Iconic landmark a pride of Penang
A FORERUNNER in green and sustainable development in the country, S P Setia Bhd continues to raise the bar for other players in the property development industry.
Its Setia SPICE or Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre project, which boasts of being the first hybrid solar-powered convention centre in the world, has been named winner in the Purpose Built Category of this year’s FIABCI Malaysia Property Award.
The coveted award for the RM700mil iconic landmark in Bayan Lepas, Penang, marks an eleventh for the developer to date, in addition to it being a 10-time winner at the prestigious FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards.
S P Setia executive vice-president Datuk Koe Peng Kang said unlike other venues for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE), Setia SPICE was a purpose-built, world-class facility that presented the general public an opportunity to get together for business, work and pleasure pursuits – a true testament to the company’s ‘LiveLearnWorkPlay’ development philosophy.
“Setia SPICE is a vision of S P Setia and the Penang government to establish the island state as a premier destination of choice for world-class conventions and events.
“It was strategically conceptualised to meet the aspirations of the Penang government to attract business travellers and to compete in the international MICE market.
“This would make Penang not only a destination for leisure travellers but corporate and business travellers alike,” Koe said.
Spanning 10.27ha, Setia SPICE is made up of the Setia SPICE Convention Centre, Setia SPICE Arena, Setia SPICE Aquatic Centre, Setia SPICE Canopy and an upcoming 453-room business class hotel showcasing the Amari brand earmarked for opening in 2020.
The first hybrid solar-powered convention centre in the world and Eco Green GBI silver certified, the Setia SPICE Convention Centre has also been declared by the Malaysia Book of Records as having the largest subterranean pillarless ballroom as well as the biggest rooftop recreational park in Malaysia.
“This world-class integrated convention centre comprises of a 4,000sq m pillarless ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 round banquet tables or 8,000 theatre seats.
“In fact, event organisers who wish for a bigger space can also make use of the 2,000sq m Grand Foyer area outside the ballroom as Setia SPICE Convention Centre is designed to integrate both outdoor and indoor space seamlessly,” said Koe.
Koe added that atop the convention centre is also the biggest rooftop recreational park in the country.
“As sustainability is an integral component of how S P Setia conducts and manages its business on all fronts, it was merely natural to incorporate eco-friendly features in the development.
“At Setia SPICE, we did away with conventional roofing by replacing it with 2.42ha of green space, transplanted mature trees, a rainwater harvesting system and water management, solar-powered lighting as well as a charging station for electric cars.
“The park also has the largest playground for special needs children and a bamboo garden,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Setia SPICE Arena, to be connected to the Setia SPICE Convention Centre via a covered walkway, is a multipurpose built venue suited for shows, concerts, sporting events and exhibitions.
With a combined 7,400sq m floor space and capacity of 10,000 terraced seats supported by eight function rooms, Setia SPICE Arena is by far the largest and most comprehensive multi-purpose indoor venue in the northern region; hosting many events by world renowned international companies.
Elsewhere, the Setia SPICE Aquatic Centre boasts of having the largest Olympic-sized indoor salt water swimming pool in Malaysia besides housing the biggest commercial solar photovoltaic farm in Penang.
“Cognisant of our role in driving sustainability throughout our developments, we have used solar photovoltaic system panels on the roof of the aquatic centre.
“These panels can generate up to 980 megawatts of electrical power annually and under the feed in tariff scheme, injects power generated directly into the grid. This, in turn, allows the solar power to be used to light up the other areas of the convention centre,” Koe said.
Besides a diving pool with threetier diving platform and a kids’ splash pool with salt-water treatment, the aquatic centre also offers a host of other comprehensive clubhouse facilities.
There are also badminton courts, squash courts, a gymnasium, function rooms, dance studio and sauna.
Another main component of Setia SPICE is the Setia SPICE Canopy, a one-stop lifestyle venue comprising of 59 retail outlets, highly visible with maximised road exposure. Setia SPICE Canopy compliments the Setia SPICE development as a one-stop destination for both business and leisure.
“S P Setia has always championed integrated developments with our ability to connect communities, create ecological features and sustainable living environments that enrich the lives of the surrounding communities.
“At the forefront of branding in the property industry, we adopt good strategies and embark on proper, thorough planning to ensure that the product embodies the strength, reliability and the value creation that we bring to all our developments.
“For Setia SPICE, we wanted it to stand out from the rest and set a benchmark in the MICE industry like never before.
“I think the numerous awards garnered for the development thus far is the best testament of how this vision has been achieved and this, we are very proud of.
“The fact that the convention centre is fully booked throughout the weekends, managing to secure international conferences until the second-half of 2020 is also a clear indication that Setia SPICE is a premier destination not only in Malaysia but also in the world of MICE businesses,” Koe said.
The latest recognition from FIABCI Malaysia, he added, is a motivation for S P Setia to strive even harder in ensuring its customers are given the best in terms of quality and value for money.
Log on to www.spsetia.com.my or www.setiaspice.com for more details.