i-Park @ Senai Airport City is a clean and green ESG industrial development.
GREAT value creation is often the result of diverging from the norm and doing something new.
Where industrial properties are concerned, this includes making them more than just utilitarian structures and significantly enhancing the human experience for the people working inside.
That was the case with AME’s benchmark game-changing i-Park @ Senai Airport City in Johor, which introduces healthy and relaxing lifestyles to the fast-paced world of business and industry.
Its pioneering ‘Industrial Resort’ concept not only creates a new benchmark for how people work, live and play today; but also lays foundations for companies operating here to grow their capital and flourish in the long-term.
Cheryl Lim, director of Ipark Development Sdn Bhd, said the trendsetting development stemmed from a desire to change the general perception of industrial properties, which tend to be negative due to factors like poor management or infrastructure upgrading being restricted.
“We sought to change that. So in 2011, we began developing modern and managed industrial parks under the i-Park brand – the first two being i-Park @ SILC and i-Park @ Indahpura.
“In 2017, we launched our third industrial park project, i-Park @ Senai Airport City, with an upgraded Industrial Resort concept.
The aim was to create a conducive environment for a good work-life balance,” she shared of the RM1.369bil development.
Spanning 191.4 acres of freehold land, it was built over three phases and comprises detached and semi-detached factory units that are highly-functional and customisable with one-stop business and service solutions with speedy delivery.
But what truly sets i-Park @ Senai Airport City apart from others of its kind is the integrated clubhouse with sports and recreational facilities, outdoor parks, a well-managed workers’ accommodation and a commitment towards environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.
This novel approach was one of the key factors in making it a World Gold Winner under the Industrial Category of FIABCI’s prestigious World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2023.
Added value with ESG
i-Park @ Senai Airport City’s clubhouse, called the i-Privilege Club, synergises two concepts that are normally quite opposite in nature – work and relaxation.
A modern space equipped with a host of plush indoor and outdoor amenities, it underscores the development’s unique premise of nurturing healthy work-life integration.
Club members can enjoy a fully-equipped gymnasium, health studio, badminton court, tennis court, futsal court, sand volleyball court, basketball court, outdoor amphitheatre, jogging tracks, cycling lane and a 50m-long saltwater swimming pool. There’s also a cafe and multi-functional hall that can host corporate and social activities alike.
“We strive to build a community and our involvement does not end at the point of selling or leasing.
We want to maintain sustainable long-term relationships with our purchasers and tenants and regularly organise business functions or festive celebrations within the i-Park community.”
“Besides networking, these also serve as a platform for information and knowledge exchange, opening up avenues for potential business collaborations,” Lim said.
Complementing the standalone clubhouse is a scenic, lakeside recreational park. Having such amenities near a workplace can also be instrumental in attracting and retaining talent. To date,
i-Park @ Senai Airport City has created over 6,000 white and blue collar job opportunities.
These factory units with green building features come either ready-built or customisable to suit specific needs. Gross floor areas range from 30,000sq ft all the way up to 300,000sq ft which are suitable for large-scale operations.
There is the option for lease or outright purchase. With AME having over 25 years’ of experience in industrial development and construction, it keenly understands companies’ ever-changing business and operational requirements.
The entire park is fully-guarded with 24-hour security control with CCTV surveillance. It is equipped with high-speed broadband and top-notch power, water and natural gas supply.
i-Park @ Senai Airport City’s commitment to ESG is also evident in its workers’ accommodation called i-Stay, which has approximately 2,005 beds.
Compliant with Malaysia’s Jabatan Tenaga Kerja and the Internationally Responsible Business Alliance guidelines, it is located within walking distance of the factories and connected with covered walkways equipped with solar street lighting.
The accommodations are split into male and female blocks and have biometric security access and turnstile entry points at every single block, ensuring the safety of workers. This close proximity to the park also allows businesses to reduce or save costs associated with workers’ transportation, while increasing their productivity and cutting down on social problems.
The blocks are also equipped with entertainment facilities such as Astro and free Wi-Fi at common areas, table tennis equipment and arcade game machines.
There is also a park gym, first aid room, multi-purpose hall, launderette, canteen, mineral water vending machine and grocery shop. A digital ATM (SOCASH Solutions) and cashless online remittance system also makes it easy for both employers and employees to handle incoming and outgoing payments, including to the latter’s home countries.
Also appealing is i-Park @ Senai Airport City’s strategic location within Flagship E of Iskandar Malaysia, the main development corridor in southern Malaysia.
It is surrounded by matured townships such as Senai, Kulai, Kempas, Impian Emas and Skudai, while being near the Senai International Airport.
There’s also easy accessibility to major ports like Tanjung Pelepas and Pasir Gudang, as well as major arteries like the North-South Expressway and Second Link Expressway which link to Johor
Baru, Singapore or the central and northern regions of Peninsular Malaysia, giving businesses an edge in logistics and reach.
A success story
Since opening, i-Park @ Senai Airport City has attracted numerous local and international companies which make up 36% and 64% of occupants respectively.
The multinational firms calling it home hail from the USA, China, Singapore, Australia, Japan, the UK, Netherlands, France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Taiwan.
These span the gamut of sectors including pharmaceutical and medical devices manufacturing, warehousing and storage, electrical and electronics manufacturing, research and development, plastic injection moulding, assemblies, trading and precision engineering.
“With a strong track record of quality construction and well-managed industrial park developments, AME has played a key role in attracting foreign direct investments into Malaysia.
“The companies’ high-value manufacturing and high-tech solutions help to move the local manufacturing ecosystem up the value chain,” Lim pointed out.
She saw the FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards as fitting recognition for the company’s efforts in elevating the standards of industrial parks, as well as its team members’ hard work and dedication.
“We are truly proud that our end products have enjoyed such an overwhelming response. We’ll continue to innovate and be a benchmark for future industrial parks. Moving forward, our focus will be on Industry 4.0 and 5G technologies, renewable energies, GBI-compliant buildings and further emphasis on ESG to enhance customers’ business values and attract more high-tech operations here,” Lim said.
Currently, AME is developing another new industrial park, i-TechValley, also at Iskandar Malaysia’s Flagship B, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Pentagon Land Sdn Bhd and Greenhill SILC Sdn Bhd.
This ESG-driven and sustainable development will span over 170 freehold acres and enjoy the same excellent accessibility, world-class infrastructure and excellent network of amenities.
Its detached factories are designed for optimum functionality and are built with modern aesthetics and innovation solutions.
Units are both ready-built or fully-customisable to suit the requirements of local and international corporations. Sizes range from 30,000sq ft to 300,000sq ft and above, with options for lease or outright purchase.
One of its clusters has been designated to be a pharmaceutical and medical hub, and has thus far successfully garnered investment from notable multinational corporations including three US-based pharmaceutical giants.
Source: The Star
