serie and multiply architects have completed ?5 science park drive? (5SPD), a flagship building at singapore science park ? one of asia?s leading R&D and technology locations. the 26,000 square meter project, which is the first to be realized as part of the site?s redevelopment plan, contains a large central common space, or ?city room?, designed to reflect the changing social nature of the workplace.

all images by finbarr fallon
 
 
?the science park model of the 1990s, with buildings isolated from one another by un-utilized landscape is no longer adequate for today?s workspaces that are more social in nature,? says christopher lee, principal of serie architects. ?the first of more than five buildings in the cluster, 5 science park drive is designed to ensure that common spaces are visible, accessible and nourished with amenities.?
 
 
focused on collaboration, discussion and networking, the three-storey ?city room? incorporates a series of cascading platforms that contain a café, break-out spaces, and a small auditorium. throughout the design, the floor plans have been designed to maximize flexibility. a typical floorplate offers over 4,000 square meters in open plan space and column-free spans of 20 meters. meanwhile, centralized circulation with highly efficient double-loaded corridors allows the building to be configured for single or multi-tenant use.

 
 
the façade features high performance glazing set into an alternating ?accordion? design that is an...