IJM Corp’s refurbished workspace incorporates biophilic design and sustainable technology to foster employee wellness

Rome was not built in a day. But the full refurbishment of Wisma IJM — a four-storey, 102,000 sq ft office building in Petaling Jaya — in less than six months could be a feat as great as any, based on the recollections of Sachi Interior Design lead designer Tennyson Chia and CYML Group head contractor Chong Yuh Ming.

Under the watchful expertise and relentless hard work of their teams, the 30-year-old building underwent a thorough facelift, which was commissioned by IJM Corp Bhd’s group CEO and managing director Datuk Lee Chun Fai. The completed workspace emerged in March 2024 as a modern mix of professional sophistication, biophilic design and human-centric architecture.

The brief for this reconstruction was to formulate a human-driven design that prioritises employee well-being and intergenerational longevity as well as conveys IJM’s ethos of environmental consciousness, thereby capturing and invigorating its new corporate image.

“We are also a developer that sells high-end properties. If people show up and see a run-down building, that doesn’t give them confidence. This [office] should spark conversations and convey what IJM is: transparent, dynamic and technologically advanced,” Lee stresses.

A far cry from its previous modus operandi of gloomy, segregated cubicles, the current configuration promotes collaborative culture through the use of large, multipurpose open zones and interactive pockets. Café-inspired aesthetics seep through the breakout areas on each floor, which include tables, couches, high chairs and a pantry, affecting a relaxed and serene aura.

This also falls in line with the vision to develop with the future in mind, as the younger generation begins to favour visually appealing, photogenic places to host shared discussions. When privacy is required, the staff can take video calls in the soundproof pods available, while certain meeting rooms feature glass walls that frost up at the push of a button for optimal confidentiality.

The path to paradise was not all roses, however, as the two project heads recall the many unforeseen challenges that came with renovating the decades-old construct. “It was like an archaeological dig — it had no layout plans and was used for so many different purposes before. We had to do a lot of research by opening the ceilings and tearing down walls, and we found plenty of surprises,” says Chia.

Chong cites the example of how the rectangular architecture was particularly challenging, as the arrangement of the windows around the perimeter made it difficult to organically illuminate the central office areas. The team circumvented these restrictions through the integration of technology, enabling the simulation of artificial daylight and digitalised waterfalls, complete with soothing music to synthesise outdoor tranquillity indoors.

Furthermore, the implementation of facial recognition technology at doors on the office levels, automated room booking panels and smart boards is in service of reducing the use of paper, printer ink, lanyards and white board marker pens, as well as streamlining everyday tasks for greater efficiency.

The central highlight, and certainly the one to awe visitors the most, is the staircase connecting the first and second floors. Windows on the connecting floors that peer into the stairs offer a deeply transparent, symbolically connected energy, as the sleek grey structure is complemented by leafy segments at either end. Above, a massive, breathtaking light panel combined with vectorised, printed graphics emulates staring through a forest of trees.

“The idea came from a photo I had taken when walking in a garden in Taman Tun [Dr Ismail], looking up and seeing the light pass through. That’s how the concept of connecting the workspace with nature and bridging the internal and external came about,” says Chia, elaborating on his belief in the mental and physical benefits of calming, nature-connected workspaces on employees. The reflective quality of the glass panels on the second floor creates this glowing expanse that stretches far into the depths of the office, creating the illusion of a wide faux sky.

Verdant patches of plants saturate every floor: Artificial foliage forms much of the greenery around the statement staircase, and smaller shrubs make subtle dividers to partially obscure desks. These are made of upcycled materials to achieve a viable, low-maintenance level of lushness because of the absence of sunlight, while still being eco-friendly. Likewise, the panelling and flooring are made from recycled components and come with green certificates. In the more sun-seeped parts of the office, there are real thriving greens for a little outdoor authenticity.

The overarching synergy of the interiors in fact contains a very deliberate flow throughout the first three floors. Common guest spaces such as the reception, VIP lounge and boardroom are centralised near the entrance so that visitors do not need to hike to the upper levels to access them. Wooden flooring is used to denote communal areas while carpeting cordons off the office territory, ensuring guests can flow through without interrupting workers.

While novelty features such as nap rooms and slides may appear fun, practicality is significantly more valuable to employees. The new Wisma IJM is carefully designed to cater for the needs of its staff, an effort achieved through active engagement and feedback. “We had focus groups to think of the technologies, workspaces and even the chairs and carpet colours. Everyone got to try, shortlist and vote. They’re the ones using it, so there was no point in higher-ups like me deciding for them. It was good for them to participate and feel engaged in the renovation’s success,” Lee explains.

The top floor, also airily brightened by artificial daylight, consists of a popular hangout space frequently filled after work hours. The multipurpose hall here is soundproofed with padded and insulated walls to mitigate noise disruption from the neighbouring training rooms, and houses a massive high-resolution LED screen for presentations and different room lighting mood options. A gym, yoga studio and shower facilities also encourage employees to lead a more active lifestyle. “Little things, like making sure there’s good quality coffee and tea in the pantry or professional exercise equipment, help the overall morale,” says Lee, stressing the importance of meaningful perks.

Asked what necessitated the change, several incidents come to mind. “There was a lot of discussion on the office being cramped. One of the complaints I received was that, when people come for a job interview, they end up cancelling upon seeing the office! That made me think, ‘Is it really that bad?’”

Since returning to the transformed Wisma IJM, Lee is pleased to report incredibly high satisfaction and positive feedback from the staff, and that the change has had a marked impact on their attitude
at large.

“The biggest difference today is that people are interacting a lot. When they understand each other better, ultimately, they are productive. Rather than training or team building, being permanently exposed to a better environment changes your approach to work,” he observes.

This article first appeared in issue No. 114, Winter 2024 of Haven.