Nine air-conditioned work-study pods have been installed over the weekend at three HDB void decks in Boon Lay and Jurong West. The pods are located at
Nine air-conditioned work-study pods have been installed over the weekend at three HDB void decks in Boon Lay and Jurong West. The pods are located at 183C Boon Lay Avenue, 260 Boon Lay Drive, and 674B Jurong West Street 65, with three pods at each location.
National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced on Facebook that this installation is a collaboration between the Housing and Development Board (HDB), Burztech (a company specializing in urban smart space solutions), the People’s Association (PA), and Boon Lay community volunteers. The pods are part of a one-year pilot trial aimed at exploring new flexible work models that support work-from-home or work-away-from-office arrangements.
Pod Features
Each pod is designed to offer a quiet and conducive environment for one to two people to work, study, or attend virtual meetings. The pods are equipped with sound insulation, LED lights, air conditioning, WiFi connectivity, two power sockets, and USB charging points. The furniture inside the pods has an antibacterial coating for added hygiene.
To ensure security, the pods are monitored by CCTVs and feature a magnetic door lock system that can only be operated by the user during their booked time.
Booking and Pricing
The pods can be booked via the Burzt mobile app. As part of the launch promotion, the rate is currently S$0.06 per minute, or S$3.60 per hour. After October 10, the rate will increase to S$0.075 per minute, which works out to S$4.50 per hour. Users can top up the app’s wallet and pay for bookings via PayNow.
Additionally, there are free-to-use pods available at Keat Hong Community Centre in Choa Chu Kang, which can also be booked through the app.
Supporting Students from Lower-Income Households
Minister Lee highlighted that students from lower-income households have been identified to receive free credits to book these pods for study purposes. A total of 25 students from Boon Lay were given 35 hours of credit worth over S$150 each, valid until December 2022. These credits were sponsored by the Boon Lay Community Development and Welfare Fund.
This pilot is one of several similar initiatives across Singapore, including trials at PA Community Clubs, commercial buildings, and Resident Network centres. Other pods are also being tested at Clementi and Bukit Timah community centres, as well as within Residents’ Committee centres.
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