Occupant Wellbeing

This year, we extended the footprint of our smart real-time IAQ monitoring system to include main lift lobbies in our office buildings (One Pacific Place, Two Pacific Place, Three Pacific Place, 28 Hennessy Road and One Taikoo Place), which monitor temperature, relative humidity, CO, CO₂, PM2.5 and PM10 particulates, total volatile organic compounds (“TVOC”) and ozone levels. This indoor air quality system was installed and implemented with reference to the WELL standard. We plan to install a similar system to other buildings in our Hong Kong portfolio in the near future.

At HKRI Taikoo Hui, we conducted a three-month trial of a real-time IAQ monitoring network that measured parameters such as temperature, humidity, CO₂, PM2.5 and PM10 particulates, TVOC, formaldehyde, and ozone. The sensors for the trial were installed in passenger lift cars, passenger lift lobbies, supply air ducts and in tenant premises on the trial floors. Data from the network is being collected, stored and analysed.

On top of numerous physical and mental health and wellbeing considerations, we also design and construct our buildings to enhance visual comfort through the use of natural daylight, glare indices and diverse types of lighting and minimise the adverse impacts of external lighting, such as sky glow, source intensity and building luminance. We also consider acoustic impacts throughout the design, construction and operational phases of our buildings.

Apart from monitoring occupant wellbeing in existing buildings, we are also introducing enhanced wellness initiatives in several of our new projects.

Commercial Building Development at 46-56 Queen’s Road East:

• IAQ sensors in all passenger lift lobbies to provide real-time IAQ readings;
• Exercises space provided in the semi-open Sky Garden and Landscape Garden to promote an active and healthy lifestyle;
• Touchless lift access for passenger lifts to reduce the risk of infection;
• UVC lamps in all AHUs and escalators to sterilise handrail belts;
• Internal window blinds in tenant areas to mitigate sunlight glare;
• Ionisation sterilisers in all lift cars to suppress odours, VOCs and viruses; and
• Filtered drinking water dispensers on each office floor.

Two Taikoo Place

Our newest Hong Kong development, Two Taikoo Place was planned to be not only a sustainable building but also to consider occupant health and community sustainability aspects. Specific features will include:

• Air filtration using MERV-13 filters, active carbon filters, and UVC lamps for all AHUs to eliminate PM2.5, VOCs and viruses;
• Ionisation sterilisers in all lift cars to suppress odours, VOCs and viruses;
• IAQ sensors on all floors to provide real-time IAQ readings to occupants;
• Automated building entrance doors, automated office toilet entry doors and automated cubicle doors in podium toilets to enhance hygiene through a hands-free experience;
• “Air buttons” to enable touch-free lift calling;
• Panoramic 3m wide façade to optimise natural daylight;
• High performance office light panels to optimise light quality at desk level; and
• Interior sky gardens and exterior landscaped gardens to improve the work environment and allow deeper connections to nature.

In May 2020, photoplasma air purification devices were installed in the AHUs of the ONE INDIGO office building. The devices produce photoplasma in the air conditioning ducts, kill bacteria and biological pollutants in the air on indoor surfaces – including desktops, buttons, door handles, and others – and at the same time degrade harmful chemicals in the air. This provides tenants with extra protection during a time when health and sanitation concerns are high, reducing the chance of infection and providing a high-quality and safe indoor environment for building occupants. In August 2020, the use of the devices was expanded and installed in all the AHUs of INDIGO Mall as well.

Testing after installation resulted in formaldehyde values being reduced by 2-8%, total VOCs values being reduced by 15-40%, and bacteria count being reduced by 8-66%.

This new type of photoplasma air purification technology was also trialled at HKRI Taikoo Hui. The devices were installed in passenger lift cars and in the AHUs of two office floors in HKRI Centre Two. The trial lasted from October to December 2020, and third-party field sampling tests will be conducted to further verify the results and effectiveness.

UVC lamps were installed in the AHUs at One Taikoo Place to sterilise indoor air and keep the cooling coils and drain pans in AHUs free from germs and contamination. These installations were a springboard for a feasibility study on incorporating UVC lamps into the AHUs of all our existing buildings. In early 2020, the first trial was carried out on one floor of One Island East in Taikoo Place, producing positive results showing that these lamps reduced airborne bacteria levels by 59%. Subsequently, in part to proactively address tenant concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, this initiative was expanded to all buildings in Taikoo Place.

Late in 2020, we revealed the design of the Experience Lounge for Taikoo Li Qiantan. The 4,600 sq ft open-plan lounge showcases the planning and design of the complex and takes visitors on a “wellness journey” that demonstrates Taikoo Li Qiantan’s commitment to providing a quality lifestyle experience for visitors.

At the opening, Alan Lo, Portfolio General Manager at Taikoo Li Qiantan said,

Taikoo Li Qiantan will feature a double-deck open space on both the ground level and the rooftop. The ground level features an 86,000 sq ft central green axis, spanned by an 80-metre-long scenic bridge with a view of Qiantan Park and the Huangpu River. The rooftop features a 450m running track with greenery and leisure spaces that connect to the surrounding retail shops.