Manulife Financial Advisors

Design & Build, Workplace Strategy, Change Management, Project Management

About the Project

Client Name

Client Industry

Financial Services

Location

Keppel South Central

Project Scope

Design & Build, Workplace Strategy, Change Management, Project Management

Size

54,072 sq ft

- Seamless consolidation of two offices with minimal downtime
- Flexible front-of-house for consults, training and events
- Privacy-first client areas with open, welcoming sightlines
- Green Mark certification with integrated sustainability
- Brand-aligned design reflecting organisational identity

Celebrating Success: A Hospitality-Inspired HQ Where Work Meets Welcome

Team Conexus basks in the glow of Manulife Financial Advisers luxurious new office at Keppel South Central.

Sleek reflective surfaces, metallic textures and timeless warm hues contribute to a sophisticated work environment that inspires.

Step into a hospitality-centric, future-ready workspace that celebrates connection, sustainability and wellbeing.

Manulife Financial Advisers (Manulife FA) has consolidated two offices into a landmark 54,072 sqft headquarters at Keppel South Central. Inspired by the theme of ‘Celebration’, the design delivers a hospitality-driven experience that honours success through refined, versatile environments, ranging from sunlit lounges to flexible collaboration zones.

This future-ready workspace prioritises connection, sustainability, and wellbeing. Designed as an immersive experience, the office engages occupants through carefully choreographed spatial transitions and social zones. It actively nurtures a thriving collective spirit, where every touchpoint contributes to a welcoming, sophisticated atmosphere that supports both client engagement and daily collaboration. Designed to evolve with the organisation, the office motivates performance while celebrating excellence at every turn.

A Vision for Growth and Seamless Integration

Two offices, one bold vision. The challenge for Manulife Financial Advisers’ new workplace was to blend the polish of a luxury lounge with the rigour of Green Mark sustainability. Every inch had to work hard — hosting daily operations, intimate client meetings, and full-scale events — while shifting effortlessly from focused work to evening elegance.

Architecting Prestige: Where Confidence Meets Comfort

Soft curves and flowing lines introduce warmth, offering a tactile counterpoint to the space’s structured geometry. Warm timber, stone, and marble ground the palette in lasting richness, while black-framed glass and subtle gold accents add definition. Layered lighting guides the mood and reeded screens ensure necessary discretion, maintaining an environment that feels open yet intimate.

Plush textures and marble accents create a sophisticated setting for workplace collaboration and dialogue.

Bespoke screens offer a sense of privacy while maintaining the office design’s airy, open feel.

The in-house work cafe provides barista coffee and refreshments for the team and visitors throughout the workday.

Premium Finishes: Gold details, lush bespoke flooring and sophisticated wall finishes — made with sustainable materials sourced within the region — contribute to a high-end aesthetic, showcasing a deep focus on crafted details.

Thoughtful Branding: Customised, organically shaped privacy screens, inspired by the Manulife logo, add a touch of intelligent wit by subtly integrating brand identity into the architecture.

Versatility Redefined: A Future-Ready Workplace

The front of house was designed as a modular zone that transforms into an event space for any occasion. Operable walls open for flow or close for focus. Lighting layers keep the room balanced throughout the day. Integrated service points and discreet storage keep cables and equipment out of sight, so every set‑up reads clean and event‑ready.

Layered lighting effortlessly transforms social spaces, shifting their atmosphere with each gathering, function, or event.

Fluted glass panels provide discreet privacy for sensitive client consultations while maintaining the open and hospitable atmosphere of the workspace.

Bespoke finishes and a versatile layout allow this meeting room to double as a multi-functional space for client engagements.

Adaptable Hub: The reception, client meeting areas, and training rooms merge into a highly versatile public hub. Adaptable furnishings allow easy transformations, expanding Manulife FA’s capacity to host large-scale events, training sessions and daily client consultations.

Agile Support: Diverse seating options — from collaborative booths to counter seats with a view — offer ease and flexibility, supporting productivity, engagement and wellbeing across every workplace setting.

Adaptive Ambience: The layered lighting design employs a dual lighting approach, balancing a diffused membrane glow with bright linear highlights to enable instant mood shifts, from the crisp brightness of training sessions to the warm elegance of evening events.

Built-in Sustainability: A Commitment to Responsible Growth

Green Mark certified? Absolutely. However, sustainability here goes beyond the badge. It is operational and intentional, balancing environmental responsibility with human comfort to create a workspace that endures.

Reflecting Manulife FA’s people-first values, a wide variety of workspaces are designed for user comfort and offer stunning panoramic views

Rich timber panelling and refined lighting accents define this high-performance executive suite.

Meeting rooms and workstations seamlessly integrate reused furniture from the previous office to reduce waste, supporting Manulife FA's commitment to sustainability.

Resource Stewardship: In line with Manulife FA's commitment to sustainability, Conexus Studio integrated the client's existing high-quality furniture with the new design. This approach allowed the organisation to carry a meaningful element of its past culture into its new chapter while acting as a responsible steward of resources.

Energy Efficiency: The office achieved Green Mark certification, underscoring Manulife FA’s commitment to rigorous sustainability standards. Smart occupancy sensors optimise lighting use, reducing energy waste. These measures cut long-term consumption and support efficient operations.

Cultural Support: Rooted in Manulife FA’s people-first values, the workplace promotes wellbeing and inclusion. Quiet and collaborative work zones, natural light, ergonomic furnishings and biophilic elements support comfort and productivity, while nursing rooms and equitable amenities ensure all employees feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive.

Service at the Centre

Anchored in Manulife FA’s core principles — real value, integrity, professionalism, holistic planning, and client focus — the new headquarters puts people first. It welcomes clients and teams into a space that feels warm yet assured, where conversations are easy, and work carries on with steady clarity.

More than a relocation, it sets the baseline for Manulife FA’s next chapter. The environment strengthens trust, supports confident hosting and learning, and keeps operations composed through change. It reflects who Manulife FA is today and the organisation it is becoming — reliable, welcoming, and ready for what’s ahead.

A versatile mix of different seating arrangements empower teams to collaborate and work according to their needs and preferences.

Semi-private quiet corners and soundproof phone booths ensure advisors are able to conduct focus work and confidential conversations with confidence.

Biophilic elements like greenery, curved accents, layered lighting, and wooden finishes create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

“From concept to handover, Conexus Studio operated with precision. The design was thoughtful and consistent, the project management was disciplined and transparent, and the construction phase was run with meticulous quality control. Their approach to coordination—clear timelines, accountable ownership, and thorough site reviews—reduced risk and kept the program on course. We appreciated the way they balanced pace with quality, making considered decisions without losing momentum. The result is a workplace delivered on schedule and to the standard we expect, with a process that was calm, professional and confidence building.”

Royston Thng, Head of Office Management, Manulife Financial Advisers

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