Office Buildings High-Rise

Client: Taiko Batu Kawan Holdings Sdn Bhd
Status: Completed 2016

Located within the thriving commercial precinct of Mutiara Damansara, the Batu Kawan Corporate Headquarters, completed in 2009 comprises a 12-storey tower flanked by a 4 storey podium block and 2 stories of basement car parks. This building primarily houses commercial office spaces with retail programs on the ground floor.

Departing from the generic tower-stacked-on-podium typology, the tower’s massing is detached from a semi-circular lower block and connected via a thin double-storey hanging walkway. Proportioning the tower in this way creates a deliberate contrast between the horizontality of the podium and the vertical lines of the tower. The structural ordering
of expressed beams and columns on the tower further enhances this impression, against a bold red feature wall. The resulting U-shaped plan is an opportunity to create a courtyard garden that allows light to infiltrate what would have otherwise been a deep, enclosed floor plan.

One gently becomes aware of these geometric manoeuvres crossing under the steel and glass porte-cochere, to arrive at a lofty entrance foyer. Tempering light levels and visual density are a series of louvers that transform in length, dimension and material expression on the façade. A steel and timber tread feature stairway lures the eye to a thin mezzanine
level that leads off to the hanging walkway. Here, the light filigree of louvers on the façade are translated into an abstract barcode motif that pervades floor, ceiling and counter. These features wrap around the presence of the courtyard garden that suffuses the space with light.

The sweeping curve of the lower tower addresses the traffic junction, at the same time giving occupants an all-round view of the surroundings. The building’s frontage is oriented eastwards, catching the morning sun. Services and restrooms are relegated to the western aspect of the building to buffer the interiors from heat gain.

Status: Completed 2016

Nestled adjacent to the primary boulevard within the heart of Putrajaya's Core Island, Precinct 3, this mixed-use development seamlessly integrates office and retail functions, presenting a 14-storey office tower alongside an 8-storey retail podium. The tower is strategically oriented to front the main square, accentuating its prominence, while the podium is meticulously crafted to facilitate pedestrian flow. The architectural articulation of the office tower is enhanced through the incorporation of vertical fins on its principal façade, serving to underscore its commanding height and significance.

Client: BioMed Global
Status: Completed 2021

The BioMed Headquarters and research center is located along Jalan Sungai Buloh, in the northern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur on a 2,000 sm site. This 10-storey building, which was originally designed by VERITAS in 2002 for Aetna Insurance has recently been reborn as a landmark office and research facility for one of the nation’s leading bio-pharmacy corporations. 

The building comprises 2 floors of basement car-parking, 8 floors of offices and research labs, support facilities for staff, a 200-seat auditorium, a customer service centre and a multipurpose conference room.

In addition to the programmatic requirements, the design of the building is driven by two major factors—the need for a dual frontage and the awkward orientation of the site. While the northern elevation is the main entrance calling for a formal design articulation, the southern elevation which is also the rear of the building requires effective treatment due to its commanding visibility from Jalan Sungai Buloh.

The east-west orientation of the building necessitated a careful articulation of those façades to reduce heat gain and glare without sacrificing light and views. This is achieved by locating the service core on the western façade, while introducing a deep wall with recessed windows and tinted glass. The three other façades of the building requiring less solar protection are cladded in lightly tinted curtain walls with perforated aluminium metal sun-shading devices.

Client : Johor Corporation Berhad
MENARA JLAND or JLand Tower is the latest addition to the skyline of Johor Bahru city which has been stagnant for 30 years. Sitting atop the well-known Johor Bahru City Centre or JBCC (formerly known as Plaza Komtar), the tower is designed in an asymmetrical form with a contemporary styling which appears a modern urban sculpture to be appreciated from many different angles. The tower design presents a unique visual phenomenon to the Johor Bahru city residents and is a “gateway” to Jalan Wong Ah Fook and downtown areas to the south.

The geometric appeal and sheer height makes the tower visible from both land and sea. Maximizing the height provides another opportunity: the inclusion of a public observatory, roof top restaurants, sky garden and sky walk. The observation deck offers a stunning SKY BRIDGE presented as a curved cantilevered glass object and a first of its kind-structure to offer an impressive vista of the city at 150m above ground, thus creating a new tourist attraction for Johor Bahru. reduces the energy running cost for the building owner from a baseline of RM 2 million per year to a running cost of RM 500,000 per year. The building energy intensity of the building (including tenant energy consumption) reduces from 212 kWh/(m².year) down to 82 kWh/(m².year)

Status: Completion 2025

Situated just a stone's throw from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, the Alliance Bank Tower is set to redefine the skyline of Kuala Lumpur with its sleek and contemporary design. Rising as a symbol of corporate excellence, this office tower will stand as a beacon of modernity, efficiency, and sustainability in the heart of the city.

