S P Setia's corporate HQ: A leading example of sustainability

Gone are the days when S P Setia Bhd’s offices were located in a shopoffice. Today, the company has its very own Grade A corporate headquarters, centrally located in the 240-acre Setia City commercial centre of Setia Alam in Shah Alam. The 2,525-acre Setia Alam township was launched in 2004 with a gross development value of RM16 billion.

The S P Setia corporate headquarters is set on three acres and has a timeless design. It can be seen from Persiaran Setia Alam. It is the first privately owned office and the third building in Malaysia to be certified Green Building Index (GBI) Platinum, as well as GreenRE Platinum.

This year, the S P Setia Corporate HQ won The Edge Malaysia-PAM Green Excellence Award at The Edge Malaysia Property Excellence Awards 2015.

S P Setia executive vice-president Tan Hon Lim says: “This project is unique as it is the culmination of all the things we do. It represents who we are, what we do, why, and how we do things. This building is what S P Setia stands for — creating a sustainable future for all — and we felt the need to have a corporate HQ that stays true to our vision ‘to be the best in all we do’ that incorporates our LiveLearnWorkPlay philosophy.

“I am extremely elated and proud that the corporate HQ is recognised after all the hard work we have put in to make sure the building is not only sustainable, but offers living, learning, working and playing spaces for Team Setia to grow in.”

The award was judged by a five-member panel comprising representatives from The Edge and the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM).

As a sustainable, high value, vibrant and interconnected modern commercial town centre, Setia City aims to create a benchmark for new urban developments locally, regionally and globally, and the developer’s corporate HQ stands at the pinnacle of this by ensuring that all developments within the commercial centre meet the minimum standards of sustainability.

The building’s concept is derived from the collective vision of S P Setia to build a headquarters with an environment that encourages a balanced and green lifestyle in every aspect of the company’s philosophy.

“We need an iconic landmark that befits our position as a builder of distinction. This building has to demonstrate our highest commitment to the sustainability agenda, therefore we went for GBI and GreenRE Platinum ratings. We also have to set important benchmarks for other corporate HQs of international organisations that have chosen Setia City as their base, such as Top Glove [Corp Bhd] three doors away,” says S P Setia deputy general manager Tan Siow Chung.

The architect for the corporate HQ Dr Tan Loke Mun says, “We wanted a building that looks like a municipal building, that looks grand from the highway, but at the same time is not afraid of climate change. That’s why it has these columns and the round circle where you can see the sky.”

Loke Mun says the building’s façade was inspired by mangrove trees, as they can withstand rising waters and their roots are a testament to that fact. “That’s where the columns come in, sitting on a reservoir wherein rainwater is collected from the big roof. So here, we have a big canopy tree with strong roots sitting in water. It celebrates climate change.”

“The Setia corporate HQ promotes a holistic and well-balanced lifestyle for us, as we have amenities such as a fully-equipped gym, auditorium, cafeteria, training rooms, computer lab, library, green spaces, and rooftop relaxation area,” Tan says.

The rooftop has a photovoltaic panel that generates 55kW of energy, making up 2% of the building’s total energy consumption. Green turf is used for the roof, which also serves as a functional space while minimising solar heat gain.

To ensure optimal daylight, the façade faces north while its east and south sides comprise curtain walls. High-performance double glazed windows and louvres are used to reduce heat gain as well.  The use of fair face concrete, along with the roof overhang, ensures minimal maintenance of the building in the long term and an improved appearance over time. Low volatile organic compound paint is used throughout the building.

Motion sensors for lighting are installed in less frequented spaces, while individually switched lighting zones are less than 100 sq m.

Perforated blinds are used as sun shading to reduce glare and photocell sensors are installed in day-lit areas to switch off artificial lighting when there is sufficient daylight. In addition, energy-efficient Kone lifts, which go into standby mode when not in use, are used.

At Level 8, the executive floor courtyard boasts a stunning 8m water wall, and both air-conditioning condensate water and harvested rainwater are used to replenish the pond. A similar system is also used for the reflective pool at Level 1, by recovering fully the 0.725 cu m of condensate water generated daily.

