Conexus Studio | Manulife Financial Advisers’ new headquarters is a hospitality-inspired workspace that seamlessly blends sophistication with sustainability, creating a future-ready environment for clients and employees alike.
Conexus Studio | When Manulife Financial Advisers (Manulife FA) combined its two offices into a new headquarters at Keppel South Central, the move was as much about culture as logistics. Shaped by the idea of “Celebration,” the relocation signalled a shift: not merely a place to work, but a versatile environment designed to honour success — from its sunlit lounges and flexible collaboration zones to its refined, client-focused meeting areas.
A corridor wall wrapped in large-scale graphics marks a casual meeting point, introducing colour and identity along the circulation route.
The vision was bold: to craft a future-ready workspace where connection, sustainability, and wellbeing take centre stage. The added challenge? To seamlessly merge the refined elegance of a hospitality lounge with the high-performance standards of a Green Mark-certified building. The design responds with a layered interior that balances refinement with adaptability; a dynamic space that effortlessly shifts between daily operations, intimate client consultations, and company-wide events. It is an immersive experience where carefully choreographed spatial transitions and social hubs nurture a collective spirit, creating a welcoming atmosphere that supports both client engagement and team collaboration.
Architecting Prestige and Versatility
Manulife Financial Advisers sought a workplace that embodied both its heritage and its ambition. The new office tells a compelling story of this journey — rooted in professionalism while embracing innovations. Its architecture conveys a sense of stability and trust to clients, while inspiring employees to explore new strategies and seize opportunities with confidence.
A dark stone table and sculptural chandelier centre the executive meeting room, set against a backdrop of warm timber joinery.
Visitors are immediately struck by the interplay of lush finishes, soft curves, and precise lines — a deliberate design choice that tempers the formality of corporate architecture. The material palette exudes richness, with warm timber, stone, and marble evoking a sense of permanence, while black-framed glass and brushed gold accents define the space with understated elegance. Layered lighting adapts seamlessly to the room’s purpose, shifting from the crisp brightness needed for training sessions to the warm sophistication of evening events. Privacy is achieved with subtlety — reeded glass screens create quiet zones, striking a balance between openness and retreat.
At the heart of Manulife FA’s office is the front-of-house, a showcase of practical flexibility. Conceived as a modular zone, it can transform to host any occasion. Operable walls allow the reception area, client meeting rooms, and training spaces to merge into a single, highly versatile hub. This flexibility expands Manulife FA’s capacity to host everything from daily consultations to large-scale events.
Workstations and lounge seating share a continuous space, where soft lighting and perimeter greenery introduce a quieter rhythm to the floor.
At its centre, an in-house work café serves barista-quality coffee and refreshments, further enhancing the hospitality-centric experience for both the team and visitors. Premium finishes — from patterned flooring to sustainable wall materials — give the area a polished look that balances the demands of regular use with a quietly sophisticated atmosphere.
A Commitment to Responsible Growth
Sustainability is not just a tagline but is embedded in the design’s focus on seamless integration and long-term adaptability. In a thoughtful move, high-quality furniture from the previous offices was incorporated into the new space. This decision not only reduced waste but also allowed the organisation to carry a meaningful element of its past culture into its new chapter, demonstrating responsible stewardship of resources.
Window-side seating frames views through the structural façade, creating a quiet spot to pause while daylight filters into the interior.
The sustainability focus extends to energy efficiency, with smart occupancy sensors optimising lighting and reducing long-term energy consumption. The design also embodies Manulife FA’s people-first values, promoting wellbeing and inclusion through a variety of quiet and collaborative work zones, abundant natural light, and ergonomic furnishings.
Biophilic elements, such as greenery and natural textures, are integrated throughout, while amenities like nursing rooms ensure all employees feel valued and supported. Anchored in the company’s core principles, this new headquarters sets the stage for Manulife FA’s next chapter — a space that strengthens trust, supports confident collaboration, and reflects an organisation that is reliable, welcoming, and ready for the future.
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
Project: Manulife Financial Advisers
Location: Singapore
Size: 54,072 sqft
Design Studio: Conexus Studio
Photo Credit: Kelvin Cuff and Conexus Studio
Website: conexus.sg
