Tai Seng Exchange, a 100,000 sqm industrial campus on a 40,000 sq.m. land in Singapore, redefines the role of industrial buildings in urban landscapes. The project's concentric masterplan features four tower blocks radially arranged around a central core, with two-storey blocks lining the perimeter, creating a welcoming pedestrian promenade along the public road. The central core, housing arrival lobbies at ground level and a publicly accessible landscape deck above, serves as a focal point, shaping the building's dynamic appearance from various perspectives.
Designed for built-to-rent industrial spaces, including fully-equipped laboratories, the layout optimizes efficiency by utilizing the radial masterplan with concentric rings to segregate traffic flows—civilian cars, heavy vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles. Beyond functionality, the project incorporates an accessible, multi-layered landscape system that adds value and greenery. Non-programmatic spaces for relaxation, gathering, and informal activities include the central landscape plaza and free-form sky terraces on alternate floors, fostering a biophilic workplace setting.
Tai Seng Exchange reimagines the conventional industrial building, reflecting a shift from traditional production modes to sustainable, innovation-led practices that leverage automation and attract highly skilled workers. The project demonstrates that efficient and cost-effective production spaces can coexist with public areas and gardens, challenging preconceptions about industrial architecture.
Sustainability is at the core of Tai Seng Exchange's design. The concentric masterplan and radial arrangement of tower blocks optimize natural ventilation and daylight penetration, reducing energy consumption for lighting and cooling. The multi-layered landscape system, featuring sky terraces and a central landscape plaza, enhances the building's biophilic qualities, improving occupants' well-being and productivity while mitigating the urban heat island effect.
By integrating public spaces, gardens, and pedestrian-friendly zones, Tai Seng Exchange promotes a more inclusive and sustainable built environment. The project contributes to the evolving narrative of industrial spaces as not only productive hubs but also integral components of urban life, fostering sustainability, inclusion, and innovation. As cities continue to densify and evolve, Tai Seng Exchange serves as a model for how industrial architecture can adapt and contribute positively to the urban fabric, creating spaces that are efficient, engaging, and environmentally responsible.