Take time to think through your needs before you begin searching. 

• People count now and expected headcount in 12–18 months. 
• Preferred work model: fully in-office, hybrid, or project-based. 
• Must-have amenities: meeting rooms, phone booths, breakout areas, pantry, secure storage. 
• Flexibility: Do you need month-to-month flexibility, or are you ready for a multi-year commitment?

Clarifying these details helps you save hours of viewing in inadequate spaces and allows you to filter options. It also identifies if a coworking format, serviced office or conventional lease will be better for you.

Renowned as the “Wall Street” of Singapore, Shenton Way has the concentration of giant banks, law firms, and multinational headquarters. Shenton Way carries legitimacy in the address, which can enhance the way your clients perceive your bid and your brand. Shenton Way is also in the Downtown Core, which is no more than minutes from Marina Bay, Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar.

From a transportation viewpoint, this is a huge plus. The Shenton Way MRT station on the Thomson–East Coast Line has direct lines into many residential neighborhoods, and if you want to go further afield, other stations such as Tanjong Pagar or Downtown will take you wherever you’d like. For those driving in, the proximity of the expressways also makes a difference.

There is an abundance of amenities in the neighborhood: fine-dining establishments for client lunches, mid-range restaurants for quick meals, fitness studios to keep your wellness top of mind, and hotels for partners or executives who may be visiting.

Startups & micro-teams: A coworking space in Singapore provides in-house comforts at plug-and-play convenience, networking connections, and low upfront costs.

Growing SMEs: A Serviced office gives you privacy and the supported services of reception, IT support and cleaning, leaving space for you to grow the company. 

Established corporates: A direct lease in a Grade-A building along Shenton Way provides branding opportunities, custom layouts, and the ability to lock in prime space for years.

There is also a trend of hybridising arrangements: a company may have its HQ and lease an office space but keep a small footprint with a coworking space for overflow teams or project work.

It’s easy to think about rent alone, but the “true” monthly cost also includes service charges, utilities, furniture, cleaning, IT, and ongoing maintenance.

Typically, coworking spaces would have a single total cost and will require traditional office leases to have each item budgeted individually so that landlords can ascertain an accurate cost of their occupancy. Don’t forget to also allocate additional costs for fit-out, and plan for delays and cost overruns if you have a long-term lease.

When inspecting the spaces:

• Check for meeting room availability and any limits on booking. 
• Ask about reception service level, visitor check-in process and security at the building. 
• Consider a floorplate that has flexibility, particularly in the event you expand. 
• Consider access to services in the area (e.g., eating, gym and childcare options).
• Consider natural light, ventilation, and acoustics—these will affect work productivity at the premises.  

Make sure you visit the area at different times of day to see traffic volumes and the lift wait-times and noise levels. 

While negotiating your structure leasing term there may be an opportunity to ask for rent-free periods, fit-out contributions, lower deposits, and an early exit cause for unpresidential events. For coworking memberships, you may want to verify notice periods, meeting rooms, and printing costs.

Avoid contracts with vague maintenance provisions or escalation clauses that you do not understand. If you are unsure, ask a local broker or legal advisor to review terms before signing signatures.

To ensure a seamless move-in, start planning weeks in advance:

• Confirm lead times for IT cabling and activation of internet service. 
• Schedule access cards and orientation for security measures. 
• Test AV systems in meeting rooms. 
• Provide an emergency contact list with the staff. 
• Prepare a welcome kit for easy transition and positive day. 

If your priorities for your space are speed, flexibility, and minimal setup costs, start with a coworking space or serviced office in Shenton Way. Down the road when the operations are stable, move into a private lease that has flexibility for growth. 

If brand presence and prestige from day one is necessary for client-facing aspects of the business, secure a direct lease in a Grade-A building, but negotiate terms with flexibility.

Finding the right office space in Shenton Way is not just about a place to work – but the right strategic base that can elevate your brand, attract talent and support future growth.

Shenton Way is widely recognised as Singapore’s premier business corridor. Shenton Way generally attracts companies who want to showcase visibility, accessibility, and an address with a premium designation. In this guide, we take you through every step of executing the right workspace from a needs assessment, to negotiating a lease, and moving in.

We offer options that you are considering whether a coworking space in Singapore, serviced office, or a longer-term back-to-back private lease in Shenton Way. You will find a comprehensive set of practical tips, considerations of cost and inspection checklists to ensure that you choose the right office space in Shenton Way.