Starting your education at ESSEC Asia-Pacific? Use this guide to learn more about the one-north neighborhood!
With its sci-fi sounding building names like Chronis, Genome, Galaxis and Solaris, you’d be right if you guessed one-north is the area for high-tech businesses in the region.
one-north was conceptualized back in 1991 as part of the country’s National Technology Plan. It was designed as a hub for R&D, and named to reflect Singapore’s position just one-degree north of the equator.
Today, just as the sun’s rays are concentrated on countries near the equator, so businesses from all around the world are converging at one-north, making it one of the prime research and business hubs in the region—and it’s not just for science and tech. Besides research facilities, the area is booming with headquarters of global companies from all industries, promising start-ups, residencies and an array of lifestyle amenities that make it an ideal location to work, live, learn and play.
Let’s get to know the area!
In a Nutshell
-
Over 400 leading companies
-
15 public research institutes
-
5 institutes of higher learning and corporate universities
-
Over 50,000 knowledge workers
Learn the Lingo
Source: https://www.jtc.gov.sg/find-land/land-for-long-term-development/one-north
Here are some of the key areas you need to know about in one-north.
Biopolis
A biomedical R&D hub that houses public research institutes and private research organizations.
Fusionopolis
An R&D hub for infocomm technology, media, physical sciences and engineering industries.
Mediapolis
The heart of the media ecosystem. Expect soundstages with green screen capabilities, digital production and broadcast facilities—everything you need from pre to post production.
Vista
The main commercial and lifestyle zone in one-north. Highlights include the Star Performing Arts Center for concerts as well as the Star Vista and Rochester Mall for dining and shopping.
Wessex
Colonial walk-up apartments and semi-detached houses that have been turned into work lofts, home offices and home studios. Wessex Village Square @ one-north also offers space for art events.
Launchpad
Touted as the Silicon Valley of Singapore. You’ll find start-ups, incubators, accelerators, venture capitalists and more.
Nepal Hill
Designed to be the center for leadership training and talent development. This is where ESSEC Business School is located!
Meet Your Neighbors
To be in one-north is to be in a place that global healthcare, gaming, media and tech firms call home. Keep your eyes peeled for some of these offices, because you never know who you’re going to meet while in the neighborhood!
99.co
99.co is a home-grown Singaporean start-up with roots at BLOCK71. Today, it’s made a name for itself as Singapore’s fastest growing property portal with reach across Southeast Asia.
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
As a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Singapore, A*STAR’s mission is to drive research that advances scientific discovery and technological processes aligned with global trends.
Apple
Apple stores may be found at all corners of Singapore, but it’s one-north where the majority of the global leader’s corporate functions lie.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
The Singapore headquarters of British pharmaceutical giant, GSK, supports the global headquarters in managing commercial activities across the world. There are over 800 employees at the one-north facility, including senior regional leadership teams handling the pharmaceutical and vaccine businesses.
Grab
With food delivery, ride hailing, e-payments and more, Grab is called Southeast Asia’s leading superapp for good reason! The one-north headquarters houses over 3,000 employees and the company’s largest R&D center.
Infinite Studios
An integrated media entertainment and creative services company with offices in Singapore and Indonesia. Its prowess in post-production, visual effects and animation can be seen in popular shows like Westworld, and movies like Crazy Rich Asians.
Mediacorp
Mediacorp is Singapore’s national public broadcaster for radio, television and digital content.
Procter & Gamble (P&G)
P&G is a Fortune 500 company with operations across 80 countries. Its $250 million Singapore Innovation Center (SGIC) stands as a demonstration of the company’s confidence in Singapore and one-north.
Razer
The American-Singaporean tech MNC is known for its triple headed snake logo and ecosystem of gamer-focused hardware, software and services. Its Southeast Asia headquarters at one-north is built on principles of sustainability, and has a dedicated space for esports workshops and training.
Shopee
Founded in 2015, Shopee is now the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. Its headquarters in one-north houses over 3,000 employees.
Ubisoft Singapore
The French video game company’s Singapore office is the largest AAA studio in Southeast Asia. Notable works include the new IP Skull & Bones and of course, every Assassin's Creed game since Assassin's Creed II.
