CapitaLand has announced the development of ‘Geneo’ life sciences and innovation cluster at the 55-ha Singapore Science Park (SSP). It will comprise three properties with five buildings, covering about 180,600 sq m of gross floor area (GFA).
One of the properties is 1 Science Park Drive, which will have three Grade-A buildings, offering about 112,600 sq m of workspace as well as 3,600 sq m of retail and F&B amenities. It is targeted for completion by 2025.
Another property is 5 Science Park Drive, a future-ready business park building featuring collaborative workspaces and lifestyle amenities with a total GFA of about 25,600 sq m. It was already completed in 2019.
The third property is 7 Science Park Drive, a mixed-used complex scheduled for completion in 2024. It will house about 28,800 sq m of workspace and 10,000 sq m of serviced residence with a hotel licence.
Sustainable and innovative construction
According to CapitaLand, to lower the embodied carbon footprint of the development, mass engineered timber (MET) harvested from sustainably managed forests will be used to construct the canopies and columns at the event plaza.
Compared to traditional construction materials, MET produces relatively lower net carbon emissions, with an estimated embodied carbon savings of 88% over steel and 63% over concrete, explained CapitaLand. When completed, Geneo’s 3,000 sq m all-weather event plaza measuring 27 m in height is set to become Singapore’s tallest MET canopy structure.
In addition, certified Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) materials such as green concrete, architectural finishes and M&E equipment will be used in the construction of Geneo. These are to help improve indoor air quality and minimise energy consumption, making it healthier and more cost-effective for building occupants.
CapitaLand revealed that Geneo will be the company’s first project to adopt carbon dioxide mineralised concrete, and the first project in Singapore to apply this green concrete for superstructure works including vertical elements, resulting in an estimated 28% reduction in embodied carbon. Carbon dioxide mineralised concrete is a type of low-carbon sustainable concrete that uses carbon capture and utilisation technology to chemically convert carbon dioxide into a mineral embedded in concrete, producing harder concrete.
What’s more, instead of diesel generators, a battery energy storage system will be deployed at Geneo’s construction site to power construction machinery, lowering carbon emissions by about 78% while maintaining a productive worksite.
Other green features
The 7 Science Park Drive has achieved the BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). It is the first CapitaLand greenfield project and first SSP property to be accorded this certification. Meanwhile, the other two properties at Geneo have obtained the BCA Green Mark Platinum certification.
Geneo is provisionally designed to achieve energy savings of about 13 mil kWh per year, equivalent to powering the annual electricity consumption of over 3,343 four-room HDB flats, said CapitaLand. Key sustainability features include SSP’s first distributed district cooling network in partnership with SP Group, plus 1,400 rooftop photovoltaic solar panels that generate an estimated 1.1 mil kWh of renewable energy each year – equivalent to powering the annual electricity consumption of 236 four-room HDB flats.
CapitaLand further highlighted Geneo’s design strategies, which aim to maximise building users’ comfort while minimising energy use. For instance, the closely knitted u-shaped arrangement of the various buildings and the design of their accordion facade help to block out sunlight, thus reducing the amount of heat trapped within the buildings. With a total landscape area of more than 21,000 sq m, equivalent to about 33% of its site area of about 64,000 sq m, Geneo’s abundant greenery further reduces the urban heat island effect while enhancing SSP’s biodiversity.
Moreover, water-efficient fittings will be adopted throughout Geneo and rainwater will be harvested for non-potable uses. An auto-irrigation system will also be employed to optimise water usage for landscaping. With these provisions, CapitaLand said Geneo’s estimated annual potable water savings are sufficient to provide the water supply for 190 four-room HDB flats for a year.
All images: CapitaLand
