Keppel REIT Management Limited, as Manager of Keppel REIT, is pleased to announce that Ocean Financial Centre has become Singapore’s first commercial building to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) for its robust health and safety management. Ocean Financial Centre is managed by Keppel Land Limited[1].
Mr Paul Tham, CEO of the Manager, said, “Protecting the health and safety of our stakeholders has always been our top priority, especially amidst the pandemic. Ocean Financial Centre, as the first commercial building in Singapore to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating, is a testament to our strong commitment to operational excellence at Keppel REIT’s properties. We are heartened by IWBI’s recognition of our efforts in ensuring a safe and conducive work environment for our building occupants at Ocean Financial Centre, including through the proactive adoption of technology and having the best-in-class infrastructure.”
Mr Jack Noonan, Vice President of IWBI APAC, said, “Congratulations to Keppel REIT for taking the comprehensive steps to prioritise the health and safety of their staff, tenants, visitors and stakeholders at Ocean Financial Centre. From air and water quality management to cleaning and sanitisation procedures to emergency preparedness, Keppel REIT’s efforts help protect health and safety during and after crises like COVID-19. By achieving the WELL Health-Safety Rating, Keppel REIT demonstrates leadership in Singapore and in the region, and inspires organisations to foster a culture of health through buildings and communities.”
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, strict management measures have been implemented to provide a safe and conducive work environment for Keppel REIT’s building occupants. Ocean Financial Centre strives to be pandemic-ready and annual safety exercises such as pandemic drills are conducted at the building. It was also amongst the first buildings in the central business district to implement its pandemic response plan, including temperature screening, isolation procedures and tenant communication, soon after the first COVID-19 case was reported in Singapore.
To maintain good indoor air quality, Ocean Financial Centre features an advanced air filtration system. The air handling unit (AHU) is installed with three layers of filters, including MERV 14 filters and an ultraviolet-C (UVC) lighting system, which serve to substantially remove airborne particles and eliminate germs, bacteria and viruses. To ensure high water quality, the monitoring of the property’s water management systems has been stepped up during the pandemic, with the water tank thoroughly cleansed and flushed to avoid any build-up of bacteria due to lower usage as a result of increased telecommuting.
To facilitate contactless entry and safe distancing, various measures including the re‐programming of lift destination control systems, as well as the use of a robot, RoboGuard, that patrols the premises of Ocean Financial Centre to remind tenants and visitors of safe-distancing measures, have been implemented at the property. To boost standards of cleanliness, the frequency of disinfection of high frequency touchpoints has been increased, and this is complemented by the use of anti-microbial disinfectant coating on touchpoints such as toilet door handles and lift buttons, as well as UVC light at escalator handrails. Automatic hand sanitiser dispensers are also provided at common areas.
Throughout the pandemic, the Manager has continued to engage its key stakeholders, including tenants, to keep them abreast of the situation on the ground and how it was managing the pandemic.
The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all building and space types focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment. Designed to empower owners and operators to take the necessary steps to prioritise the health and safety of staff, visitors and stakeholders, the WELL Health-Safety Rating guides users in preparing their spaces for re-entry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The WELL Health-Safety Rating leverages insights drawn from the IWBI Task Force on COVID-19, in addition to guidance from various relevant organisations, agencies and recognised standard-making associations, to provide a centralised source and governing body to validate efforts made by owners and operators.
Ocean Financial Centre was awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating following the successful completion of third-party documentation review by the Green Business Certification Inc. to confirm it has met the feature specific intents and requirements.
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About Keppel REIT (www.keppelreit.com)
Listed by way of an introduction on 28 April 2006, Keppel REIT is one of Asia’s leading REITs with a portfolio of Grade A commercial assets in key business districts pan-Asia.
Keppel REIT’s objective is to generate stable income and long-term growth for Unitholders by owning and investing in a portfolio of quality income-producing commercial real estate and real estate-related assets in Singapore and pan-Asia.
The REIT has assets under management of over $8 billion in Singapore, key Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, as well as Seoul, South Korea.
Keppel REIT is sponsored by Keppel Land Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Corporation Limited. It is managed by Keppel REIT Management Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Capital Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Keppel Capital). Keppel Capital is a premier asset manager in Asia with a diversified portfolio in real estate, infrastructure, data centres and alternative assets in key global markets.
[1] Through Keppel REIT Property Management Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Land Limited.