How Keppel South Central is at the cutting edge of sustainability design

Today, conversations about sustainability have become commonplace. From how corporations and governments can help reduce carbon dioxide levels to whether to include plastic cutlery with your takeaway order, consumers, public officials and businesses alike have become highly invested in sustainability. And for good reason – the alarm bells on the adverse impact of global warming and climate change have been sounding for decades, gaining real traction over the past few years as global energy prices escalate.

One of the industries leading the charge in sustainability in recent years is real estate, with Singapore at the forefront of green architecture and the sustainable building drive in Asia. Among the professionals deeply invested in this endeavour is Tan Szue Hann from Keppel’s Real Estate Division, whose commitment to sustainability and development has spanned nearly two decades.

As the Division’s Head of Sustainability and Deputy General Manager of Sustainable Urban Renewal, Hann is no stranger to the architecture and sustainability scene in Asia, and has worked on many green projects in the region over the last decade.

“One of my earliest sustainability-focused projects was the Parkroyal Collection on Pickering. Designed with WOHA in 2007, it was completed in 2013 and was groundbreaking at the time for its green features,” Hann said. “Since then, I’ve been involved in a number of green building projects and have led sustainability teams across different organisations, including Marina Bay Sands, Miniwiz and Surbana Jurong, culminating in my role at Keppel.”

Sustainable architecture wasn’t always treated with the respect it is afforded today. Looking back on his 17-year career, Hann noted how people were initially reluctant to invest in the concept. “When I started out, sustainability in buildings was somewhat underrated – a nice-to-have feature, but not an imperative. That’s changed drastically, and for the better, driven by business needs.”

Hann owes his deep interest in sustainability from the value proposition of green buildings – in energy savings, decarbonisation and creating healthier environments.

Pitching the case for green buildings hasn’t always been easy, however, as traditional development practices leaned towards profits and cost management. Once there was a more robust policy around green buildings, the business case for sustainability became clearer. Building owners, operators and tenants do in fact enjoy monetary gains from going green. And with the global focus on decarbonisation, the challenge has now shifted to innovating the building product – rather than convincing stakeholders on the need for sustainability.

Keppel South Central as an iconic piece of construction

Sustainability is undoubtedly key to the creation of Keppel South Central – Keppel’s latest commercial tower designed for the talents of tomorrow, and a project that Hann is exceedingly fond of.

This ambitious sustainability project is in line with Keppel’s Vision 2030, with Keppel creating sustainable urban space solutions that can help combat climate change. To this effect, the 33-storey Keppel South Central is envisioned as a next generation smart, super low-energy building equipped with myriad innovative and green features. These include a high-performance fa?ade system that will significantly reduce the amount of solar heat in the building, smart-building management, rainwater-harvesting systems as well as the use of renewable energy.

“People often have this impression that sustainable buildings prioritise function over form –?and while that may be true in some cases, it is certainly not so for Keppel South Central,” said Hann. “Apart from being a beautiful building, it promises to perform exceptionally well, and bring together all these vibrant communities in Tanjong Pagar.”

The philosophy of designing sustainable buildings?

Hann explained that in real estate, sustainability is as much about the wellbeing of a building’s occupants, as it is about protecting and enhancing the larger environment.

“As architects, engineers and custodians of the built environment, we need to ensure that the people who live, work and play in the buildings we design have the best possible experience in terms of health, safety, and wellbeing,” Hann explained.

“This can be achieved through thoughtful design and planning. For instance, when considering the orientation of the building relative to its geography, the architects must think about creating appropriate building facades, setting appropriate sustainability targets, and specifying fit-for-purpose systems that economise energy consumption, and optimise building performance. ?????

“The soft programming of how the building engages its occupants through various designed activities and programmes – within the building asset is also crucial to the development of social capital.

Tenants of Keppel South Central will be able to enjoy a wide range of food and beverage offerings within the development, including a double-storey rooftop restaurant and bar. The building also offers shared amenities dedicated to collaboration, social activities, health and wellness, and family and pets.

These include an indoor gymnasium, outdoor fitness decks, a swimming pool, sleeping rooms, nursing rooms, event spaces and facilities for learning. And as we create these protective, nurturing structures, we need to be mindful of how we consume natural resources, including the reduction of construction waste and embodied carbon, and minimising environmental damage.”

“Do no harm” and “touching the earth lightly” as guiding principles

Hann’s personal approach towards sustainable design can be attributed to his belief of “do no harm”.

“It may sound pseudo-spiritual, but I truly believe that what we do should not harm others,” he explained. “If you’re building something new, you try not to displace existing communities, and you try to take care of the new communities that form in the vicinity. If you’re redeveloping or retrofitting an existing building, you’d have to make it even better than it ever was, for a few generations ahead.”

Hann’s second design principle – one that he admits is challenging given the nature of construction – is to touch the earth as lightly as possible. “Building infrastructure is an inherently invasive process. However, it is possible to be mindful of the impact we leave on the earth by prioritising sustainability and low-carbon construction from the get-go.”

The marriage of sustainability and design as the future of architecture

As we continue to have more conversations about sustainable design, it’s imperative that the fundamentals of design are not lost along the way.

For Hann, sustainable design is incomplete without good architecture. “Good architecture withstands the test of time – from its iconoclasm, the soundness of its structure, and the communities it continues to harbour,” he explained.

Sustainable design, at its core, is about longevity and being able to stand tall throughout the centuries. From there, it is about introducing new technologies and solutions that can help buildings prolong their lifespan for generations to come, and continue to perform in an energy-efficient manner. Keppel South Central will redefine what it means to be a modern-day architectural icon – a sustainable historical landmark of the near future.

The future of sustainable architecture — Keppel South Central is open for work and play from end-2024. Learn more here.?