The Alliance Bank Tower, premium office space, represents a bold transformation from its predecessor, Oxley Towers, into a purely commercial hub tailored for dynamic businesses and forward-thinking enterprises. The tower’s design emphasizes functionality while offering an exceptional work environment, featuring state-of-the-art facilities, panoramic views, and energy-efficient systems that align with modern sustainability goals.

The building's elegant setback creates a grand forecourt, offering a spacious entrance that connects seamlessly with the bustling urban fabric of Jalan Ampang. This forecourt guides visitors into a welcoming lobby that serves as a gateway to a world of business innovation. The office tower's integration with the city's pedestrian network allows easy access to surrounding amenities, including the nearby KLCC Park, making it a prime destination for professionals seeking connectivity and convenience.

The façade of Alliance Bank Tower is characterized by its sophisticated curtain-wall system, incorporating a refined, diagonal grain pattern inspired by Malaysia's rich textile heritage. This distinctively layered design not only provides aesthetic appeal but also enhances energy efficiency by reducing solar heat gain, thus contributing to the building's overall sustainability. The tower’s tapering silhouette creates a dynamic presence, ensuring a striking visual impact from every vantage point in the city.

The Alliance Bank Tower is not just another addition to Kuala Lumpur's skyline; it's a statement of corporate ambition, merging architectural innovation with functionality, and setting a new standard for office environments in the city's premier business district.

Client : YTL Corporation Berhad
The building is located at Jalan Bukit Bintang, a high-end retail strip that has developed into a highly lucrative commercial and hospitality hub in Kuala Lumpur. The form of the building is generated from the awkward geometry of the site. Shaped like a jagged shard, the site has a finger extended from it that terminates at a narrow street frontage along Jalan Bukit Bintang. The lack of workable proportions on the ground floor results in difficulty in space planning and a need to take a different approach strengthen the building’s street presence.

Instead of rationalizing the footprint into a cartesian form, the building takes on the prescribed character of its crystal-shaped floor plan, transforming as it rises into a 3-dimensional crystalline sculpture. The design is set to qualify for a GBI Gold Rating, including a rainwater harvesting unit, an energy efficient cooling and electrical system, energy saving light ballast and other passive features. The design is set to qualify for a GBI Gold Rating, including a rainwater harvesting unit, an energy efficient cooling and electrical system, energy saving light ballast and other passive features. The project was done in conjunction with KPF Architects of New York.

Client : eTiQa Insurance Berhad
eTiQa Insurance Berhad’s 38 storey office tower sits on a humble 1.15 acre site in the coveted area of Bangsar. An uprising jewel in the city, the imminent corporate paragon represents a symbolic landmark through its diamond shaped design which glistens within the city’s skyline. Sitting between Jalan Bangsar and Jalan Bangsar Utama, the prestigious construction addresses the dual frontage opportunities which help activate the entire site; encouraging seamless public connectivity by acting as a pedestrian node linking the existing eTiQa building at Dataran Maybank, the UOA Tower as well as the neighboring shop lots surrounding the area.

The façades of eTiQa Tower boast a huge green wall that wraps one corner of the parking podium, providing a refreshing feature for passersby of Jalan Bangsar. Its green-rated crystal grey curtain wall extends down to the ground offering visual continuity while the shimmering PVDF coated aero foil louvers provide shade and screening for the parking podium. While the corporate tower ticks the checklist of a Grade A office building standards, it also meets the requirements of a Gold rated Green Building Index (GBI) and Green RE Platinum rated sustainable development. By optimizing green materials and adopting environmentally - responsible design practices, the development encourages the monitoring of energy and water use analysis, maintaining indoor thermal comfort and optimum standard of indoor air quality for the wellbeing of its occupants.

Client : Ireka Corporation Berhad
Located at Jalan Kiara, comprising retail and office space, aims to provide the surrounding neighborhoods, a community shopping center with a family-friendly ambience and an alternative workspace environment. Together, the corporate office tower and office suites block, will offer international and local businesses a new haven away from the hustle bustle of the City Centre.

The shopping center has a bright and lofty central atrium with dramatic skylights and surrounded by several levels of retail shops, providing more comfort and conveniences suited to our local lifestyle and climate. The oval-shaped atrium and the generous front plaza with a grand flight of steps forming almost an informal amphitheater setting, are envisioned to be venues for family-oriented community events. The shopping podium is topped by a landscaped roof terrace with supporting recreational facilities such as fitness centre, pool, children's play area and tennis courts. 

