CUBIC CoverDec08.indd - Colliers

UED BIZHUB
Artist’s impression of an overview of the
completed UED BIZHUB
According to UED’s Managing Director, David
Liew, this integrated development is part of JTC’s
master plan to build Changi Business Park into an
active urban area with two separate hubs linked by
an attractive green garden environment complete
with kiosks, sculptures and performing venues. The
idea is to inject recreation, retail and relaxation into
an otherwise straitlaced business community.
Since its launch in 1997, the Changi Business
Park has been served sporadically with various
amenities and facilities, but these came and went
as the smallish population and catchment could
not sustain these businesses and services. But
what a difference a few years make. The area is
now in great need of more services, such as retail
and leisure as the business community expands.
According to UED, the project enables the
company to further tap into its accumulated
years of experience in engineering and
construction, in particular in the niche area
of built-to-suit real estate services, an area
required by many multi-national corporations
looking for asset light alternatives for their
operations.
The vision for Changi Business Park is for it to
be developed with the principle of integrated living
showcased by the JTC development, One -North,
Singapore’s high tech and R&D science hub. “The
Changi Business Park will comprise a fusion of
various mulit-faceted activities to cater to the
needs of the modern business community,” said
Liew.
Like One-North, the UED BIZHUB is being
developed to be an integrated mixed-use
development of retail, apartment, offices and
hotels with state-of-the-art aesthetic design
and sustainability.
The gleaming glass and steel faceted
structures integrate several environmentally sound
strategies and technologies. A district cooling
system has been integrated into the development
to reduce the use of electricity for cooling
purposes. Green features such as the use of
plants on vertical green walls to minimise heating,
and light shelves to reduce heat have also been
planned into the design.
THE NEW CBD
The move to enhance this area is timely said
UED. “The new Changi Business Park in recent
years has grown at an incredible rate,” said
Liew, “especially with the recent real estate
boom and the tremendous speed at which
CBD rental prices are escalating, causing many
financial-related back-of-house functions to
take a great interest in relocating to the Changi
Business Park. With this increase of interest and
the site’s close proximity to the intersection of
two MRT lines, UED sees tremendous potential
in this site.” With its existing infrastructure,
thoroughfares and links to key transportation
nodes, the Changi Business Park site has the
ability to consolidate accommodation, F&B,
retail and MICE activities, added Liew, calling the
development a “CBD away from the CBD”.
Given the supply crunch on office space that
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January 2009 |