Construction Captains

As Skyworld introduces its Quality Centre, Kathlyn D’souza speaks to the company’s chief operating officer, Lee Chee Seng, about Malaysia’s first construction quality centre

As per their tagline, Skyworld began ‘transforming cities’ back in 2008. They decided to stay focused solely on KL, while positioning themselves as a city developer, initially banking on seven elements that became the cornerstone of Skyworld: location, Skyliving experience, quality, innovation, sustainability, Smart Home features and security. Which was then compressed it into three groups, namely Value Creation, Skyliving Experience and Innovation. One thing that stood out was the dropping of their commitment to Smart Homes. While recognising that technology is now part of our lives, Lee justified, “We decided to remove this element because technology is ever evolving. After a few years, the technology would have changed or improved.” Thus, they now provide infrastructures such as fibre optic cables, online booking facilities, reporting of defects and the ability to use your mobile as an access card and intercom. “Sure, it’s lot of work to conceptualise and build a property, but it takes even more effort to maintain and bring up the value of the development. No one likes coming home to a broken-down lift, soiled hallway or flooded car park.” But that’s not all that is new. This April saw the developer hosting a ground-breaking ceremony for the first Quality Centre, by Skyworld, in Malaysia. This centre acts as the benchmark for the standards of all Skyworld constructions, providing a showcase of quality workmanship and helping to identify shortcomings that one may not be able to spot visually. “Skyworld Quality Centre demonstrates the dedication we put into our developments,” said Lee. “It signifies our commitment to Qlassic and Conquas quality assessments and certifications. This centre is also used to train and educate the Skyworld staff as well as function as a sharing hub for consultants, university students, prospective home buyers and those curious to know more about construction quality.” Located in Setapak, the construction of the Quality Centre comprises 10 areas, including a lounge, a mini auditorium which can seat up to 30, a comprehensive unit consisting of a living room, bedroom, yard, balcony, corridor, staircase, kitchen and bathroom. “When you visit our Skyworld Quality Centre, we’ll show you the difference between a Qlassic and Conquas-compliant finishing against noncompliant finishings. We’ll teach you how to spot the details that matter, so that when you consider a Skyworld property, you are sure of our commitment to quality,” added Lee. Project-wise, Skyworld has just handed over its first development, Ascenda Residences at Skyarena, Setapak, and it has done very well, even in the subdued market. Being relatively new in the market, Lee explained how Skyworld achieves this. “Before we launch a project, we will always do a feasibility study. Thanks to our dedicated team and support from our business associates, we are able to craft the best product mix, and enter the market at the right time for the target buyers.” This, of course, is complemented by a strategic location in a mature neighbourhood and reasonably priced developments. Although a young player in the industry, but doing so well already, one might wonder if Skyworld plans to venture outside of the Klang Valley, or even overseas. Lee replied, “We will focus on KL for the time being. Maybe after 2020, if there are investment opportunities, we might consider—be it in the conventional way or via joint ventures.”