IOI CBT’s aircon feature to resolve Singapore’s climate crisis

The IOI Central Boulevard Towers use a balanced air conditioning feature to lessen the carbon footprint in the units.

The humid climate of Singapore leads to overworked air conditioning units. Consequently, the country’s commitment to a net-zero goal suffers. IOI Properties looks to resolve this conflict by balancing the use of air conditioning units in its newly developed IOI Central Boulevard Towers (CBT).

Each office has a double-glazed full glass window, which allows an optimal indoor environment with ample natural lighting, resulting in lower aircon consumption. The development’s orientation also allows enough sunlight into the office, leading to natural ventilation in its plaza area.

Karen Lau, head of business at IOI Properties Singapore, said the building’s system also enforces aircon balancing.

“We have a smart system that if you have more people in the event space, the system can turn the area cooler. Compared to when there are only one or two people in certain rooms, they can tune it in a way that it’s not too cold,” Lau told the Singapore Business Review.

IOI Properties invested $2.57m for the CBT project, which began in 2017. It will be completed this year but will only be occupied by early next year due to pending paperwork. Morgan Stanley and Amazon may be the first businesses to occupy the CBT spaces.

Convenient space

The property has an eight- to 16-storey shorter podium tower, an eight-to 48-storey taller tower, and 70,000-square feet of two ultra-large floor plates at Levels 5 and 6.

The offices also have break-out areas to attract talent and retain employees. The development has a “Central Green” space, a 200-metre jogging track and biking parking lots to promote healthy transportation. 

There are also changing rooms and shower facilities to encourage biking to work without feeling sweaty in the office.

Another convenient feature is a childcare centre for working parents to let their children have a place to stay on a workday. 

/IOI CBT

Perfect for hybrid workers

The development is also highly accessible to hybrid workers due to its seamless connections to at least four MRT stations, with direct underground links to Downtown, Marina Bay, Raffles Place, and Shenton Way. It also has link bridges to One Raffles Quay and Asia Square.

It is within walking distance of Singapore’s key financial and business centres in Raffles Place, Shenton Way, Cecil Street, and Marina Bay.

“When we looked at other developments in the area, we immediately saw an opportunity for a new Grade A office development to better cater to the needs of Singapore’s modern workforce in the heart of the Marina Bay District,” said Lau.

Sustainability as a core design

IOI CBT is also connected to the Marina Bay District Cooling Network, making it committed to the network’s focus to reduce the district’s carbon emissions by 19,439 tonnes yearly, equivalent to getting rid of 17,672 cars on roads.

The Building & Construction Authority also awards the development of the Green Mark Platinum Certification in Singapore.

With this certification, IOI CBT generated 30% energy and water savings and environmentally sustainable building practices. This means it commits to over 4,146 tonnes of carbon dioxide emission reduction each year.

Once the tower has opened to tenants, its other sustainability initiatives include recycling systems, waste disposal, and cleaning materials.