one-north TURNING DENSITY INTO Advantage s the national custodian and developer of industrial space and solutions, JTC Corporation A develops land and infrastructure for Singapore’s economic development, and seeks to maintain the city- state’s competitive advantage, despite its land scarcity. Since Singapore began moving towards a knowledge-driven economy, JTC had to adapt the industrial landscape to support new industries. one-north was conceived as an integrated R&D ‘city within a city’, with a high-density, exciting and conducive work-live-play-learn environment that would attract global R&D activities and talent. Singapore 45 TURNING DENSITY INTO Advantage case study 02 The Challenge Industrialisation drove the engine of Singapore’s rapid economic development for two decades since the early 1960s. This was supported by the Jurong Town Corporation (now JTC Corporation), a government agency that prepared land and developed standard factories and flatted factories in the sprawling Jurong for Singapore to move up the value Industrial Estate and elsewhere chain, from low-cost manufacturing to provide the necessary physical to a knowledge-based economy infrastructure for industrialisation. that could sustain higher wages The quick start-up and plug-and- and land costs. JTC developed the play industrial environment quickly first generation of science and gained the confidence of overseas technology parks, beginning with industrialists who were also drawn the Singapore Science Park in the to Singapore’s lower costs. early 1980s. The pace of industrial growth By the 1990s, Singapore had accelerated rapidly in the 1970s intensified its efforts to become a and early 1980s. However, as knowledge-based global economy lower cost regional countries to ensure its competitive edge. started to compete for similar As the quality of its industrial investments, it signalled the need infrastructure has long played an important role in differentiating Singapore, as well as to use limited land more productively, JTC had to rethink its approach. It had to go beyond just providing efficient 01 Aerial view of the standard infrastructure and move towards factories in Jurong Industrial optimising land use and providing Estate in the 1960s. 01 innovative industrial infrastructure 02 Singapore Science Park, built solutions, in tandem with the move February 2013 • in the early 1980s. of the economy upstream. UE 2 SS I 01 The Solution one-north is an excellent example the teaching hospital at the National of a new generation integrated University Hospital, INSEAD research business hub, designed to Business School, Singapore serve new growth knowledge clusters Polytechnic and the Singapore such as biomedical and engineering Science Parks. This co-location of sciences, infocomms and media. industry and academia, public and It also exemplifies Singapore’s private sectors, facilitates synergies cluster development strategy, as and a culture of collaboration. part of a broader national industrial policy. The strategy facilitates the It is also a ‘city within a city’ where sharing of core capabilities and knowledge workers work, live, infrastructure between industries learn and play in a dense, vibrant within targeted clusters, thus community. At one-north, JTC has sharpening Singapore’s competitive shifted from purely providing hard edge by creating value-added infrastructure to also developing synergies for investors. the soft aspects that makes a place liveable. From the master plan – by The 200-hectare one-north site is at Pritzker prize-winning architect the heart of a technology corridor Zaha Hadid – stage in 2001, one- first envisioned in Singapore’s 1991 north has redefined ideas of what an Concept Plan. It is close to the industrial park should be. National University of Singapore, 47 case study for people to unwind and interact. 01 Biopolis In one-north, JTC has created an 02 The park at one-north. intensive and variegated multi-use 02 03 The conserved ‘black- environment conducive for people and-white’ bungalows at to work, live, learn, and play. Rochester Park. Sited on a natural undulating This raises its appeal not only to landscape, one-north has three potential investors, but also to the distinct clusters – Biopolis, globally mobile talent required by Fusionopolis and Mediapolis – knowledge industries. each with dedicated buildings. Beyond physical infrastructure, They form the central arteries JTC is promoting innovation in of a dense network of social, one-north through the EXCITE commercial and residential nodes. programme which was initiated Some developments include The with several other government Star, a civic-cultural-retail complex agencies. EXCITE@one-north and The Rochester, a mixed-use supports the industry development development with a business hotel, strategy by providing companies condominium and shopping mall. with opportunities for on-site In the midst of the new test-bedding, showcasing and developments, there are also commercialisation of ideas. conserved ‘black-and-white’ style Current test-bed projects include colonial bungalows – former an RFID-enabled bike share military barracks at Rochester Park programme and an electric vehicle and Nepal Hill which have been sharing scheme, which offer ‘last transformed into a leadership and mile’ connections between the training development hub, and a subway and work locations. chic restaurant and bar enclave, 03 respectively – and low-rise colonial apartments at Wessex Estates, that lend a depth of heritage and charm. Within the densely built environment, a 16-hectare park links all the clusters within one-north. It creates a scenic contrast to the heritage bungalows and new state-of-the-art buildings. It also provides a welcome respite February 2013 • UE 2 SS I 01 The Outcome Today, Biopolis is an established enclave for biomedical sciences, housing private and public sector in Biopolis and Fusionopolis to research institutes with over take advantage of the unique 260,000 square metres of space. environment, shared facilities and An iconic two-tower building with opportunities for collaborations. over 120,000 square metres of The 19-hectare Mediapolis is set space developed by JTC is the to become a media eco-system hallmark of Fusionopolis. Several anchored by shared facilities such new developments are underway as soundstages, advanced digital in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. screen studios, motion capture This includes Fusionopolis Phase studios, and broadcast facilities. 2A, which will comprise three Key media companies that have towers and house several research already announced major projects institutes of Singapore’s Agency at one-north include the globally for Science Technology and renowned Lucasfilm, Infinite Research. Leading companies such Studios, Mediacorp and a suite of as GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, new media start-ups. Merck, P&G and Double Negative have established their operations Moving forward, the one-north Masterplan 2020 vision aims to enhance connectivity within one-north and beyond. JTC is currently conducting feasibility 49 case study 01 Map of one-north. 02 Food court in Fusionopolis. 02 studies for a development that decks land constraints. one-north is Mr Manohar Khiatani is the across the air space above the Ayer an excellent example of an CEO of JTC Corporation. JTC is Rajah Expressway. If found viable innovative solution in response the Singapore Government’s lead and implemented, it would create to Singapore’s challenges and agency to plan, promote and new space and provide better opportunities. Here, density has develop key industrial infrastructure physical connectivity between been used to enhance vibrancy, and facilities, in support of one-north and the Science Parks. sustainability and synergy, as well economic development. Prior to joining JTC, Mr Khiatani was the This would help spur greater multi- as optimise the use of limited Deputy Managing Director at the disciplinary collaborations and seed land. The growing presence Singapore Economic Development new industries. of global and local companies Board (EDB). He joined the EDB and talent in one-north attests At every stage of Singapore’s in 1986. Between 1994 and 1999, to its success in contributing to economic development, JTC has Mr Khiatani was Managing the growth of important new Director of Preussag SEA. He had to stretch its imagination and economic sectors for Singapore, returned to the EDB in 1999. dream up new ways to differentiate while improving the liveability Mr Khiatani, a Singapore Singapore and overcome its and sustainability of the Government Scholar, holds a one-north community. Masters Degree (Naval Architecture) from the University February 2013 • of Hamburg, Germany. He attended the Advanced Management Program at the UE 2 SS Harvard Business School in 2006. I.