IOI Central Boulevard Towers gets to the heart of the post-pandemic workplace
The pandemic has accelerated change in the modern workforce, with many workers experiencing a huge shift in priorities relating to work, family and personal well-being. This mindset has also considerably shaped how workers view their workplace. It has become increasingly crucial for employees to have an office that not only serves their professional needs, but also contributes to their overall well-being.
IOI Central Boulevard Towers, a Grade A office development in Marina Bay, is well-positioned to cater to the needs and aspirations of today’s working professionals. Comprising two office towers of 16 and 48 storeys sitting on top of a seven-storey podium, the development offers 1.26 million sq ft of leasable spaces and 30,000 sq ft of retail, food and beverage spaces.
Developed by IOI Properties Group, IOI Central Boulevard Towers is slated for completion in 2023. It follows the Group’s award-winning South Beach development, located at Beach Road.
A greener office for a better workplace
The design of an office has a huge impact on any employee’s health and well-being. According to a report by the World Green Building Council, greener offices, which consider factors such as nature, air quality and lighting, can make employees happier and more productive.
This philosophy is woven into the design of IOI Central Boulevard Towers. Biophilia is a key component, with over 120,000 sq ft dedicated to green landscaping. Besides a significant amount of greenery, offices at IOI Central Boulevard Towers will enjoy ample natural lighting, thanks to a double-glazed glass façade that keeps the heat at bay while allowing daylight to stream in. This is supplemented by well-designed acoustics to give occupants maximum comfort.
The building also incorporates a slew of other green features to reduce overall carbon footprint. For example, the building is connected to District Cooling System, a centralised plant that provides cooling network, reducing electrical consumption and carbon emissions to the environment.
Healthier lifestyle
A key outcome of the pandemic is a stronger focus on healthy living, with many keen on exercising and participating in activities that promote wellness. The pandemic has also amplified a preference for nature and the outdoors, with studies showing that those who spend time in nature are less stressed and more creative.
Tenants in the building can go for a run while basking in nature at the 200-metre jogging track available at the Central Green. The building also offers bicycle parking lots and end-of-trip facilities for those looking to cycle to the office or go for a lunchtime ride. Shower facilities are also on-hand, making it easy for workers to freshen up before heading back to the office.
Air quality has become a heightened area of concern due to the pandemic, but future occupants of the IOI Central Boulevard Towers do not have to worry about this, as indoor air quality is constantly monitored within the buildings. Fresh air supply that goes through MERV-14 and UVC filters is continuously distributed throughout the building, while periodic air-purging is also conducted to maintain high air-quality standards.
Other features are also being incorporated to promote safe distancing and workplace hygiene. Elevators at the building are segregated, with designated elevators servicing specific floors to reduce congestion. Meanwhile, touchless interfaces are installed at high-traffic areas such as gantries and office entrances.
Easy access to F&B and amenities
At IOI Central Boulevard Towers, tenants will find wide-ranging amenities at their doorstep. These include a dedicated childcare centre for working parents to conveniently drop off their young ones. With such a facility on-site, parents will be able to enjoy peace of mind knowing their children are just a short walk away from their workplace.
Tenants will also find it easy to commute to IOI Central Boulevard Towers as there are sheltered connections to four MRT stations: Downtown, Marina Bay, Raffles Place and Shenton Way.
Workers will have a myriad of dining options to choose from, with the multitude of restaurants and eateries located at the development’s retail podium. They will also have easy access to shops and restaurants at neighbouring buildings such as One Raffles Quay and Asia Square Towers that are connected to IOI Central Boulevard Towers via covered link bridges.
Facilitating meaningful connections
After a long spate of working from home during the pandemic, workers are returning to the office with an increased appreciation of face-to-face interactions, which play a big role in facilitating teamwork and collaboration.
As such, IOI Central Boulevard Towers has incorporated multiple elements to foster in-person interaction and discussion. Collaborative spaces are found throughout the building — from meeting pods in Central Green perfect for small group meetings, to Central Square, a public plaza on the ground floor that offers space for company events or community activities.
Recognising that the emphasis on collaborative space is driving up demand for future-proof workspaces, the development will offer Ultra Large Floor Plate offices that span 70,000 sq ft per floor, with flexible column-free design and regular central-core layout. This provides organisations with the required flexibility to tailor spaces for innovative workflows and team collaborations to achieve desired functionality.
“One of the biggest shifts in business arising from the pandemic is definition of the office space, with significantly greater emphasis on flexible design to accommodate both work and lifestyle needs, as well as integration of the latest digital tools to promote dynamic collaboration. IOI Central Boulevard Towers is designed to address these evolving needs through future-proof work spaces,” says Lee Yeow Seng, Executive Vice Chairman of IOI Properties Group.
Built for business continuity
With the pandemic compelling many to adopt remote working arrangements, the office plays an important role in becoming a space equipped with the necessary infrastructure to provide a disruption-free working environment optimised for running a business or working effectively.
At IOI Central Boulevard Towers, every step has been taken to build top-notch office spaces geared for business continuity. The building has a dual power supply sourced from two different power grid substations, while telecommunication systems are routed from two different exchanges, to remove the possibility of power or connection outages.
IOI Central Boulevard Towers also features top-level security, with a 24/7 integrated security management system that provides a safe and secure working environment at all times.