One of the innovations is the incorporation of a raised floor system where building services such as air conditioning, power and data cabling are distributed beneath the floors. This allows for fast and inexpensive reconfiguration of office spaces, and lower energy costs, supplying air-conditioned air directly to breathing zones.

Priority parking bays have been allocated for green vehicles (hybrid and electric),  carpools, expectant mothers and disabled drivers.

In addition, a link bridge to Setia City Mall, situated opposite the HQ, has been built to encourage the staff to walk instead of drive. The link bridge sets an example for other neighbouring developments since the master plan of Setia City has a network of pedestrian paths and elevated walkways linking the various buildings within the commercial centre.

“The building allows Team Setia to experience and live a greener lifestyle. We constantly create awareness through our internal communications on how the team can play their part in reducing their carbon footprint such as carpooling, encouraging usage of green-technology cars with the allocation of preferred parking for such cars, walking across to Setia City Mall through the landscaped pedestrian walkway and using the stairs instead of lifts. Not many employees can pratise a greener lifestyle at work, but at S P Setia we practise what we preach,” says Tan.

Green construction methods were used during the building, such as reusable metal system formwork for wall construction, reusable and recyclable slab and column formwork. Energy-saving strategies included minimal night work and an on-site concrete batching plant, while rainwater was harvested for on-site use. Strict pollution control measures were taken, while strict health, safety and environment and green practices were used on site. A Quality Assessment System in Construction was implemented as well as a comprehensive waste management system — prevention, reduction, reuse, recycle.

Forty-five per cent of total materials used were recycled, such as steel, aluminium and glass plasterboard, while less than 20% came from the region and was manufactured within a 500km radius of the site. Green certified materials were used where possible.

“The construction of this corporate office has provided a golden opportunity for Team Setia to learn and gain experience in all aspects of green building, including construction management and efficient use of energy during the construction stage,” Tan says.

Construction of the building took three years, from April 18, 2011, till Feb 10, 2014. In March 2014, the company’s staff moved in. The HQ now houses approximately 500 employees. The corporate HQ has a gross floor area of 33,798.24 sq m and a net floor area of 14,087.67 sq m, with a plot ratio of 1:1.74.

Post construction, the building’s facilities are managed by an in-house management team supported by a building management system and central energy management system. A building manual was drafted to document the green building design features and strategies for users and as a guide to sustain its performance.

“In everything sustainable, maintenance is crucial. First, we ensure the building is well taken care of through consistent engagement with Team Setia so everyone knows and understands their role in making the building more sustainable, such as switching off lights, recycling used paper, using the stairs instead of the lifts or adopting plants in the office,” says Tan.

“Learning is a continuous process as we strive to ensure effective and regular maintenance of the building to ensure that the green features, both active and passive, are not downgraded over time, thus ensuring energy efficiency remains optimised. We are developing best practices that will benefit not just the group but also our customers in the long term.”

Investment in renewable energy was RM494,500, with savings of RM31,264 per year and return on investment in 16 years. Some RM689,500 was invested in rainwater harvesting resulting in annual savings of RM14,440 with return on investment in 48 years.

“While the payback period for green investment is not attractive, it did not deter us from pursuing the highest achievable GBI rating,” Siow Chung says.

The HQ’s total gross development cost amounted to RM104.28 million, or RM7,171.85 per sq m. The actual building cost, including the cost for GBI, was RM209 psf.

The corporate HQ was built using internally generated funds, and though the building generates a low yield along with its long payback period for the additional investment in green features, the intangible benefits are invaluable, including setting a new benchmark in sustainable development.

“We have opened up the building to students, academics and professionals so they can use it as a case study for their research on sustainability. We will continue to innovate and improve our management of the building to ensure that the building design and green features will remain relevant for years to come,” says Tan.

“We have never looked back. All over the world, S P Setia’s developments are synonymous with eco and sustainability, which also incorporates our development philosophy of creating meaningful spaces for the community to live, learn, work and play. With that, our corporate HQ is the core of everything that represents S P Setia and our commitment to building sustainable communities,” he says. TEPEA 2015

Do not ask your BFF about the value of your home. Click here at The Edge Reference Price to find out.

This article first appeared in City & Country, a pullout of The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on Dec 7, 2015. Subscribe here for your personal copy.