By Sharen Kaur - Published in NST Property, October 19, 2021
sharen@nst.com.my
i-City Golden Triangle (i-City GT) has been envisioned as an integrated tech-centric ultrapolis since its inception, setting it in the firm direction as a smart city.
With the idea developing and the appropriate DNA in place, the developer I-Berhad has inevitably steered the project in the proper path from the start.
i-City GT has become a vital hub for local and international connections and the nucleus of telecommunications organisations, financial institutions, and high-technology firms, including multinational corporations (MNCs).
The city is underpinned by a 400G-capable connectivity network, Tier-3 data centre, Artificial Intelligence (AI) features, smart security, and SuperApp.
Sumurwang Tower, i-first City's Grade-A Green Building Index (GBI) office tower, is expected to become the satellite headquarters of a financial organisation early next year, with others to follow.
With the launch of the DoubleTree by Hilton i-City Hotel, the second hotel in i-City GT, and the delivery of the upmarket Hill10 Residence to purchasers, 2022 will be a momentous year for I-Berhad.
The hotel's debut coincides with the Hilton Hotels and Resorts Group's expansion plans in Malaysia. It is expected to be a game-changer, setting a new standard for luxury hotels and transforming Malaysia's MICE (meeting, incentive, convention, and exhibition) industry.
A 43-story building will house the 300-room DoubleTree by Hilton i-City Hotel. It will have two speciality restaurants, Makan Kitchen and Tosca, a 1,000-seat grand ballroom and a corporate networking space called the Axis Lounge.
Members of the Hilton HONORS programme can enjoy a contactless arrival experience by checking in with their smartphones and receiving access to their rooms via a 'digital key' created.
Hill10 Residence is located from Level 24 to 42 and has a double-volume lobby on the main floor and a cantilever rooftop infinity pool on Level 43. There are 200 apartment suites available, and buyers will receive their keys shortly after the hotel opens the mid-next year.
The hotel and the residences are part of the i-City financial centre, which the 33-story Sumurwang Tower anchors. It's also only three minutes from Thailand's Central Group's Central i-City mall and the i-City convention centre.
Be Central, located close to Sumurwang Tower, offers serviced apartments beginning at RM495,000.
"The entire development of i-City GT has been meticulously planned. The developer, Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong, had placed a strong focus on intelligent planning from the beginning. He could see what the future would be like 15 years ago, and he did it correctly.
"I-City GT is now a world-class ultrapolis. It's a smart city with world-class amenities that attracts big corporations from around the world. It's completely integrated with corporate, leisure, and residential options. The towering skyscrapers dominate the city's skylines and have been a gamechanger for Selangor's capital city," said a senior officer at an international consulting firm.
i-City is also an MSC Malaysia Cybercentre-certified development, a world reference site for Cisco's Smart+Connected Communities, and a tourism destination supported by the Selangor state government and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
Invest Selangor Berhad, a beacon for investors, has stepped foot in i-City GT, demonstrating the push to attract investments worldwide. SIDEC, the incubator for e-commerce, start-ups, and entrepreneurs, is also part of the ecosystem that supports the digital economy.
Another initiative is developing additional data centres, following i-City GT's first Tier-3 data centre operating since 2008. The upcoming Data Centre 2 and 3, which will span 200,000 sq ft, will serve its community by 2025. It will feature dual-source power, as well as direct fibre connectivity to the existing Tier-3 data centre.
Rich knowledge-based workers will support the data centre as the local hub for international business operations.
By 2025, i-City GT will be home to an iconic tower, the 78-story IGT Tower, which will provide panoramic views of the city. The building is intended to serve as a hub for technology and innovation and a home for global technology firms.
Building on its DNA - re-define, re-think, re-imagine, re-invent (4Rs)
By riding on its DNA, the "4Rs," and Smart City Framework, i-City GT is determined to empower enterprises and organisations across many industries by altering the route to the new normal in novel ways.
To remain an appealing and competitive destination for business and investment, it must ensure that its economy supports high-value-added industries such as IT and finance.
Knowledge-based workers in the city are expected to gain from higher-quality and higher-paying job possibilities.
