Behold one-north. It is not just a place. It is a vision come to life. Launched in December 2001 by Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan Keng Yam, one-north was conceptualized as Singapore’s hub for research, development, and high technology.
The name one-north is derived from Singapore’s location. Singapore is one degree north of the equator. This area aims to create a unique community. Here Singaporeans can live, work, and relax. It is not just a public sector project. Private sectors contribute social and recreational amenities.
Today one-north is a local, regional, and global center. It fosters high technology and innovation. Many high-tech companies call it home. Multinational companies thrive here. Google’s Asia-Pacific headquarters is located here. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation also calls one-north home. Grab, Razer, Shopee and Ubisoft Singapore also reside here.
Imagine walking through one-north. You will see nine main developments. These are Biopolis, Fusionopolis, Mediapolis, Vista, LaunchPad, Nepal Hill, Rochester Park, Wessex, and Pixel. Zaha Hadid Architects designed and master-planned many parts of one-north.
Let’s start with Biopolis. It is a biomedical R&D hub. It houses public research institutes. Private research organizations also reside here. This campus promotes collaboration. It also encourages peer review among scientists. In May 2021 Wilmar International relocated its headquarters to Biopolis.
Next is Fusionopolis. It occupies 30 hectares. It is an R&D hub for infocomm technology. It also focuses on media, physical sciences, and engineering industries. You will find research organizations here. High-tech companies thrive here. Government agencies, retail outlets, and serviced apartments coexist. The one-north MRT station connects to the basement of Fusionopolis. In October 2021 Razer opened its Southeast Asia headquarters here. It also houses RazerStore and RazerCafe in Singapore. A robotic barista arm prepares drinks here.
Mediapolis is a 19-hectare hub. It is created for infocomm, media, physical sciences, and engineering sectors. It houses soundstages with green screen capabilities. Digital production and broadcasting facilities exist here. Interactive digital media and R&D activities flourish. It also supports computer-generated imagery and visual effects. In January 2014 Infinite Studios opened as Singapore’s first soundstage facility. In December 2015 Mediacorp moved to its new campus here. ALICE@MEDIAPOLIS is a business park for startups. It offers startup spaces and shared media facilities. The Deliveroo Food Market is also housed here. In August 2022 Grab opened its headquarters here.
Vista serves as the corporate and business support cluster. It houses high-rise offices and business hotels. You will also find retail and entertainment centers here. Metropolis consists of two Grade A office towers. Multinational corporations such as Shell and P&G reside here. The Star integrates a shopping mall and a performing arts center. GSK Asia House houses GlaxoSmithKline’s regional headquarters. The Ministry of Education headquarters is also located here.
JTC LaunchPad fosters startups. BLOCK71 Singapore was repurposed in 2010. It is a high-tech hub for digital startups and VC funds.
Nepal Hill focuses on leadership training and talent development. It houses business schools and corporate universities. In April 2022 The Ascott Limited opened lyf one-north Singapore.
Rochester Park features colonial bungalows. These bungalows symbolize Singapore’s colonial past. Rochester Mall is a dining and lifestyle retail hub. Rochester Commons houses a shared executive learning center. It also has a business hotel and offices.
Wessex is a residential area. Colonial-style apartments and semi-detached houses define it. People working in one-north get priority for residences here.
Pixel caters to the digital media sector. It fosters cross-sector collaborations.
one-north Park provides green space. It is a community park near the Ministry of Education. Portsdown Swamp is a freshwater swamp nearby. It is home to various wildlife.
one-north is more than buildings. It is a dynamic ecosystem. It blends innovation, collaboration, and community. As you explore, consider its impact. one-north drives Singapore’s future.