Office Buildings Need To Wow Tenants, Says WiredScore

HONG KONG – WiredScore said that with many people now working remotely using video conferencing and collaborative software, commercial property owners need to adapt in order to attract more people back into the office, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Friday evening (10 March, SGT).

“The office has to delight and lure employees back with personalised experiences that enable employees to become more productive. It has to be able to compete with the bedroom office,” said Thomasin Crowley, Global Director for Asia Pacific at WiredScore.

Examples of office properties in Hong Kong that impress are Swire Properties’ Two Taikoo Place in Quarry Bay and Six Pacific Place in Admiralty. These two commercial developments are among only 22 buildings globally that have clinched the highest Platinum rating in both the WiredScore and SmartScore regimes.

Notably, a WiredScore rating is a globally-recognized benchmark for digital connectivity in office buildings, while SmartScore certifies smart buildings that take advantage of new technology to improve sustainability, efficiency and user experience.

Apart from being technologically future-proofed to meet the operational and ESG needs of its occupants, Two Taikoo Place has been designed to facilitate communication among tenants in the whole of Taikoo Place, which contains 5G-enabled smart buildings.

Two Taikoo Place’s first 4 floors, which features amenities such as eateries, also opens up into an urban park and will be linked with the rest of Taikoo Place via an elevated walkway.

“The space provides a community-focused urban experience and is like being in a comfortable room where people are welcomed – they can stay or move around, and can have different interactions,” noted Jonathan Ward, a Design Partner at architectural company NBBJ who is the lead designer of Two Taikoo Place.

NBBJ adopted an unorthodox design approach by placing the core of the building to the south side. This opens up the structure’s floor spaces, making it easier for occupants to gather and interact. The core contains interior elements like elevator shafts and staircases. It is typically placed at the building’s centre.

Ward explained that placing the building’s core on the south side had improved the project’s sustainability. “Besides enhancing flexibility and functional use of a typical workplace floor, it also helps to conserve energy, as the building is shielded from the most intense heat throughout the day.”