On 11 August 2022, Grab officially opened Grab HQ @ Singapore, its new headquarters at the one-north business park, as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations. CHO Associates is proud to have provided project management consultancy, strategic planning and workplace planning for the headquarters.
Spanning 42,310 sqm across two tower blocks (9 storeys and 4 storeys) connected by a sky bridge, the Grab Headquarters incorporates sustainability features into its design, including recycled materials, a low-emissive glass façade, landscaping and mid-level sky terraces. It holds the BCA Green Mark Gold Plus award (CapitaLand).
The HQ brings around 3,000 Grabbers under one roof, together with Grab’s research and development centre and its digibank team. Shared spaces include a pantry on every floor, a gym and a kids’ play area for working parents. It is also home to Grab’s first GrabMerchant Centre, a walk-in hub where small businesses get one-on-one consultations, upskilling workshops and networking sessions (Mothership; Prime Minister’s Office Singapore).
Project facts
- Client: Grab
- Location: one-north, Singapore
- Building: 42,310 sqm across two tower blocks (9 storeys and 4 storeys) connected by a sky bridge
- Sustainability: BCA Green Mark Gold Plus
- Address: 1 & 3 Media Close, Singapore
- Occupants: around 3,000 staff
- CHO Associates’ scope: project management consultancy, strategic planning and workplace planning
- Officially opened: 11 August 2022
A headquarters planned to grow with Grab
Grab needed one headquarters that would keep working as its teams kept growing. Working on Grab’s side, our team helped plan an activity-based workplace that can flex with headcount, and coordinated the project from planning through to opening. For a fast-growing company, that’s the real test of a workplace: whether it still works after the headcount doubles.
Our work with Grab across Southeast Asia and beyond
The one-north HQ builds on a long relationship with Grab. CHO Associates has also delivered Grab offices in Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Vietnam and Beijing.
Planning your own headquarters? Questions we hear most
When should we bring in a project management consultant?
Earlier than most companies think. The decisions with the biggest impact on cost and timeline, such as how much space you really need, how teams will work and what the building must support, are made before design even starts. Bringing a consultant in at that stage means the brief is right before money is committed.
How do you plan an office for a team that keeps growing?
Plan for how people work, not just how many desks you need today. A mix of focus, collaboration and shared spaces lets the same floor absorb new hires without a costly refit every year. It’s the thinking behind Grab’s one-north HQ, and the question we start every workplace project with.
Project manager or design-and-build contractor: which do we need?
A project manager works on your side to coordinate designers and contractors, which suits large, multi-party projects like a headquarters. A design-and-build contractor takes on both design and construction under one contract, which suits fast fit-outs with a fixed opening date. CHO Associates does both, so we can advise on the right model for your project. See how design and build worked for Delta Electronics in Johor, or explore our services.
Can one partner handle offices in several countries?
Yes, and it saves a lot of repeated briefing. With offices in Singapore, Johor Bahru, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta, our teams can carry the same standards and lessons from one location to the next, as we have for Grab across the region.
What makes a headquarters worth the investment?
The best headquarters do more than house staff. They help a company hire, bring people back to the office and show customers what the brand stands for. Our award-winning FUJI Smile Land for Fujifilm is one example of a workplace designed around people first.
Planning a headquarters or a large office move? Talk to our team →