Attracting investment in high-value-added industries is one of the planned initiatives. By the end of 2021, the existing Grade A GBI Tower will have an 80 per cent occupancy rate.
Reimagining quality of life post-Covid-19
To make i-City GT Malaysia's No. 1 Technology City – the most liveable, smart, and sustainable city in the country – the developer will focus on increasing quality of life, stimulating economic growth, and assuring more efficient city management practice.
Through improved mobility inside this transit-oriented development, i-City GT promotes sustainable development by reducing its carbon footprint.
It is promoting electric vehicles (EVs) to provide last-mile connectivity to the LRT3 i-City station at Central Walk, hence improving connectivity within the property.
There has been a low acceptance rate amongst Malaysians to adopt the use of hybrid or EVs, not only because of its high cost but also for the lack of supporting infrastructure. Hence, more stations would be set up at i-City GT to support the revolution.
More than just a concrete city, i-City GT prioritises improving the liveability within the city and protecting the environment by planting more greens, plants and trees. The aim is also to drive carbon reduction, enhance environmental sustainability and urban farming.
Besides developing a working city that is genuinely livable by prioritizing the environment and walkability, i-City also emphasized creating meaningful and exciting events and activities that could bring life to the city, which improves the quality of life and work simultaneously through events, conferences, and entertainment.
Many corporations and organisations have faced new obstacles due to the Covid-19 outbreak, including the need to decentralise their offices and workplaces to control risk by having multiple sites.
Large organisations are looking for a new strategic prime business site outside Kuala Lumpur with equivalent business amenities to serve their needs.
However, many businesses and organisations face the challenge of choosing the ideal business site that addresses the issue of decentralisation.
i-City GT, located 40 kilometres from the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, is a perfect strategic position in Selangor's capital city, given that similar infrastructures such as technology, economics, and connection are already in place, allowing enterprises to relocate and function seamlessly.
Working, thinking, and living in i-City GT and the activities and objectives of buildings and offices may help organisations and companies adopt the new normal and create a safe, productive, and efficient work environment.
In meeting the decentralisation needs of different businesses across various industries, i-City GT's masterpiece offers several commercial components. They include Grade A (GBI) office towers, hotels, regional shopping malls, convention centres, and data centres, home to many established international business leaders, including Central Pattana Group, Hilton Worldwide, and BestWestern International.
The relocation of one of the country's leading banks to i-City GT is a testament to the success and the growing importance of decentralisation for business operations.
The expanded i-City GT will focus on re-inventing the future through encouraging enterprise digitalisation. An intelligent approach to economic operations will boost productivity and economic output by increasing efficiency and opening new markets. Digitalisation may benefit both businesses and consumers in terms of expanding labour capacity and offering a better customer experience.
Digitalisation plans include increasing e-payments in essential company processes via SuperApp and offering effective public communication via giant digital billboards.
SuperApp, the one-for-all app, allows users to do various transactions digitally with just one click. The plan is to develop it as one of the significant e-wallet payment systems by 2025, akin to other successful e-payment platforms such as GrabPay, TnG e-wallet, and Boost e-wallet, in line with the MBSA Local Plan Draft 2035.
The MBSA Plan outlines proposed developments surrounding six critical projects in Selangor. The plan will widen the footprint for i-City from a 72-acre ultrapolis to a 1,766-acre economic zone. With this, the SuperApp e-wallet will be extended out of i-City GT to benefit users in Shah Alam.
Redefine placemaking
i-City GT is developing the ideal venue for businesses to satisfy all business demands inside this premium location in Selangor's Golden Triangle by using the foundations of smart city planning and the latest technologies.
Essential building pieces such as the Smart Commercial Hub, Smart Financial Hub, and Smart Tourism Hub are developed by i-City GT.
These three elements form the foundation of i-City GT's masterpiece.
With the revolutionary 10-year development plan for the i-City GT masterpiece, many banks, insurance companies, asset management businesses, hedge funds, private equity firms, fintech firms, global companies, and technology firms will soon call the i-City GT marvel home.
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