Green Icon Poised To Redefine Office Space

Award-winning office tower beginning eco-enhancement work

Issue: July 10

Six Battery Road - an established iconic office building in Raffles Place with extended canopy that accentuates the sense of arrival at entrance

Rising magnificently 42 floors above the hub of Singapore’s financial and commercial district is the Grade A office building, Six Battery Road. The building, completed in 1984, offers panoramic views of the historic Singapore River and the entertainment and recreational centre of Marina Bay. In addition to its premium location within the vicinity of fine hotels and restaurants, public parking and other amenities, Six Battery Road also provides direct basement access to the Raffles Place MRT Station, the key interchange for the north-south and east-west MRT lines. Evidently, it is the choice business address of prestigious corporations. Currently, the building houses offices of several local and multi-national companies, many of which have been tenants since the building’s completion.

Eco-efficient Design Gets Highest Green Recognition

The green wall in the lobby helps reduce indoor heat gain

Six Battery Road is no stranger to the Green Mark award, having won its first Green Mark Gold Award in 2008

Six Battery Road was recently awarded the 2010 Green Mark Platinum by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore. It is an honour of no small magnitude as this is the first time an operating office building in the country has been conferred the highest Green Mark accolade. The award was given to the building’s owner, CapitaCommercial Trust, based on highest points received for plans to significantly enhance the building’s environmental sustainability to the highest standards. The areas marked for improvement and/or installation include: energy efficiency, water efficiency, environmental protection, indoor environment quality and other green features and innovations.

“The ‘green’ features that will be incorporated will contribute to improved operational efficiency and cost savings in the long term. The works are also in line with our portfolio reconstitution strategy wherein we proactively enhance the Trust’s long term value through divestments, asset enhancement initiatives and acquisitions,” said Richard Hale, Chairman of CapitaCommercial Trust Management Limited, the Manager of CapitaCommercial Trust.

Work is scheduled to begin in October 2010 and expected to roll out in phases over four years. The estimated S$92 million cost of the refurbishment is approximately 8% of the property’s worth based on valuation as at the end of December 2009.

Holistic Approach to Green Innovations

Much thought has been invested into the planning of green features and special attention given to every detail.

“Singapore’s office market is poised for rental recovery. We believe that this is an opportune time to undertake asset enhancement to Six Battery Road so that it will continue to offer value-for-money office accommodation to tenants, and sustain the building’s high occupancy and rental rates. We are paying attention to every detail that will create a more superior and conducive working environment for tenants,” said Lynette Leong, Chief Executive Officer of the Manager.

The green wall in the lobby helps reduce indoor heat gain and the onyx reused at other parts of the lobby

One of the most outstanding features is the “green” wall with live plants that will be constructed in the main lobby. Spanning 184 square metres, it will be the largest of its kind installed in any Singapore office building. Apart from bringing the outdoors in, the wall is also eco-friendly because it uses harvested rainwater in its irrigation system.

To improve indoor air quality, variable air volume (VAV) boxes in offices and carbon monoxide sensors in car parks will be incorporated. The sensors will control the operation of the mechanical ventilation system. When the carbon monoxide levels hit a preset level, fans will be activated to run at a higher speed, bringing in more fresh air to dilute the carbon monoxide to an acceptable level in the car park.

Basement car parks will boast solar light tubes that bring in natural daylight to a portion of the car park, thus reducing the usage of artificial lighting. To further promote an eco-culture, special privileged lots will be reserved for hybrid and electric cars. This is intended to encourage tenants to opt for cleaner emission vehicles and contribute in a holistic manner to reducing carbon dioxide emission.

To complete the “green” campaign, a Green Room will be set up to create awareness among both tenants and the public on recycling, green label products, water and energy efficient products. There will even be a public display of real-time monitoring of energy or water savings.

Increased Benefits to Tenants

Lift lobbies and cars at Six Battery Road will be renewed with premium finishes

Tenants’ needs are a perennial concern and much will be done to create a more superior and conducive work environment without disrupting current operations. The lobby will be given a facelift with a new reception, complete with natural lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Lift lobbies and cars, and restrooms will also be renewed with premium finishes.

Power provision will be increased to 50 watts per square metre, up from the current 35 watts per square metre. Combined with increased ceiling height from the current 2.6 metres to 2.8 metres, these will add to the airy feel of the office space .

Technological Expertise to Save Energy

Revitalised lobby will have a warm and hospitable feel

The chiller plant room system will be re-designed to incorporate a thermal energy storage system to improve system efficiency from the current 0.94kW/ton to 0.65kW/ton. The existing chillers, cooling towers, condenser and chilled water pumps will also be replaced with energy efficient equipment. This will result in an estimated 30% improvement in chiller plant efficiency and 25% savings in energy consumption.

Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) on condenser and chilled water pumps will also be installed to ensure maximum efficiency at part load conditions. Exhaust air will be used to harness a small amount of energy which will in turn power the “green wall” irrigation pumps as well as certain lighting equipment as part of a pilot project on renewable energy.

. This reduces carbon dioxide emission, recovers waste energy and generates “green” energy. In fact, at the end of the asset enhancement exercise, the building is expected to reduce its carbon footprint by 13% annually.

CapitaCommercial Trust aims that when the entire enhancement works are completed by 2013, Six Battery Road will stand as a testament of the Trust’s commitment to sustainability.