Punggol Digital District

Project Overview

This next-generation business park brings together the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) campus, an underground MRT station, and vibrant community spaces. It is the only district in Singapore where a business park is co-located with a university. Shared infrastructure and public spaces with SIT foster innovation, talent development, and cross-disciplinary partnerships.

This mixed-use development currently spans 8 towers of up to 15 storeys, a 25-metre-deep basement, and extensive public infrastructure. PDD is envisioned as a Smart Nation catalyst, where technology, sustainability, and community converge. The Open Digital Platform (ODP) serves as PDD’s digital backbone, bringing together various systems to optimise building management and resource utilisation. Co-developed by JTC and GovTech, it not only streamlines operations but also transforms PDD into a living laboratory for the creation of future smart solutions.

The engineering team from Ramboll and landscape team from Henning Larsen were part of a multidisciplinary project team, led by WOHA Architects, and enabled the architects’ distinct and bold design intent, including engineered timber structures, sky terraces and vertical gardens as well as biophilic design for natural ventilation and daylighting, creating a business park as a living ecosystem where innovation thrives in harmony with nature and community.

Sustainability at Scale

PDD is the largest mixed-use development in Singapore to achieve BCA’s Green Mark Platinum certification. It ranks in the top quartile of energy efficiency based on the Energy Use Intensity (EUI) benchmarking by the Building and Construction Authority. Ramboll’s environmental & sustainable design key features include:

• A high-efficiency District Cooling System (DCS) reducing energy use by up to 30%
• Smart energy grid integrating solar panels and battery storage, generating over 3,000 MWh of clean energy annually
• Pneumatic waste conveyance system for efficient, odour-free waste management
• Rainwater harvesting and on-site wastewater treatment
• Variable air volume systems with CO₂ monitoring, daylight sensors, and high-performance façades to reduce thermal gain

These systems collectively reduce operational carbon emissions by 35% annually, equivalent to removing 4,000 cars from the road.

Through innovative civil & structural design, embodied carbon is also optimised through:

• Precast construction for all structural elements, enabling off-site fabrication
• Efficient integration of design, built structures, and environment
• Sophisticated design techniques to reduce cost and environmental impact

Mobility and Connectivity for a Car-Lite Future

PDD is a high-density transit-oriented development (TOD) centred around the Punggol Coast MRT station, an adjoining bus interchange, and shared mobility infrastructure. Ramboll’s district-wide smart mobility solution provides:

• Bus interchange and MRT connectivity
• Shared car parking to reduce private vehicle trips
• Active mobility networks for pedestrians, cyclists, and personal mobility devices
• Autonomous vehicle provisions and logistics hub planning

These strategies support a car-lite lifestyle, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance accessibility across adjacent housing estates and the SIT campus.

Heritage, Nature Integration & Climate Resilience

Preserving the heritage of the Old Punggol Road to enhance the sense of place was a key consideration for the design of our landscape team at the feasibility stage. As a result, the design, which was carried out by the National Parks Board (NParks), sees PDD paying homage to its past by preserving the section of Old Punggol Road that runs through the business park. This preserved section forms part of the broader Punggol Heritage Trail and retains its original terrain and vegetation. The trail connects residential estates, SIT, and the waterfront, blending history with modern urban life. Despite its high-density, PDD embraces nature with:

• 100% landscape replacement
• 40% green coverage
• Biodiversity walkways linking Punggol Waterway Park to Coney Island

PDD also incorporates Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and ABC Waters features such as bioswales, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting and natural drainage systems—enhancing stormwater management, ecological health and urban cooling. The landscaped Campus Boulevard showcases water-driven cooling and green corridors, reinforcing resilience against climate change and urban heat.

Smart & Sustainable Infrastructure

PDD is powered by the Open Digital Platform (ODP)—Singapore’s first district-wide smart operating system. It enables:

• Real-time data sharing
• Predictive maintenance
• Autonomous services

A Digital Twin integrates over 20,000 IoT sensors, optimising district operations and energy use, and enabling seamless coordination across buildings, utilities, and services.