Customer Success Feature
Statestreet's Grobrix farm is on the 24th floor of Capital Tower in Singapore and produces a fresh harvest every 3 weeks.
For global financial institutions, the modern workplace has moved beyond being a mere site for transactions; it has become the social fabric of the firm and a primary stage for corporate values. At State Street’s office in Singapore, Ralph Davies, Vice President, Head of Real Estate (APAC ex. India), found a way to bridge the gap between technical sustainability requirements to obtain BCA Green Mark Platinum and the lived experience of his team
Making Sustainability Tangible
In Singapore’s competitive real estate landscape, environmental impact is measured by the BCA Green Mark, with Platinum certification representing the highest tier of resource efficiency. Securing this status is notoriously difficult and requires a holistic approach to sustainable office management. Working with CBRE Paia Consulting, State Street identified Grobrix vertical farms as a way to make these technical environmental efforts both visible and tactile for their employees.
Ralph Davies explains that the decision was inspired by seeing a peer organization use Grobrix to score points toward their own certification. "I wanted to strive for that same level of attainment, and it was about piecing those elements together to achieve our own Platinum status," he says. In a framework where every strategic point counts, the Grobrix system provided the necessary edge to clear final hurdles. Davies notes that without these activities, the firm would have struggled to meet even the prerequisites for Gold status, let alone Platinum.
"I got talking to a peer in Corporate Real Estate whose organisation used Grobrix to score points toward their BCA Green Mark certification,” Ralph explains. “I wanted to strive for that same level of attainment, and it was about piecing those elements together to achieve our own Platinum status."
Ralph Davies, Vice President, Head of APAC Real Estate, State Street
Cultivating Community Through Regular Harvests
One of the most persistent challenges for any large-scale organization is building a genuine sense of belonging. State Street operates with five distinct legal entities on a single floor, a structure that can naturally lead to departmental silos. The introduction of regular Grobrix harvests has served as a social anchor, physically drawing people together and turning the office pantry into a genuine common ground.
The impact on internal networking has been significant. "We have multiple business lines with some segregation across the floor, and sometimes staff won't have met before," Davies explains. These harvests provide a low-pressure opportunity for employees to interact and start conversations that may not have otherwise occurred. The initiative has resonated particularly well with younger employees and interns, who frequently engage with the harvests and share their experiences on professional networks like LinkedIn.
Wellness Strategy with a Healthy Twist
Beyond providing a static aesthetic, the Grobrix walls serve as an interactive platform for State Street’s broader wellness strategy. The office has moved beyond passive greenery to host hands-on events that involve the team in the practical side of healthy living. Highlights include smoothie-making workshops where employees blend drinks using greens grown just steps from their desks, and Family Day events where children step into the role of urban farmers.
This "farm-to-table" programming offers an authentic reason for employees to return to the office, turning a regular afternoon into a peak occupancy event centered around community.
Across the broader Grobrix network, feedback from over 400 corporate employees highlights the significant impact of indoor farming on the workplace:
93% of employees agree that Grobrix helps cultivate a sense of workplace community and fosters stronger social relationships.
98% highlight a measurable shift toward healthier eating habits, with fresh produce becoming woven into the daily office culture.
96% recognize a direct uplift in their mental well-being, reporting that these green spaces serve as calming and restorative environments.
97% confirm that the presence of the farm walls sparks a sustainability mindset, encouraging more eco-conscious practices in their everyday lives.
State Street
Farm data
Farm status
Online
Next harvest
5 days
Weeks Active
180
Fresh Produce Harvested
246 Kilograms
Plastic Wrappers Saved
42,987
Food Waste Prevented
12.3 Litres
Water Preserved
128 Kilograms
Top Crops
Kale, Pesto, Basil
State Street's Grobrix farm saves over 1200 single use plastic wrappers each year
Across our farm network, that number rises to half a million per year
High Value, Minimal Footprint, and Global Potential
From a facilities management perspective, the Grobrix solution offers a high return on investment by maximizing the value of underutilized office space. In high-density environments where square footage is at a premium, the system proves that sustainability does not have to be complex or bulky. Davies describes it as a "high-value, low-impact solution" that is operationally "low-touch" while ticking a wide variety of strategic boxes.
The success of the Singapore installation is now serving as a proof of concept for State Street’s global operations. The Real Estate team in Boston is currently exploring the integration of Grobrix into their flagship headquarters at 1 Congress Street. By transforming office walls into productive living systems, State Street has created a scalable model that reduces food miles, prevents food waste, and ensures corporate ESG commitments are a "lived experience" shared by every employee.
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