Keppel South Central Keppel’s Showpiece New Generation Workplace Bags Top Office Development Award
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Keppel has recently completed the construction of their new flagship office tower, Keppel South Central. With its completion just last February, this premium grade A office tower represents a new generation of office towers in CBD, developed by Keppel’s real estate arm. Working together on the design of the tower, were global architecture and design firm NBBJ from New York, and Singapore based Architects 61. The interiors of the building were in the hands of Woods Bagot, a design firm from Adelaide, while Ecoplan Asia was tasked with handling the landscape design. Keppel set out to reimagine what a modern workplace could be, focusing on incorporating elements of nature, open spaces, and opportunities for social interaction and relaxation, to promote well-being. Advertisement The building has a dedicated wellness floor, which includes a swimming pool, sky terraces, discussion areas, and a communal lounge, suited for any time of the day, where tenants can relax, work, or socialize. The outdoor atrium was designed with the purpose of creating an “urban living room”, which could be used for various activities, open to not only tenants but also residents of the Tanjong Pagar neighborhood. According to Keppel, this creates a vibrant community and atmosphere. The first level of the building is dedicated to F&B and retail spaces, aimed at enhancing vibrancy around the area and providing conveniences for tenants. The project is focused on redefining the traditional office experience, the senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, Department of Real Estate, and three-time EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards judge, Sky Seah, states, “When you enter the lobby, it feels more like a hotel than a traditional office building. You can have coffee, meet friends or colleagues, or even work there comfortably. Blending hospitality-inspired designs with prime amenities, Keppel South Central stands out in bringing back employees to work, as more companies move towards collaboration and face-to-face interaction.” Keppel South Central features a variety of retail and wellness tenants such as Japanese restaurants, “The Public Izakaya Nitengo” and “Hachi” in addition to “22 Grams Coffee” and “Luli Bubble Tea”. A local cafe by the name of “Fun Toast” and shares its space with a gym operator, “24/7 Fitness”. As per a spokesperson from Keppel, close to 50 percent of the office and retail spaces have already been committed or are in negotiations. Future tenants are mainly multi-national corporations seeking ready spaces for the years 2025 and 2026, including companies from various sectors such as technology, transport, consultancy, insurance, and finance. Some of the committed tenants include “Manulife Financial Advisers”, the “Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore” (CCCS), and “Gurin Energy”. The developers aimed at a sustainable energy-efficient building, with an architectural design that allows natural light to enter the building, alongside the lush greenery found in the cascading landscaped terraces, which creates a balance between the urban skyline and nature. The building’s distinct “environmental veil” is an architectural skin that is designed to help filter sunlight, reduce glare and the heat gain within the interior of the structure, it also helps lower the energy consumption of the building. The residual air from the HVAC system in the building is directed towards the outdoor public areas, not only improving the ventilation but also comfort, while minimizing waste. Energy efficient rooftop solar panels power the lighting and exterior air fans in these shared spaces. The building also uses modern technology to drive operational efficiency, utilizing a computerized maintenance management system, which prioritizes tasks while optimizing manpower and providing consistent service standards. Keppel South Central has won multiple awards for its efforts in sustainability, including a Green Mark Platinum certification from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). It also achieved WELL Core Pre-certification in the Platinum Level, which acknowledges the design principles used in the building, which prioritize health, physical, and mental well-being. At the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA) 2025, Keppel South Central further solidified its position by winning the “Top Office Development Award”. This award recognizes the innovative workplace design, sustainability, and community-centric approach employed in the project. The modern office floor plan has a standard floor-to-ceiling height of 3.2m with an average plate area of 20,000 sq ft, which contributes to the flexibility of the building. The structural columns are arranged on the perimeter, resulting in open and unobstructed interiors for tenants to configure their spaces as and when necessary. The developer also offers tenant fit-out services, which include design, space planning, and project management, which help create offices that cater to a particular brand identity, and allows tenants the freedom to adjust spaces according to their work culture. Tenants also have the option of choosing an office that is already fitted, hence, allowing for immediate occupancy. The offices on the upper floors offer scenic views of the sea, Sentosa island, CBD’s iconic skyline, and heritage shophouses in the Tanjong Pagar neighborhood, giving occupants the luxury of both inspiration and a luxurious setting. The developer has also made this project their go-to example for redevelopment of brownfield areas. The site that houses Keppel Towers and Keppel Towers 2 was acquired from Keppel REIT in 2010 by Keppel. Keppel Towers was built in 1991 while Keppel Towers 2 (Formerly known as GE Tower), in 1993. In 2013, the developer had obtained provisional permission from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for a mixed-use development that included residential, office, and retail spaces. However, the company decided to pivot to a purely commercial project, in line with the government’s vision of developing CBD into a mixed-use hub, that focuses on creating a dynamic environment that focuses on multiple activities for residents. Located at Hoe Chiang Road, at the heart of Tanjong Pagar Precinct, Keppel South Central has been designed strategically. It provides convenience with its location, it is within walking distance from three MRT Stations that are currently in operation: Tanjong Pagar (East-West Line), Prince Edward Road (Circle Line), and Cantonment (Circle Line) – which are scheduled to open in 2026. With the Greater Southern Waterfront planned, the Tanjong Pagar region will see a change in its landscape, evolving from a traditional business district, into a futuristic urban hub, as per URA Master Plan and Keppel South Central is a perfect example of this transformation.
