WiredScore expands Asia footprint with launch in Hong Kong

As part of the launch, the company named Henderson Land Group, Nan Fung Group, Sun Hung Kai Properties, Swire Properties as well as Sino Group and Empire Group, among the first landlords and developers to have pursued WiredScore and SmartScore certifications for their buildings in the city. 

WiredScore certification is the global digital connectivity rating scheme, working with landlords and developers to assess, improve, benchmark and promote their buildings. SmartScore certification defines what smart buildings are, and how to build them, allowing landlords in the world to understand, improve and communicate the user functionality and technological foundations of their assets.

Thomasin Crowley, Global Director of APAC at WiredScore, said: “Hong Kong is one of the top-ranked financial hubs globally with huge potential to maintain this strong position, supported by progressive landlords and developers providing user-centric offices fit for leading global organisations. We are thrilled to bring our expertise and certifications to Hong Kong and we are proud to be working with some of the most forward-thinking landlords in this market.”

“All of them recognise the importance of technology as a key enabler to delivering inspirational, sustainable, healthy, cost-efficient and future-ready assets. We look forward to building further collaboration with landlords across the Hong Kong real estate market in the months and years to come.” 

Notably, Swire Properties was the first in Hong Kong to undergo certification for its developments at 46-56 Queen’s Road East and Two Taikoo Place, which have both achieved WiredScore and SmartScore Platinum. Committed to ensuring that all its assets are future-ready, Swire also has 13 other buildings under its portfolio that have achieved WiredScore certification. 

Henderson Land Group has also achieved WiredScore and SmartScore Platinum for its 36-storey ‘The Henderson’ tower, while Nan Fung Group has committed its AIRSIDE project with Sun Hung Kai Properties committing its High-Speed Rail West Kowloon Terminus project to both WiredScore and SmartScore certifications. Landmark South, a joint venture between Sino Group and Empire Group, has also committed to both certifications. They expect to announce their achieved certifications in due course. 

Don Taylor, Director, Office at Swire Properties said: “We’re delighted that our newest Triple Grade-A office buildings are recognised with the highest certification level for WiredScore and SmartScore. Digital connectivity, resilience, cutting-edge technology and sustainability are key components of our placemaking efforts. These certifications validate our continuous investment into ensuring an advanced infrastructure and smart amenities, and reinforce Swire Properties’ position as the leading placemaker in Hong Kong, and Taikoo Place as a Global Business District. We will continue to reinvest in our assets so as to upgrade workplace solutions and programming to meet the evolving demands from our office users.”

“As a business deeply rooted in sustainability and elevating lives through innovation and technology, Nan Fung Group is pleased to announce that our flagship development, AIRSIDE, will undergo the WiredScore and SmartScore certifications. This is a testament to our unwavering commitment to establishing smart, sustainable environments for our tenants,” said Vanessa Cheung, Group Managing Director of Nan Fung Group.  “Determined to meet ever-evolving needs on all ends, we make it a priority to provide resilient, secure, and reliable technical and digital infrastructure, such that our tenants and stakeholders can prosper with every opportunity and achieve their business goals. At AIRSIDE, we strive to drive and amplify impact through adopting state-of-the-art technology designed to optimise building performance, enable higher operational efficiency, and encourage tenants to go above and beyond, alongside Nan Fung, in the realm of resilience and sustainability.”

Kristine Li, Senior Deputy General Manager of Portfolio Leasing Department of Henderson Land Group, said: “We are thrilled to achieve both WiredScore and SmartScore Platinum for The Henderson certification, which will strengthen our leadership in designing smart buildings and set the standard in modern-day property development. In addition to our first-in-Hong Kong property landlord-tenant-employee ESG program, such recognition is a solid proof on our effort and determination to reshape the current landscape of the property sector here in Hong Kong.”

Mr Gordon Lee, Director of Grand Apex Limited, said: “Landmark South, one of our Grade-A commercial office building project jointly developed by Sino Group and Empire Group in Wong Chuk Hang in Hong Kong represents our commitment to enhancing working environments in the vibrant city with a focus on health and wellness while strengthening our focus on sustainability. We actively seek to incorporate sustainable and innovative features into our buildings and are delighted to work alongside WiredScore to foster digital life and innovative development of the real estate industry.”

The company is also partnering with individuals from leading real estate and professional services firms including Arup, Cundall, WSP, Synergy, JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE, Neuron, Negawatt, Energenz, and essensys, as part of its Accredited Professional program. The program educates and trains individuals to assess and improve the digital connectivity and smart capabilities of a building, serving as an extension of the WiredScore team.

Digitizing today’s real estate for tomorrow’s workforce report 2022: ‘Smart’ is no longer a luxury but an essential

To mark its launch in Hong Kong, WiredScore has released its “Digitizing today’s real estate for tomorrow’s workforce” report to unveil how Asia landlords can stand out in a highly competitive real estate sector and deliver workplaces fit for a smart future. Speaking to leading occupiers in Hong Kong, results found that a staggering 96% of respondents are prepared to pay a premium to work in a smart building. Coupled with the fact that 38% of respondents are more likely to extend their lease if their landlords demonstrated efforts to future-ready their buildings, this highlights the cruciality for landlords to embark on this smart real estate journey.

Furthermore, 98% expressed the importance for landlords to make their buildings more environmentally sustainable through the use of technology, with almost one-fifth stating sustainability as their most important factor when selecting an office building. Finally, 96% of occupiers surveyed think it is integral that Hong Kong’s office market is technologically advanced in order to preserve its status.  

Commenting on the research, Crowley added: “It is evident that tenants in Hong Kong have a strong appetite for smart technologies to meet their evolving needs for a more sustainable, healthy, and inspirational work environment, as reflected in our survey. The future of real estate needs to be smart, and we are here to support Hong Kong on this exciting journey to make its buildings smarter and better connected. ” 

The Digitizing today’s real estate for tomorrow’s workforce report is based on a survey of more than 100 real estate decision makers in Hong Kong. 

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