Helios, Biopolis
A private-sector anchor building within Singapore’s flagship Biopolis biomedical R&D cluster at one-north.
Street-level view of Helios, Biopolis, 11 Biopolis Way, Singapore 138667. Imagery: Google Street View (user-contributed imagery), accessed August 2026.
Project Overview
Location & Connectivity
Helios sits at the heart of Biopolis, the biomedical sciences precinct that anchors the western end of one-north in Buona Vista. Along with Chromos, it is one of two Phase 1 buildings in the seven-tower, sky-bridge-linked cluster earmarked for private-sector occupiers, while the remaining five house A*STAR’s public research institutes. The address places it within a purpose-built research campus rather than a generic business park, which shapes both the tenant profile and the way the building is used day to day.
Connectivity is a genuine strength. Buona Vista MRT (East-West and Circle lines) and one-north MRT (Circle Line) both sit within a short walk, giving direct rail access into the CBD, Jurong East and Changi corridors without a car. Vehicle access runs via North Buona Vista Road and Commonwealth Avenue, both of which feed quickly onto the Ayer Rajah Expressway for onward travel to the airport, Jurong Innovation District or the city centre. Shuttle and shared basement parking within the Biopolis cluster reduce the need for a personal parking lot on most working days.
The immediate surrounds are dense with amenities built for a research workforce rather than retail shoppers: campus cafés, casual F&B such as Mealbox by Fusion Bistro, and a NTUC FairPrice supermarket within reasonable walking distance. For heavier retail or grocery runs, Holland Road Shopping Centre and The Star Vista are a short drive or MRT hop away, and the precinct’s proximity to the National University of Singapore, NUH and the Singapore Science Park reinforces its position within a broader innovation corridor.
Location of Helios, Biopolis. Map data: Google Maps, accessed August 2026.
Building & Facilities
Helios rises seven storeys above two shared basement levels that link the entire Biopolis Phase 1 cluster, allowing tenants to move between buildings under cover and to share back-of-house infrastructure such as loading, waste handling and mechanical plant. Floor plates are generously sized for a research campus, built with the higher floor-to-floor heights and floor loading capacities that lab and pilot-production tenants typically require, rather than the lighter specifications of a conventional CBD office tower.
Because the building was purpose-built for biomedical R&D, base infrastructure historically includes provisions for lab gas, fume exhaust risers and enhanced power capacity in designated zones, alongside conventional office fit-out in the balance of each floor. Common facilities across the cluster include basement car parking, loading bays, and campus-wide security and access control consistent with a controlled research environment. Fit-out condition varies significantly by unit depending on the previous tenant’s use — some floors retain wet-lab infrastructure, others have been reinstated to shell-and-core or Cat-A office condition.
Given the building’s age (completed 2003) and its specialised lab-linked services, prospective buyers or tenants should commission a technical due-diligence review of mechanical, electrical and exhaust systems, and confirm with JTC or the current landlord which floors retain lab-grade infrastructure versus standard office fit-out before committing to a specific unit.
Unit Types & Floor Plan Notes
Space at Helios is typically leased or sold in a mix of formats reflecting its dual role as a research building and a business park office asset. The four broad categories below give a general sense of what is usually available; exact configurations depend on which floors are on the market at any given time.
≈750 – 1,200 sq ft
Entry-level office or admin suites suited to start-ups, satellite teams or back-office functions supporting a larger lab operation elsewhere in the building.
≈2,000 – 4,000 sq ft
The most commonly transacted size band, typically configured as a blend of open office, meeting rooms and light lab or QC space for growing biomedical teams.
≈1,500 – 3,500 sq ft
Units retaining or capable of supporting wet or dry lab infrastructure, with existing exhaust risers and reinforced power distribution.
≈8,000 – 12,000 sq ft
Whole-floor takes for regional R&D headquarters or anchor tenants requiring dedicated reception, meeting facilities and contiguous lab-office space.
Investment Case
Helios occupies a scarce position in the Singapore commercial market: a private-sector-designated building embedded within a public biomedical research campus. That positioning brings both structural advantages and constraints that a buyer or tenant should weigh carefully before committing.
What Works
- Direct co-location with A*STAR institutes and biomedical MNCs supports genuine research collaboration and talent access.
- Dual MRT access via Buona Vista and one-north stations is rare for a business park asset.
- Purpose-built lab infrastructure on select floors commands a specialised, less price-sensitive tenant pool.
- Shared basement, loading and security infrastructure across the cluster reduces individual operating overhead.
- Precinct-wide growth of one-north as an innovation district supports long-run demand for biomedical space.
What to Weigh Carefully
- Building age (completed 2003) means M&E and lab systems on some floors may need near-term upgrading.
- Use is restricted to permitted business park activities; general commercial or retail use is not allowed.
- Remaining lease tenure directly affects bank financing quantum and eventual resale value.
- Liquidity is thinner than CBD strata office, since buyer pools are largely limited to biomedical and R&D occupiers.
- Specialised lab fit-out in existing units can raise reinstatement costs for tenants with a purely office-based use.
Who This Suits
Helios is best suited to biomedical, pharmaceutical and life-sciences companies that value proximity to A*STAR research institutes and the wider Biopolis ecosystem over a CBD address — from early-stage biotech start-ups needing lab-ready space to regional R&D or clinical affairs teams of larger pharma groups. It also works for flexible-workspace operators and professional services firms serving the biomedical cluster, given the strong dual-MRT access. It is less suited to retail-facing businesses, general commercial offices with no research use case, or investors seeking a highly liquid strata asset with a broad resale buyer pool, given the building’s specialised zoning and tenant base.