Singapore has emerged as the only Asian city in the top 10 of the Savills Material Reuse Maturity Index, ranking 10th globally. This index evaluates major office markets worldwide based on recovery and reuse rates, the presence of companies and facilitators, and supportive local regulations. The city outperformed Tokyo, which ranked 15th, reflecting Singapore’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure, with a target for 80% of its buildings to meet sustainability standards by 2030.
Robinson Point, a building originally completed in 1997, is undergoing an asset enhancement initiative to meet Grade A office standards, incorporating green features and enhancing natural light. This project highlights the growing trend among building owners to align with decarbonisation goals and meet the increasing demand for high environmental performance from occupiers.
Vincent Lau, Executive Director of Project Management at Savills Singapore, noted, “At a time when cost discipline and sustainability are both front-of-mind, material reuse is becoming a strategic lever rather than a niche initiative.”
Globally, London, Amsterdam, and Paris lead the index, showcasing advancements in circular material reuse to reduce the embodied carbon of office redevelopments. Despite the high costs associated with deep retrofits or full redevelopments, these projects can yield significant rental increases, as seen in Madrid and New York.
Sarah Brooks, Associate Director at Savills World Research, explained that building owners must weigh factors such as capital expenditure and potential rental increases when considering retrofits versus redevelopments. Joanna Conceicao, Director at Savills Earth, added that office owners face significant challenges to comply with evolving energy performance standards, emphasising the importance of retrofitting in reducing whole-life carbon emissions.