Explore the Neighborhood
Remember, at one-north, it’s never all work and no play. Put your tourist hat on and try out one of these activities:
Get that Instagram-worthy shot
Have you really been to one-north if it isn’t on your Instagram? Grab a picture at the iconic statues around the Metropolis and pose by the graffiti art at Timbre+ to mark your stay in the area. Star Wars fans might want to snap a shot of futuristic, horseshoe-shaped Sandcrawler building inspired by the franchise, and if it’s the old-school views you’re keen on, pop by Wessex for shots with a gorgeous colonial backdrop.
Bask in the Great Outdoors at One-North Park
Source: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves/one-north-park-biopolis
Nature lovers need not stray far to rejuvenate their senses with one-north Park within easy reach. Make the trek to the hilltop plaza for a birds-eye view of the area, or lounge by the waterfall for a relaxing picnic. No matter what you choose, remember to pack some sunscreen!
Scale Greater Heights
Fitness options abound in one-north, but Fit Bloc stands out for being one of the largest indoor fitness and bouldering gyms in the country. There are three rock climbing walls, high wall lanes, a weights room, studio and swimming pool, offering an abundance of fun and fitness options for beginners and advanced climbers alike. As a bonus, shoes and harness rental is also free for first-timers!
Staycay at a Container Hotel
You can’t always hop on a plane to a new island getaway, but you can check yourself into a relaxing staycation. At one-north, there’s no better way to get off the grid than at the Shipping Container Hotel. Called Container No 4 @ one-north, this 40-foot container room has an exterior made of mirrors—making it seem “invisible” from the outside. Throw in free wifi and Netflix, you have almost everything you need to disappear for the weekend.
Feast to Your Heart’s Content
Singapore isn’t called a foodies paradise for nothing. Great food abounds across the island, and one-north is no different. Whether it’s the cafe culture, Asian delicacies or European favorites you seek, you name it, and one-north has it. Here are some highlights:
Timbre+
Think of Timbre+ as an urban food park. You’ll find a wide range of restaurant-grade food and casual eats—all at affordable prices. Highlights include Filipino cuisine at Iskina Cebu, Japanese fare at Teppei Daidokoro, as well as Singaporean hawker favorites like fishball noodles, wanton mee (dumpling noodles) and bak kut teh (a pork broth soup). But what really makes Timbre+ stand out is its entertainment. Look out for the days where there’s live music and other events!
Timbre+ is located at:
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
JTC LaunchPad @ One North
Singapore 139957.
Ristorante Pietrasanta
The place to go for those missing Europe! Founded by two brothers from Tuscany, this is where you’ll find authentic Italian cuisine inspired by the town Pietrasantra. Expect freshly made pasta, amazing burrata, and of course, an incredibly extensive wine list. Reservations recommended!
Restaurante Pietrasanta is located at:
1 Fusionopolis Way
#01-08
Singapore 138632
Jimmy Monkey Cafe
Get a taste of the Melbourne cafe culture at Jimmy Monkey, known for its all-day brunch options, Slayer Espresso Machine and popular coffee blends. It's a reliable spot for your daily cuppa and to indulge in smashed avocado on sourdough toast. The best part? Located at one-north Residences, it’s just a 6-minute walk from ESSEC!
Jimmy Monkey Cafe is located at:
9 One-north Gateway
#01-51 One-North Residences
Singapore 138643
Daehwa Vegetarian Restaurant
Calling k-drama fans! Satisfy your cravings for Jjamppong, Army Stew, Bibimbap, Kimbap and more—only this time, vegetarian-style. As a social enterprise, Daehwa is an advocate for sustainability and supports the fight against climate change with its plant-based menu offerings.
Daehwa Vegetarian Restaurant is located at:
1 Fusionopolis Pl
#01-35 Galaxis
Singapore 138522
Under Der Linden
Located at Portsdown Road, Under Der Linden is a floral-themed restaurant serving up modern French cuisine. Inspired by the medieval German poet, Walther von der Vogelweide, the decor is carefully curated to inspire vibes of love and romance—making it a perfect place to spend time with that special someone in your life.
Under Der Linden is located at:
5B Portsdown Rd
Singapore 139311
How to get to one-north
one-north is easily accessible on the Circle Line.
Splice Barbershop is now opened in One Holland Village to serve the office crowd at One-north. Do visit us at
7 Holland Village Way #03-12 One Holland Village Singapore 275748
