What a Decentralised CBD in Singapore Means for Businesses
Being a city-state, Singapore’s outskirts in the heartlands (Jurong, Woodlands, Pasir Ris) are within an hour’s commute to the CBD. Yet for decades, the city’s demand for office buildings has concentrated in the CBD core around Raffles Place and Shenton Way.
Since 1990, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has placed an increasing focus on the decentralisation of the CBD – expanding business activity through the redevelopment of CBD-adjacent areas.
So, what does a decentralised CBD in Singapore mean for businesses? In this article, we will take a closer look at the Ophir-Rochor corridor, which is a planned extension of the central business district, and what newly-completed commercial buildings like Shaw Tower signal for companies looking for an office move.
SINGAPORE’S DECENTRALISATION PLANS FOR THE CBD
Singapore’s decentralisation strategy started in the early 1990s to plan and develop economic gateways across the island. The goal of the strategy is to reduce traffic congestion towards the city centre, give businesses options across the island, and bring jobs and amenities closer to homes.
The decentralisation strategy works on two fronts:
New hubs further out regional centres at Woodlands, Jurong Lake District and Tampines, plus sub-regional centres such as Bishan, Serangoon and Paya Lebar.
Extending the central business district outward into adjacent precincts, of which Ophir-Rochor is a prime example.
For businesses, the practical benefit of CBD decentralisation is the availability of new office space. With businesses centres spreading out from the CBD, companies no longer need to settle for older office stock in the traditional core.
OPHIR- ROCHOR CORRIDOR REDEVELOPMENT
The Ophir-Rochor Corridor is a planned extension of the CBD, set out in the URA Draft Master Plan 2008. Located next to the Marina Centre, the Ophir-Rochor corridor is planned to feature integrated mixed-use developments with offices, hotels, residential and complementary facilities within a green and sustainable environment.
The most notable development in the Ophir-Rochor Corridor is the redeveloped Shaw Tower, which was completed in June 2026.
Shaw Tower is a prime example of what the Ophir-Rochor corridor is designed to deliver. Shaw Tower is a 33-storey Grade A commercial development offering column-free floor plates, state-of-the-art building services and a workplace amenity suite well beyond the CBD norm.
Shaw Tower is also Singapore’s first Grade A commercial building to achieve the BCA Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy) certification under the 2021 criteria, and it holds WiredScore and SmartScore Platinum ratings for digital connectivity and smart building infrastructure.
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HOW THE OPHIR-ROCHOR REDEVELOPMENT BENEFITS BUSINESSES
The Ophir-Rochor corridor offers businesses the option of newly-built Grade A stock in a supply-tight market. With very little new premium space entering the market, occupiers looking to upgrade have limited choices outside of existing stock. For instance, Shaw Tower is the only Grade A commercial building to be completed in Singapore in 2026.
New buildings like Shaw Tower in the corridor offer businesses office spaces that are spacious and set up with modern workplace layouts in mind. Shaw Tower has 435,000 sq ft of Grade A office space across 23 levels and 21,500 sq ft of retail space. The building was redeveloped to offer premium Grade A office and retail spaces, setting new benchmarks in environmental sustainability, occupant wellness and digitally enabled building features.
With well-configured floor plate sizes of 18,000 sq ft on the lower floors and 20,000 sq ft at higher levels, Shaw Tower is one of the many buildings that presents attractive new office space opportunities for businesses at the CBD-fringe.
The Ophir-Rochor corridor is built as an integrated live-work-play district, with a focus on sustainability and wellness for both occupants and employees.
Shaw Tower reflects the area’s focus on sustainability and wellness through it’s a suite of amenities for tenants. These include a rooftop restaurant and bar, retail and F&B at the forecourt, sky terraces and gardens, a gym, breakout rooms and an auditorium, plus end-of-trip facilities for staff who cycle or run to work.
Shaw Tower is also Singapore’s first high-rise Grade A commercial building to be awarded the International WELL Building Institute’s WELL v2 Core Gold rating (pre-certification obtained), a recognition of air quality, lighting, thermal comfort and other factors that shape how a workplace actually feels day to day.
For businesses competing for talent, these features are no longer nice-to-haves. An office that people are willing to commute to plays a part in retention.
Businesses that set up offices in the Ophir-Rochor corridor retain physical connectivity to Raffles Place and Marina Bay.
Shaw Tower offers sheltered walkways connecting to Bugis, Promenade, City Hall and Esplanade MRT stations, placing four lines accessible under shelter. Road access to the corridor is covered by four expressways (the ECP, MCE, CTE and KPE), making it straightforward for staff and visitors travelling from the east, north and west.
For businesses based in the old CBD core, relocating to the Ophir-Rochor corridor offers newer facilities and expanded room for growth without giving up the convenience of a central location. It is a lateral move in geography and an upgrade in everything else.
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Office Rental Opportunities in Shaw Tower
Demand for Shaw Tower’s Grade A office space has been strong. At the time of writing, 60% of the building has been leased or is in advanced negotiations, with global insurance and asset management group Allianz relocating from CapitaSky at 79 Robinson Road in the traditional CBD core to take around 78,000 sq ft as anchor tenant. Other occupiers include fintech company Adyen, healthcare group Sanofi, oncology firm BeOne Medicines, and workplace provider Industrious.
The tenant mix showcases the value of CBD decentralisation: multinationals are willing to leave the traditional core when the alternative is better space, better sustainability credentials and comparable connectivity.
With limited new Grade A supply in the pipeline, the remaining space in buildings like Shaw Tower represents one of the few opportunities to secure brand-new premium office accommodation in a central location, and options in a tight market tend not to stay open for long.
Explore Shaw Tower’s office space rental opportunities by getting in touch with our team – we can provide more details on your business’s future office space.