St James Power Station will be Dyson's new global HQ in Singapore

[Carbon82]

SINGAPORE - Technology company Dyson has secured a new global headquarters building in Singapore at the historic St James Power Station, as it seeks to expand its presence in the city state after pulling the plug on its electric car project.

Chief executive Jim Rowan told The Straits Times that the company had "very recently" agreed on terms with landlord Mapletree for the waterfront site at 3 Sentosa Gateway, which has been vacant since September last year.

"We have agreed that Dyson will take that whole power station as its global headquarters," he said.

"It's an indication that we are serious about laying down some very deep roots within Singapore."

Dyson declined to disclose the investment sum. ST understands a lease agreement has been signed for the power station, which has a gross floor area of 110,000 sq ft. It was formerly one of the biggest nightlife hubs in Singapore, and was gazetted as a national monument in 2009.

Renovations are under way and Dyson plans to move there in 2021.

With the new HQ, Dyson will double its pool of engineers and scientists here in the next five years, as it ramps up research and engineering in Singapore.

The company's early-stage research - the starting point for inventions and intellectual property - is now mostly done in Britain.

Dyson currently employs 1,200 people in Singapore, 350 of who are engineers and scientists. Its global workforce stands at about 14,000.

Economic Development Board assistant managing director Tan Kong Hwee said Dyson's decision to invest in the power station as its headquarters, as well as increase its research and engineering footprint, demonstrates its long-term commitment to Singapore.

"The planned doubling of Dyson's engineers and scientists in Singapore to 700 people is also a testament to Singapore's growing attractiveness for high-value innovation activities," Mr Tan told ST.

He said the investment "will create exciting job opportunities", such as in power electronics, energy storage and sensors.

The move comes after Dyson relocated its headquarters from Britain to Singapore in May.

The British company, privately owned by founder James Dyson, saw profits last year jump 33 per cent to £1.1 billion (S$1.9 billion) from 2017, amid soaring demand for its products in Asia.

In October last year, Dyson said it will build its first electric vehicle in Singapore. But the project was abandoned last month as it was no longer "commercially viable".

When St James Power Station is refurbished, it is estimated to have a capacity of about 700 workstations. It will house three levels of technology labs and office and collaboration spaces. Half of the space will be for research, design and development engineering teams.

Dyson will join several big companies that have offices in the Alexandra precinct, such as Google, tech company Cisco Systems and consumer goods giant Unilever.

ST understands that other companies were also interested in St James Power Station.

In a nod to the building's history, a heritage gallery will be set up, and be open to the public. The power station was officially opened in 1927 as Singapore's first coal-fired power plant before it was decommissioned in 1976.

Dyson will continue to invest in the United Kingdom. It has two campuses there, Malmesbury and Hullavington, as well as an engineering university.

Mr Rowan said: "The spaces in which we work have always been important to us - they provide the inspiration and environment to nurture ideas."

He added that both he and Mr Dyson are excited about having the power station as their new headquarters. "It's got history, it's got great design, and if we can keep the ethos and the attention that was paid to the building when it was first created, and modernise it to make sure it's got all the amenities, then it's the best of both worlds."

[Carbon82]

Why Dyson chose St James Power Station instead of CBD office for new HQ in Singapore

SINGAPORE - Singapore has plenty of gleaming skyscrapers with swanky offices but a colonial-era power station is electrical appliance giant Dyson's top pick for its new global head office because founder James Dyson wanted "an inspiring place".

St James Power Station, which has a history harking back to 1927 as Singapore's first coal-fired power plant, fits in with the building philosophy of Dyson, said its global estates director Jasper Hasell.

While Dyson is known for its ultra modern machines, it also appreciates design and heritage, he said.

And the power station ticks those boxes, given that it was gazetted in 2009 as a national momentum  and boost distinctive architectural features such as a red-brick facade with full-length windows and a prominent chimney. The skeleton of its main structure is formed by massive steel works that support wide roof trusses.

"When James Dyson was there recently, he was looking at the rivets and structure; he was fascinated," Mr Hasell told The Straits Times.

"He wanted to find an inspiring place for our new office."

This comes as Dyson made Singapore its corporate headquarters earlier this year.

Mr Hasell, who is responsible for all of Dyson's real estate worldwide, said the team had viewed several office towers in Singapore's central business district (CBD) but did not like the idea of staff being "split over 忙different floors". 

St James Power Station, on the other hand, has voluminous space with high ceilings and a gross floor area of about 110,000 sq ft across 3 blocks.

This layout will enable staff to meet and interact with one other easily, which is more conducive for research and development, said Mr Hasell, who is envisioning elements such as large connecting staircases and spacious atrium. 

The final viewings took place in June-July and Dyson made the decision in August.

"We moved fast... as we know how unique the building is in Singapore and that it would provide the inspirational workplace we are looking for," he added

St James Power Station has undergone several facelifts in the past. It was one of Singapore's biggest nightlife hubs from 2006 until September last year, when the lease expired. The site was then returned to landlord Mapletree.

As a national momentum, it's owners cannot alter the facade, build any extensions or hack any walls of the building.

Dyson chief executive Jim Rowan said that care will be taken in refurbishing the building, which is along Sentosa Gateway across the road from Vivocity Mall.

"We've got a fantastic team of architects working on it right now, trying to make the best use of that space, while also keeping true to the architectural design elements of the building," he told St.

Such an approach would be similar to what Dyson had done for its Hullavington campus in Britain, a World War II airfield that the company bought in 2017 and restored. It was meant for its now-aborted electric car project.

[Volvobrick]

Hope Mr Dyson will modify the chimney to suck polluted air and and filter out the pollutants too while renovating his office....

[Watwheels]

Can ask Mr Dyson to design and built a giant fan that can blow the haze away? 😂 

I think he will probably built luxury air purifiers to make money instead. 

[13177]

Didnt know the st james power station no more pub area liao? Lol. Think i have been living in the cave for too long?! 

[Lala81]

1 hour ago, 13177 said:

Didnt know the st james power station no more pub area liao? Lol. Think i have been living in the cave for too long?! 

Haha yeah it used to be quite in for a time. Dragonfly and all that.

 

[13177]

1 hour ago, Lala81 said:

Haha yeah it used to be quite in for a time. Dragonfly and all that.

 

My impression on st james power station stay in that era with dragonfly and pub etc. Dont know when they closed down?

[Angcheek]

8 hours ago, Volvobrick said:

Hope Mr Dyson will modify the chimney to suck polluted air and and filter out the pollutants too while renovating his office....

waaa later he bill Cheng Hu as carbon tax ....... and cheng hu charge back to us . 

 

[inlinesix]