New Comcentre breaks ground as Singapore’s first end-to-end carbon neutral development
The new Comcentre is expected to be the largest integrated Grade A office space in the Orchard Road precinct, comprising two 20-storey Grade A office buildings. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) and Lendlease have officially broken ground on the redevelopment of Comcentre headquarters as a $3 billion world-class sustainable workplace.
“Beyond its physical form, Singtel and Lendlease are forging new frontiers in the areas of environmental sustainability, collaborative contracting and digitalisation in this project,” says Chee Hong Tat, Minister for National Development, at the development’s groundbreaking ceremony on July 8.
The building has served as Singtel’s headquarters since 1979. The redeveloped Comcentre is set to become the largest integrated Grade A office space in the Orchard Road precinct, comprising two 20-storey Grade A office buildings with a total gross floor area of over 1.18 million sq ft and floor plates of 27,000 sq ft.
The development will also include a sheltered arcade and an urban space, providing connectivity to the building’s surrounding neighbourhood. Additionally, the building will feature approximately 215,278 sq ft of lifestyle and retail spaces, including Singtel’s new flagship store, F&B offerings, medical suites, and an auditorium.
Singtel, the development’s anchor tenant, is expected to occupy about 30% of the total space in the new Comcentre. “The new Comcentre will be purpose-built to support our business needs, foster greater innovation and better serve our customers here in Singapore and the region,” says Yuen Kuan Moon, group CEO of Singtel.
The groundbreaking ceremony on July 8 was attended by Yuen Kuan Moon, Singtel group CEO, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat, and Tony Lombardo, Lendlease group CEO and managing director. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Located near 313@somerset — which is managed by Lendlease Global Commercial Trust Management — the upcoming Comcentre redevelopment is expected to bring “synergistic value” to the Somerset belt, says Debra Ma, project director at Lendlease.
“Once completed, this precinct will be a more connected hub where people can work, play, and explore,” she adds, highlighting the development’s enhanced retail and lifestyle offerings.
The redevelopment project is the result of a joint venture between Singtel and Lendlease, which was announced in 2022. Under the agreement, Lendlease subscribed to 49% of the shares of the joint venture company last year, while Singtel retains the remaining 51%.
Slated for completion in 2028, the new development will be Singapore’s first end-to-end carbon-neutral development, encompassing the building’s design, construction, and future operations. This will include the use of low-carbon concrete and steel, resulting in up to 30% savings on embodied carbon, according to Singtel.
Additionally, the building is set to be the first development in Singapore and Asia to achieve ‘Triple Certification’. This includes the Green Mark 2021 Platinum (Zero Energy) Certification, which encompasses all five sustainability badges. According to Kelvin Wong, CEO of Building and Construction Authority (BCA), this could improve the well-being of future occupants at the development, benefitting from enhanced indoor air quality, optimised thermal comfort, and increased access to natural daylight.
Wong cites research showing that Green Mark-certified office buildings in Singapore’s CBD have achieved up to 12% higher rents and 2.5% to 4% higher occupancy rates as compared to their non-certified counterparts. “These figures underscore that sustainable development is not just environmentally responsible but also commercially viable,” he says.
The new Comcentre is also expected to obtain the WELL Platinum certification and will be the first large-scale high-rise commercial building in Singapore to achieve the International Living Future Institute’s (ILFI) Zero Carbon Certification for its environmentally sustainable design.
Looking ahead, Wong notes that as Singapore works towards having 80% of Singapore's buildings be green by 2030, projects like the Comcentre redevelopment could serve as benchmarks for the industry in achieving ambitious sustainability through innovation and commitment.
Alongside the building’s sustainability goals, the new Comcentre will also feature digital innovation. With Singtel as co-developer, the group plans to integrate 5G+ connectivity throughout the development through network slicing technology. The development will feature AI-enabled robotics deployment, smart building systems, and tech-enabled spaces, which are set to boost connectivity and security for future tenants.
“With a people-centric approach, the new development will employ the latest and best from our collective expertise, combining Lendlease’s leadership in sustainability and placemaking and Singtel’s expertise in technology,” adds Tony Lombardo, Lendlease group CEO and managing director.
Follow Us
Property updates, 24/7.
Subscribe to Newsletter
Market insights, delivered weekly.
Top Articles
Search