How to Choose the Right Office in Singapore CBD

With over 600,000 businesses in the country (as of 1 October 2025)^[1], it should come as no surprise that the office rental market in Singapore is highly competitive. As the prime location for Grade A office spaces which offer a premium experience for tenants, Singapore’s CBD is the top choice for establishing a business office.

Accessibility, amenities, sustainability, smart technology and digital connectivity, layout flexibility, and cost are the main factors businesses should consider when choosing an office space in the Singapore CBD to maximise day-to-day productivity, build a reputable business image, and set a foundation for future success.

Location & Accessibility

Office buildings in the CBD are generally well-connected and fully sheltered via bus routes, MRT lines and expressways. Office buildings with ample transport options offer greater connectivity and convenience for employees, which can be a strong factor in attracting new talent to the business.

For example, Shaw Tower’s prime location in the CBD makes it a favourable choice for businesses that want to prioritise accessibility – it is situated in close proximity to four MRT stations – City Hall, Bugis, Promenade, and Esplanade, as well as major expressways, including ECP, MCE, CTE, and KPE.

The location of the office also speaks volumes of the business’s image and reputation. An office in the CBD is seen as prestigious by potential clients and partners, and businesses looking to expand their market presence will benefit from a well-known office location.

Shaw Tower has a rich history as an iconic commercial building in the CBD, having served the community since it was the tallest building to be fully air-conditioned back in the 1970s – now redeveloped as a Grade A office building, Shaw Tower’s reputation as a forward-looking workspace offers businesses an opportunity to position themselves as leaders in their own fields.

Building Amenities

Office spaces should not be evaluated in isolation – the overall amenities present in the building can have a direct impact on productivity and ease of operations.

Shaw Tower has an extensive list of amenities designed to enhance the tenant experience and optimise business processes. Many of these amenities cannot be found in other offices in the CBD:

Communal meeting and training facilities, including a multi-purpose hall with an auditorium

Retail / F&B spaces within the building, including a rooftop bar & restaurant

Gym and end-of-trip facilities

Public and private sky terraces and landscape decks with flexible spaces for events

Touchless elevator and access control systems

Sustainability Features

Artist’s Impression

Sustainability in office buildings has been an increasing area of focus in Singapore. In December 2024, the Ministry of National Development (MND) reported that close to 26% of new developments were certified as Super Low Energy (SLE) buildings, and that buildings showed 72% better energy efficiency compared to in 2005^[2]. Additionally, as part of Green Plan 2030^[3], Shaw Tower is aligned with its targets by 2030 in the category of Greener Infrastructure and Buildings:

1. Green 80% of Singapore’s buildings (by Gross Floor Area) by 2030
2. 80% of new buildings (by Gross Floor Area) to be Super Low Energy buildings from 2030
3. Best-in-class green buildings to see an 80% improvement in energy efficiency (over 2005 levels) by 2030

The most obvious advantage of selecting an office in a sustainable building is energy efficiency: sustainable features, such as energy-efficient HVAC, lighting, and water-recycling systems, eventually translate to reduced operating costs for tenants in the long term.

Not only that, but operating from a sustainably designed office building can also indirectly support businesses’ ESG commitments, such as reducing energy use and waste generation.

Sustainable office buildings, especially those with biophilic design (incorporating natural elements like plants and greenery), can also contribute to a healthier, more comfortable environment for employees, which in turn boosts productivity.

As Singapore’s first Grade A commercial building to achieve the BCA Green Mark Platinum (Super Low Energy) Certification under the latest 2021 criteria, Shaw Tower is the perfect option for businesses looking to include high sustainability standards in their future office space.

Layout/ Provisions Flexibility

Commercial space in the CBD is limited, and this effect carries over to the amount of available floor-plan space in office buildings in the area. Many older commercial buildings in the CBD feature traditional office layouts and provisions from some time ago that may allow less flexibility to support modern designs and requirements.

Shaw Tower’s office spaces are designed with flexibility in mind. Office layouts include knockout panels for connecting between floors to achieve combined office spaces and expansive floor plans, for a total area of 20,000 square feet. The office spaces in Shaw Tower offer a side core configuration that allows a clear view of the entire space at one glance for easier planning and management.

Cost

The ongoing costs of renting an office space in the CBD are arguably the biggest deciding factor for many businesses. Grade A office spaces, which are usually found in the CBD area, are priced 20-40% higher than those of standard office buildings.

According to a report from CBRE, the demand for Grade A office buildings has also increased. The report notes that Grade A office rents rose by 0.4% over the previous quarter. Grade A offices now rent at $12.10 per square foot per month. In Q2 2025, vacancy in the Office Core CBD dropped to 5.3% from its Q1 2025 level of 5.9%^[4].

Given that office spaces in the CBD will inevitably come at a premium, businesses should focus on maximising the value of the office space rather than trying to minimise rental costs. An office space in the CBD that enhances operational efficiency in the long term can offset the rental costs in terms of value.

Shaw Tower is built as a Grade A office building that offers a balance of amenities and potential energy cost savings for tenants. Shaw Tower has a High Green Plot Ratio of 5.4, making it a highly sustainable and competitive choice for an office space in the CBD.