessible carpark lots located at 2nd and 3rd storey of the podium
8 motorcycle lots for residential at 2nd storey
No of Commercial Carpark lots
103 carpark lots consisting of 100 carpark lots and 3 accessible carpark lots located at the basement storey
1 motorcycle lot at the basement storey
No of Bicycle Lots
50 bicycle parking lots for commercial and 152 bicycle parking for residential. Both are located in the basement storey
Grundfos reports a strong order intake growth of +15%, and sales growth of 11.2% for the first half of 2022, adjusted for lost sales in Russia and Belarus. Adjusting for a one-off cost of DKK 851m related to closing business in Russia and Belarus, the water solutions company reports earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of DKK 1,689m, negatively impacted by continued supply chain and materials shortage challenges.
“I am very proud to present such strong results for our first half of 2022. It has been our number one priority to be able to continue to serve our customers and we have managed to do so whilst navigating extraordinarily difficult circumstances,” says CEO Poul Due Jensen.
He continues, “These results are proof of the agility, dedication and hard work shown by our colleagues all over the world and I cannot thank them all enough for their resilience and devotion in these continuously challenging conditions.”
The growing raw material prices, higher logistics costs, and significant material shortages are expected to continue, making the outlook for the remainder of the year uncertain.
“Grundfos will continue to provide solutions to the climate and water challenges the world faces. We want to play an active role in relieving the energy crisis in Europe and the rest of the world by delivering energy efficient solutions that reduce the use of electricity for heating, cooling and water management,” ends Poul Due Jensen.
