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Fit-Out Technology
Issue 45 - September 2008
When a diversified technology conglomerate relocated its
Singapore head office, integrating its latest products into an innovative workplace design was top of the agenda.
With wide-ranging product lines, from consumer
products such as scotch-tape and post-its to glass
coatings and wall finishings, the Minnesota Mining
and Manufacturing Co. (better known as 3M) has had
an established presence in Singapore since 1966.
Today, operations in the city include a sales and
marketing office, the 3M Woodlands plant and the 3M
Innovation Centre. In addition to serving its customers
in Singapore, the company provides sales and support
services to Bangladesh, Brunei, Myanmar, and Nepal.
Resident in a self-owned office building for over 29
years, expansion pressures and a desire to reinvigorate
its tired workplace led to the decision to relocate to a
new, bespoke space. Driven by increasing rental costs
in Singapore and a desire to be near to its production
facilities, an industrial property at Yishun was identified
as an ideal home. Ng Teck Bing, 3M's Project Manager
for the Yishun office move explains that "we wanted a
facility that was close to our manufacturing plant and a
premises that would offer increased capacity."
The site, a cavernous 55,000 sqf space that had
originally been created for bio-chemical enterprises,
offered both an opportunity and a challenge for
the project team. Francis Ng, Division Manager for
Commercial Graphics, 3M, describes how they identified
three core requirements that would shape the space:
"We wanted an office that would encourage people
to interact as we have a lot of different business units
and we wanted to foster collaboration. This led into our next goal, which was an
open office that would enhance the sense of community amongst staff. Finally it was
important that our own products were visible throughout the fit-out and not just within
the customised showroom."
Open-plan
The sheer scale of the job was daunting. With a seven metre ceiling height the
rectangular space was reminiscent of a aircraft hanger or giant loft. There was
little natural daylight penetration, and the fixtures and fittings had been selected for
an industrial environment. This meant that a large scale refit was necessary, with
everything from HVAC and lighting to the roofing panels needing to be customised or
replaced in order to be fit for use.
"We were asked to create a cohesive working environment that would promote
interaction and collaboration among the departments, and at the same time, to reflect
the distinct identity of Singapore as a vibrant and green city," recalls Andy Chua,
Business Development Director of D'perception, the design and build provider for
the fit out. To create an open office environment, the designers opted to use glass
windows and doors as much as possible, and create sight lines that would allow for
better transparency.
The previous office was situated in a luscious green forested area, and surrounded by
matured trees within the Pierce Reservoir water catchment area. However, the new
facility had minimal window views, and the brief requested that management offices."
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To create an open office environment, the designers opted to use glass
windows and doors as much as possible, and create sight lines that would allow for
better transparency.
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Central Park
"We decided to bring the outdoor park experience
into the office area so to promote a vibrant and green
working environment which we called i-Park," explains
Martin Lek of D'perception, who was lead designer
for the project. A mixture of preserved bamboo and
palm trees, and indoor live flora together with pebbles,
rocks and water feature were used to create an indoor
landscaped garden. Bringing nature indoors helps to
overcome some of the drawbacks posed by the space,
and creates a totally different atmosphere.
Occupying 2000 sqf right at the centre of the office,
the i-Park serves as a relaxing breakout area for staff
to mingle and relax. Transparent "meeting pods" and
break-out areas in the form of garden benches were
created to being employees into the area making the
park a perfect place for meetings and brainstorming
sessions. Its position at the centre of the office also
draws employees from different teams and divisions to
one place, enabling interactions between different staff
members and creating a sense of community.
Roll-Out
Lek highlights three main challenges that the project
team faced. The first was the incorporation of as many
3M materials as possible into the fit-out. Not having
had extensive experience of the application of the
products such as DI-NOC (a substitute laminate product)
and FASARA (a substitute frosted film), the design and
interior fit-out team needed special training in the use
of the materials. For example: "as both products are
produced in rolls, they can be applied on fluid and curve
elements," says Lek.
The second challenge is a common one cited for many
fit-out projects: time. The fit-out schedule was only 10
weeks, and some of the special 3M materials being
used in the fit-out had to be shipped from abroad. Also,
given the time constraints the third problem was that
the initial site condition had to be faced. One big area
of concern was the acoustic environment.
The existing roofing panels, for example, were chosen
for a standard industrial estate, and did not have the
acoustic dampening abilities needed for an office space.
"It needed a major overhaul to correct that in order to reduce echo for an open office
concept. It became increasingly challenging to manage the overhaul for such a huge
space (55,000 sqf) with high ceiling height and to complete the entire fit-out within the
time frame," explains Lek.
Besides the acoustic problems, the design team had to take on board an approach that
would transform a space into a pleasant working environment. Walking through the
office, staff members and guests are greeted by light and bright coloured materials,
and an interesting mix of soft and hard materials. The loft-like ceiling is left exposed
in certain areas, and the industrial scale is contrasted with fitted ceiling areas in some
workplaces. Lighting was also an important element, with the M&E engineering team
using precise calculations to ensure that 400 to 500 lux standards were met whilst still
enabling mood lightings at specific areas to diversify the visual experience space.
Product Placement
The project team had to walk a fine line between showcasing 3M's many products (the
company boast 45,000 individual products and introduce 450 new products each year) and
turning the office into a garish theme park, concedes Chua. "When our designers were
working on the design, they had to work very closely with the 3M project team to select
and fit in suitable products as part of the design and ensure that it will not produce an
overwhelming effect," he says.
There was one area however, that was specifically created as a testament to all things
3M. The interactive demo centre showcases 3M products and technologies, and
facilitates demonstration to visiting customers and
clients.
Strategically positioned at the main entrance next to
the reception area, the 2,500 sqf centre does more
than place the products in glass cabinets, it encourages
people to experience the products in their real life
application. One interesting example of this is the
replica of an air-craft fuselage, which was specified to
demonstrate the use of 3M adhesive sticker products in
the aeronautical industry.
The project team are happy with the final effect of the
fit-out, particularly given the demands of the brief and
roll-out. "We were only given approximately 10 weeks
to design and fit-out the new facility," Chau says, adding
that "the selection of materials had to be ex-stock to
achieve the construction programme." The use of 3M
products enabled the project to come in on budget,
and at only S$3 mil representing a significant discount
for fit-out of similar size and quality. With employees
happy with their new and upgraded workplace, the 3M
management are also delighted to have secured a space
that reflects their organisational values. RFP
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ISSN 1994-9464
Key title: RFP magazine
Abbreviated key title: RFP mag.
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