Spanning 50ha in the North East region of the island, the Punggol Digital District is Singapore’s first smart district. It’s a sustainable technology business park that houses major tech firms, a mall, a school campus, and soon, a hotel. Here’s everything you need to know about this district when you visit it as it becomes fully operational in 2026.
Image credit: JTC
The Punggol Digital District uses an operating system developed by JTC and GovTech, named the Open Digital Platform (ODP). It monitors and controls real-time conditions of various locations within the business park, which allows different systems to work together on a central platform, from lifts and escalators to air-conditioning and smart robots. At the command post, all system activity and data will be collected and visualised on screens and a 3D replica of the district.
Image credit: JTC
Through AI and machine learning, smart sensors can save energy by automatically adjusting indoor conditions. For instance, lights and air conditioning automatically turn off when an office is empty.
The ODP also lets creators tap into the platform for plug-and-play ideas that encourage collaboration and contribution to the district.
Image credit: JTC
The Punggol Digital District is not just pretty; it’s designed sustainably with a main focus on technology and green spaces. An example is Tower 86. Instead of steel beams, it was constructed with mass-engineered timber, which is a renewable material. Like many of the other buildings in the district, it’s North-South aligned to allow natural daylight to fill its spaces throughout the year. Its triangular design also encourages natural ventilation, which cools certain areas without the need for air-conditioning.
Image credit: JTC
Tower 86 is only one of the many buildings that focus on sustainability. To top it all off, solar panels were installed on the roofs of many buildings to power the district. Punngol Digital District also reduces food waste by turning it into fertilisers, and filters rainwater through gardens and eco-ponds to irrigate the many green spaces.
Image credit: JTC
The most iconic feature of the Punggol Digital District is the aesthetic red bridge that connects you to various landmarks within the district. It’s a 2km loop bridge, offering views of the many green spaces, such as Coney Island.
If you’re planning an active day out from the East, consider cycling from Pasir Ris to Coney Island, and from there, you’ll only be a bridge away from the Punggol Digital District. And for those taking the train, everything is less than a 5-minute walk the moment you exit the station.
Image credit: JTC
The most popular landmark in the Punggol Digital District that you might already be familiar with is the Punggol Coast Mall. There are many eateries for students, workers, and visitors, such as Café&Meal MUJI, Astons, and Sushi-GO – a sushi restaurant with robot servers. There are also beauty and wellness stores, tuition centres, and a FairPrice Finest.
In-store navigation (left) & The Grocer Bar (right).
This isn’t your typical FairPrice, as the FairPrice Finest at Punggol Coast Mall is the world’s first Generative AI (Gen-AI)-powered supermarket. There are also smart carts with interactive displays that provide in-store navigation, and The Grocer Bar, which serves drinks and cocktails.
Image credit: KZ Seet via Google Maps
A 2-minute walk from the Punggol Coast MRT station will lead you to the Punggol Coast Hawker Centre. With over 40 stalls, including Michelin-recognised eateries, there’s something for everyone. Popular stalls include South Buona Vista Braised Duck, Pin Wei Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun, and the Michelin Bib Gourmand Singapore Fried Hokkien Mee.
If you’ve seen photos of the red bridge at the Punggol Digital District and wondered what it was, it’s actually part of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) Punggol Campus. Striving to be a University of Applied Learning, it makes sense to have students and industry integrated within the district, even allowing students to tap into the ODP. Even if you’re not a student, certain areas of the SIT Pungol Campus are accessible to the public.
Image credit: JTC
Stroll along the Campus Boulevard – an 800m walkway connecting the whole district. There will also be a 1.3km green Heritage Trail set to be completed by the end of 2026, which will be through the old Punggol Road linking Punggol Waterway Park to Punggol Promenade. If you’re looking for F&B options, head to Foodgle Hub and Wholesome by Food Canopy on campus.
Image credit: JTC
Even before all of the buildings in the Punggol Digital District were fully up and running, at least 65% of the office spaces were snapped up by tech companies. Some tenants include GovTech, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, dConstruct, and banks like UOB and OCBC, with both banks setting up innovation hubs for fintech and other smart technologies.
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Image adapted from: JTC
Robotics firm dConstruct plans to use its space to test robots that can specialise in deliveries and surveillance. Having the ODP operating within the district also allows them to tap into it for navigation and other real-world testing.
Artist’s impression of the upcoming hotel at the Punggol Digital District.
Image credit: JTC
Currently, there’s an empty 208-room building facing Coney Island, with plans to turn it into a hotel or service apartment for business travellers. Having it as a “shell” allows potential investors to shape the building based on their needs. While not much information about the hotel is out yet, one thing we can be sure of is that it will also be well-connected with the rest of the district.
The best way to get to the Punggol Digital District is via the train. Take the MRT to the last stop of the North East Line, Punggol Coast MRT Station, and you’ll be in the heart of the district. For those taking the bus, hop on bus services 34, 104, and 117, and alight at the last stop, Punggol Coast Bus Interchange.
If you still think of the Punggol area as an ulu kampong, the Punggol Digital District shows us that it’s far from that. It’s now the blueprint of how future districts in Singapore can look and how a place can be technologically advanced while still being green. So, whether you stay at Clementi or Tampines, it’s time to plan a short trip to the North East to experience the future.
For more things to do in Punggol:
Cover image adapted from: JTC
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