Client : Khor Joo Saik Sdn Bhd
Menara Binjai office tower is located in the KLCC area, next to the Ampang LRT station. The office tower comprises 29 storeys of office spaces, 8 car park levels and 2 levels of penthouse for the owner's family. The Jalan Ampang frontage is sheathed in a transparent frameless glass curtain wall, affording generous views.

Ascending sky gardens at the edge of the building barely concealed by permeable glass walls provide relief to the office spaces. The west facing entrance façade is etched with deep vertical fins to accentuate the height of the building. The residence of the family is lifted 35 storeys above the original site, an eyrie perched on the crown of the building and the house of a bygone era is brought into the 21st century in a continuation of the site's history.

Client : Glomac Berhad
The Menara Prestige is a 40 storeys commercial building comprising 38 storeys of offices and 2 level of retail at the street. Located on the corner of Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Pinang, the proportions of the lot resulted in a narrow building footprint with an aspect ratio of 4 to 1. To achieve a wider frontage, the entrance is placed at the longer side of the building and further denoted by advertisement billboards on the podium.

The façade comprises 2 volumes: a slim volume is partially enveloped by a larger volume. The lines of the envelope are carefully modulated in a steep hyperbole. Both towers are chamfered upwards in salutation to the verticality of the neighboring PETRONAS Twin Towers, the tallest structure in Kuala Lumpur.

Client: Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad
Status: Completed 2006

One Sentral is the dominant form among the conglomeration of office buildings and residences making up the KL Sentral development. One Sentral has Two Faces. Approaching from Brickfields, it appears as a slim rectilinear plane with a façade evoking the motif of a barcode. That the first angle of its form piercing one's sight appears tapered conceals the bulk of the building, making it appear thinner than it really is.

The pedestal upon which it rests speaks the same language of vertical lines, albeit modulated in justification of the shift of program from office spaces to podium car park. The main entrance on the western facade is marked by these aluminum fins disintegrating into a shimmering coda. The building facade was carefully engineered to reduce thermal transmission through the use of shading devices and louvered-glazing.

Client : Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd
The design brief called for 4 separate ministry buildings on 4 adjacent lots, intersected by the Central Boulevard of Putrajaya. The plan of the 4 towers traces a motif of 4 interlocking circles on plan, in the tradition of geometric Islamic forms. The 18-storey tower extruded from the elliptical plan is differentiated from the 6 storeys podium. The tower rises up from slits, cut into the ground, creating a sunken garden that brings daylight and natural ventilation to the car park below, dispelling the notion that a basement car park needs to be a dark, airless space. The podium façade is expressed as an intricate steel frame inset with sliding screens of slatted timber - opaque during daytime, transforming into a transparent veil revealing offices behind at night. The overall energy consumption of the building is calculated at 136 kWh/m2/year (OTTV of 45 W/m²) which ranks among lowest 5 % in Singapore and Malaysia.

Client : Lee Rubber (Selangor) Sdn Bhd
This project is the refurbishment of the original 29 storeys Wisma Lee Rubber, a building located on a square shaped lot of 17,000sf on Jalan Melaka at the heart of the business district of the old City Centre. The new design seeks to rejuvenate the old building in a more contemporary image suited to the company's current outlook. The office tower is re-finished in a new curtain wall of glass and stainless steel cladding. Vertical sun- shading fins, juxtaposed against a fully glazed façade accentuate the verticality of the building. The top penthouse floors which cantilever out are unified to read as a transparent, delicate glass box crowning the building. Illuminated at night, it transforms into a lit lantern perched atop the structure. At street level, the former car porch is extended with a glass roof canopy to create a semi-outdoor verandah with a sidewalk café to engage the vibrant street life of its neighborhood.

Client : American International Assurance Co. Ltd. / AIG Global Real Estate Corp.
The rehabilitation of the former Wisma AIA building, headquarters of American International Assurance in Kuala Lumpur entailed a complete refurbishment of both façade and interior, the addition of a new 4 storeys car park and a 2 storeys penthouse. The original building was a 16 storeys building built in the 1960s, with a façade of aluminum sun-shades which obstructed views.

While the general form and architectural layout of the building was mostly maintained, the new façade introduced of a double-glazed curtain wall of aluminum and granite panels, which reduced thermal transmission. The verticality of the tower is accentuated by aluminum-clad columns running the entire height of the building. The introduction of new building services and additional penthouse floors increased the load on the old structure, requiring the usage of carbon fibre to strengthen the structure.