Paya Lebar Quarter Office Buildings First In Singapore To Register For New Global Buildings Standard Focused On Occupant Well-Being and Productivity

Date: 23 January 2017
Company Name: Lendlease

Paya Lebar Quarter by Lendlease, a $3.2 billion mixed-use development, is the first in Singapore to register for the International WELL Building Institute’s (IWBI) WELL Core and Shell Certification for nearly 1 million square feet of Grade A workspaces across its three office towers. The commitment to pursue WELL Certification in Singapore is a testament to Lendlease’s leadership in sustainability and the development’s vision to create an Active, Green and Engaged precinct that can enhance the well-being and productivity of the people who will come to work in these spaces every day.

Administered by public benefit corporation IWBI, the WELL Building Standard (WELL) is the world’s first building standard focused exclusively on increasing the well-being and productivity of occupants. The programme uses a performance and evidence-based system, based on medical and scientific research to provide investors and tenants with measurable benefits that address health and well-being concerns for workplaces.

The public space design of Paya Lebar Quarter, together with its retail, entertainment and leisure experiences, delivers a complete work ecosystem that integrates work with other lifestyle activities to connect people beyond their workspaces. Signature features of Paya Lebar Quarter aligning with the principles of the WELL Building Standard are the 100,000 square feet of Green public spaces seamlessly connected to the Park Connector Network and excellent end-of-trip facilities for the office tenants such as showers, lockers and bicycle lots that promote active lifestyles.

The biophilic design with Green spaces in the public plaza, promenade and sky gardens for the three office towers reflects the benefits of integrating nature into the places and buildings that make up our cities, helping to elevate a sense of well-being. Research has shown that a 40-second micro-break viewing a Green roof resulted in higher concentration levels as compared to a view of a concrete roof.

“Paya Lebar Quarter is a pioneering project in Singapore that demonstrates leadership in sustainability, in line with the national agenda—one that is increasingly looking at integrating health and wellness components into a holistic approach to create a sustainable future. Registration for WELL Certification aligns with our mission to create a happier, healthier and ultimately more productive workforce and community here in Paya Lebar Quarter,” said Richard Paine, Managing Director of Paya Lebar Quarter by Lendlease.

“Healthy workplaces can lead to improved productivity and reduced absenteeism, staff turnover, and medical or insurance claims. Organisations now look beyond the monetary cost of occupying a building; they are placing emphasis on the productivity of the workforce occupying it,” said Paine.

Approximately 90 per cent of a business’s operating costs are tied to staff-related expenses. Therefore, a modest improvement in employee health or productivity can have a significant financial implication for employers.

“The research is proving what we have known intuitively—that investing in things that improve the health and well-being of our employees leads to improved employee satisfaction and engagement levels,” said Rick Fedrizzi, Chairman and CEO of IWBI. “WELL provides a pathway for extending a company’s efforts from creating Green and efficient workplaces to Green and healthy environments for its most important asset—its people. Progressive investors and tenants alike recognise that this people-first approach of encouraging healthier workplaces is key to boosting overall productivity.”

Future office occupants at Paya Lebar Quarter can also access the Wi-Fi-enabled public spaces for opportunities to take their work outdoors. The quality retail, entertainment and food choices will not only ensure interesting and healthy food choices, but foster social bonding and collaboration among colleagues.

The office towers will also include enhanced air filtration beyond industry standards to optimise the amount of outdoor air being supplied into offices based on office occupancy and outdoor air quality. Other health and wellbeing considerations include floor to ceiling glazing that invite natural daylight into the workspaces and provide excellent window views of the Green public realm whilst maintaining thermal comfort to boost concentration for focused work.

The WELL Core & Shell Certification that Paya Lebar Quarter is pursuing is now available for new core and shell developments or multi-tenant buildings seeking to implement the basic conditions necessary to achieve WELL Certification. WELL is designed to work harmoniously with leading international Green building systems to best address both human health and environmental sustainability within buildings. Through the certification process, these pioneering projects will help drive rapid harmonisation of WELL with Green building rating systems around the world, such as LEED, Green Star and BREEAM.

Paya Lebar Quarter follows the International Towers at Barangaroo South Sydney, a project by Lendlease, in leading the internationalisation of WELL Core and Shell Certification. Lendlease and wellness real estate firm Delos first announced their alliance in November 2015 to bring human health and wellness innovations to Lendlease markets around the world through adoption of the WELL Building Standard.