PUB staff kicked off the new year in 2007 with a spanking new office.

After 30 years at Somerset Road, PUB moved to the Environment Building at Scotts Road in January. The move is strategic as it brings together the two statutory boards under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) under one roof. Previously, MEWR and its other statutory board the National Environment Agency (NEA) were located at the Environment Building while PUB operated out of the SP Building in Somerset Road.

"The former Ministry of Environment was renamed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in 2004 to reflect its significantly expanded role in charge of a strategic national resource. Since then, we have been working closely with MEWR and NEA on many fronts.

"The consolidation of the whole MEWR family in one location will foster even better working relationships," said PUB's Chief Executive, Khoo Teng Chye.

The departure from SP Building also helps to clarify PUB's role as the national water agency, which no longer handles electricity and gas services since 1995.

The new office is designed to foster closer working relationships and facilitate ready exchanges of ideas. Adopting an open office layout, the office spatial plan provides more common spaces for group discussions.

Staff also got into the act by taking part in the Best Office competition to create an office that meets their working needs and comfort levels. The new office essentially promotes greater communication and connectivity not just among PUB staff, but also for business partners to congregate, collaborate and contribute ideas.

"The open office concept allows us to interact freely with our colleagues... a great way to exchange ideas, act as each other's sounding boards, and feel the warmth and concern of our colleagues," said Angela Lim from Corporate Development.

By DIANA CHEONG