Global challenges are impacting the way we live. Leaders in the built environment industry are addressing the challenges of environmental impact, carbon emissions and sustainable practices in the design, construction and operation of buildings.
As a key international player in construction and real estate development innovation, Kajima Corporation is shaping the future of the way we live and work. With a rich legacy spanning almost two centuries, the company is creating buildings that enrich communities and promote sustainability.
Headquartered in Motoaksaka, Minato, Tokyo, Kajima Corporation (鹿島建設株式会社, Kajima Kensetsu Kabushiki-gaisha) is one of the oldest and largest construction companies in Japan. Its unwavering commitment to excellence in the built environment sector dates back to its establishment in 1840.
Across ASEAN, Kajima Asia Pacific Holdings represents the company and delivers design, engineering, construction and real estate development services. An engine of innovative solutions in the built environment industry, the company plans to establish co-creation initiatives with entrepreneurs and like-minded stakeholders – a strategy which the company is building on in Singapore.
Kajima in Singapore
A wholly-owned subsidiary of Kajima Corporation, Kajima Development Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based real estate developer with business interests across Singapore and Southeast Asia. In Singapore, select projects include, Woodleigh Residences and Bishopsgate Residences. Its sister company, Kajima Overseas Asia (Singapore), is Kajima’s local construction arm responsible for projects such as Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Financial Centre.
“We have always viewed Singapore as a gateway into the region – a journey that began in 1962,” says Shuichi Oishi, CEO, Kajima Development Pte Ltd.
“Almost ten years ago, the late Dr. Shoichi Kajima tasked us with a mission to establish our headquarters in Singapore – he admired Singapore’s blueprint for success and impeccable reputation as a business hub and thought there was no better place for us to deepen our roots in the region. We have been fortunate enough to contribute to Singapore’s infrastructure and iconic skyline with projects such as MRT Construction Zone number 107 which laid the tracks from Raffles Place station to City Hall Station.”
The GEAR: Global Engineering, Architecture & Real Estate
Kajima’s new regional headquarters: The GEAR is Kajima’s lab for Global Engineering, Architecture & Real Estate (GEAR). The groundbreaking of the 5,234.9sqm plot at Changi Business Park was on 27 August 2020 and the grand opening took place on 4 August 2023.
Kajima’s new regional headquarters: The GEAR is Kajima’s lab for Global Engineering, Architecture & Real Estate (GEAR).
The GEAR is a Building and Construction Authority of Singapore Super Low Energy building and WELL Platinum-certified building. Kajima has invested S$100 million to develop the six-storey building spanning 13,061.17sqm of gross floor area.
With approximately 250 local staff, The GEAR is welcoming built environment innovators and disrupters to co-locate at its open innovation hub on level 3. At The GEAR, Kajima is adopting open innovation, conducting research and development on advanced built environment technologies and testing solutions for productivity improvement, sustainability and occupant wellness.
Accelerating the creation of innovative solutions
By providing startups with the opportunity to validate their solutions in cutting-edge laboratories, The GEAR is a ‘living lab’ for experimentation, exploration and co-creation offering five laboratories: Human Centric Design Lab, Construction Robotics Lab, Digital Tech Lab, Environment Engineering Lab and Underground Space Creation Lab.
“The launch of The GEAR represents a pivotal moment with its innovative design, functional versatility and commitment to sustainability,” says Keisuke Koshijima, Executive Vice President, Kajima Corporation, Managing Director, Kajima Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd.
“We hope to position ourselves as a trailblazer in the regional built environment landscape. Our goal is that The GEAR will serve as a centre of excellence and allow us to collaborate more closely with industry stakeholders to deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of the region. Our vision is to establish The GEAR as an innovation forge and a melting pot of culture and ideas for a global community of disruptors. By combining our heritage and experience with frontier technologies, we aim to reshape the future through our base in Singapore.”
As a leading innovation hub for the built environment in Asia, The GEAR will facilitate collaborative ventures between corporations and entrepreneurs. The impact of combining corporate assets with agile startups driven by innovation will create game-changing solutions and have a lasting positive impact in the industry.
Our goal is that The GEAR will serve as a centre of excellence and allow us to collaborate more closely with industry stakeholders to deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of the region. Our vision is to establish The GEAR as an innovation forge and a melting pot of culture and ideas for a global community of disruptors.
Keisuke Koshijima, Executive Vice President of Kajima Corp. and Managing Director of Kajima Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd.
The GEAR’s role as an open and collaborative ecosystem that brings together startups, government bodies, corporations, universities and ecosystem enablers in the built environment aims to foster the creation of ideas, gather insights from diverse perspectives and bring ideas to life.
“Kajima’s management has unequivocally expressed their commitment to explore blue ocean opportunities and champion innovation,” says Luke Wu, Head of Innovation, Kajima Development Pte Ltd.
“This has long been part of our heritage, with the Kajima Technical Research Institute forming an indelible part of that identity – an industry first research and development institute established in 1949. Beyond that, we now embrace open innovation as a core tenet of our corporate strategy. In August 2021, we established Kajima Ventures, a stage-agnostic, mission-driven, corporate venture fund domiciled in Singapore. Later this year, we will be launching our first corporate accelerator programme hosted at The GEAR, where we will work with the most promising early-stage startups with the most unique insights. Through these activities, we believe that the energy and creativity these startups bring will have a positive impact on our culture and we hope to encourage collaboration between Kajima and external partners by breaking down the barriers between us.”
The GEAR
19 Changi Business Park Crescent, Singapore 489690
[email protected]
www.kajima.com.sg
www.thegear.sg
The GEAR
www1.bca.gov.sg
www.wellcertified.com
