JTC has awarded the Concept and Price Tender to build, own and operate Biopolis Phase 6 at one-north to HB Universal Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ho Bee Land Limited. one-north is a vibrant work-live-play-learn research and business park, master-planned and developed by JTC.
Biopolis Phase 6 will be the latest development in the Biopolis precinct. It signifies commitment to establish Singapore as a global research and development hub, while facilitating the continued growth of the Biomedical Sciences (BMS) industry.
Ho Bee has commissioned architecture design firm, Skidmore Owings & Merill (SOM) as the lead design architect, and has partnered DCA Architects, a local architect firm, to conceptualise the landmark building. The 12-storey development seeks to seamlessly fuse elements of nature, technology and wellness into a community-focused design. It will be home to a community of researchers and entrepreneurs.
When completed in 2022, this new facility will add another 35,000 sqm of business park space for BMS research and supporting activities, and 6,000 sqm for office and retail uses.
With an increasing number of BMS startups and demand for semi- or fully-furnished laboratories, 2,000 sqm of the business park space will be set aside for fitted-out laboratory spaces to address a current market gap for mature BMS startups after they graduate from incubator or accelerator spaces. The laboratory will be fitted out with lab benches, waste drainage, and exhaust provisions, which help to reduce startups’ upfront expenditure costs and speed up their time-to-market. The co-location of mature startups with MNCs, local enterprises and research institutes will provide a conducive and collaborative environment for research partnerships, while improving their market access and success rate in the longer term.
In addition, this development welcomes the public to enjoy its community spaces. The adjacent rail corridor, with its unique heritage, at the Buona Vista node will be integrated with the development, and transformed into a vibrant public space with lush landscaping. Public can enjoy the activity spaces, fitness corners and a playground in an urban park, injecting further vibrancy into one-north.
The development will also be attuned to the environment and through the use of cutting-edge sustainability tools and design, it will enjoy optimum energy efficiency while providing ample access to daylight and views of the surrounding community. It is designed to achieve Green Mark Platinum Award standard set by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
JTC had put up the site for tender on 14 August 2019 via a two-envelope Concept and Price Tender. The tender closed on 4 December 2019. Four submissions were received. The winning bid submitted by Ho Bee was at S$223.6 million.
Mr Nicholas Chua, Deputy CEO of Ho Bee Land Limited, said, “We are very pleased to have won the tender for this site. The intent of the development is to spearhead the creation of a new generation of labs that help foster research and discovery. This is timely as the government hopes to incubate more biotech startups in Singapore as part of its drive to transform Singapore into the BMS hub of Asia. Together with The Metropolis, the new building will create an exciting gateway to one-north.”
Mr Kok Poh June, Group Director of New Estates at JTC, said, “Biopolis Phase 6 marks a significant milestone for one-north. Integrated with the Rail Corridor’s Buona Vista node, the upcoming mixed-use landmark development will add to the vibrancy of one-north, and provide an attractive environment for researchers, startups and the surrounding community to congregate, collaborate and create.”
