serie completes flagship building at singapore science park

serie and multiply architects have completed ‘5 science park drive’ (5SPD), a flagship building at singapore science park — one of asia’s leading R&D and technology locations. the 26,000 square meter project, which is the first to be realized as part of the site’s redevelopment plan, contains a large central common space, or ‘city room’, designed to reflect the changing social nature of the workplace.

all images by finbarr fallon

‘the science park model of the 1990s, with buildings isolated from one another by un-utilized landscape is no longer adequate for today’s workspaces that are more social in nature,’ says christopher lee, principal of serie architects. ‘the first of more than five buildings in the cluster, 5 science park drive is designed to ensure that common spaces are visible, accessible and nourished with amenities.’

focused on collaboration, discussion and networking, the three-storey ‘city room’ incorporates a series of cascading platforms that contain a café, break-out spaces, and a small auditorium. throughout the design, the floor plans have been designed to maximize flexibility. a typical floorplate offers over 4,000 square meters in open plan space and column-free spans of 20 meters. meanwhile, centralized circulation with highly efficient double-loaded corridors allows the building to be configured for single or multi-tenant use.

the façade features high performance glazing set into an alternating ‘accordion’ design that is animated at night with a re-programmable led light system. the design combines vision and spandrel glazing to maximize views while mitigating solar gain. the adjacent car park has been covered with extensive landscaping and amenities including exercise pavilions. this will eventually form a shared park for a cluster of six new technology buildings. 5SPD has already been fully let to e-commerce start-up shopee and will eventually house 3,000 members of staff.

project info:

location: singapore
year: completed 2019
use: commercial
area: 26,000 sqm
client: ascendas-singbridge (now capitaland)
design architect: serie architects
executive architect: multiply architects LLP
civil and structural engineering: TW-asia consultants pte ltd
mechanical and electrical engineering: j. roger preston (s) pte ltd
quantity surveying: WT partnership
façade: meinhardt (singapore) pte ltd
façade: AVA global pte ltd
landscape: ICN design international pte ltd
greenmark: BSD building systems & diagnostics
main contractor: nakano singapore pte ltd
lighting: limelight atelier
signage: acacia design consultants pte ltd
photography: finbarr fallon