The need for resilient and future-proof urban districts has never been more critical in this time of climate change. Cities around the world are rethinking how they can build sustainably, to balance business with long-term environmental goals. At the Kuala Lumpur-Shanghai Climate Action Forum 2025, TRX City, the master developer of Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) - Malaysia’s International Financial Centre, stood out as a prime example for sustainable urban development.
The forum, held on 14th April at Menara Affin in TRX, was a platform for the cities of Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai to present the latest solutions and emerging technologies to combat climate change, and strategies for building climate-resilient cities.
During the Kuala Lumpur-Shanghai Climate Action Forum 2025, policy makers, climate-tech experts, and attendees, gained insights from leading companies such as ALIBABA Group, Johnson Control-Hitachi, and SF Group who shared their respective innovative solutions in green cloud intelligence, HVAC technology, and sustainable supply chains.
On the urban development front, the representative from Shanghai highlighted the city’s carbon transformation journey, while Kuala Lumpur’s representative spoke about Malaysia’s climate vulnerability and the importance of designing resilient cities.
District-Wide Conservation Measures
TRX incorporates ESG principles into every layer of its design, covering infrastructure and building design to pedestrian mobility, and the generous allocation of green spaces for community well-being.
A key milestone in TRX’s ESG journey is its state-of-the-art wastewater treatment and recycling plant, a collaboration with Veolia Water Technologies. It is the first fully integrated commercial wastewater treatment plant in Southeast Asia. The facility is capable of cutting down potable water demand by 50%, and treated water is utilised for cooling, irrigation, and flushing. Complementing this initiative is a smart irrigation system for the TRX public realm where it optimises sprinkler run-time based on the local weather.
TRX has also implemented advanced monitoring systems with sensors on potable water, sewer, and treated water networks. These sensors track water quality and consumption, identify potential leakages, and minimise disruptions, ensuring efficient resource management.
The district also deploys digital power meters that capture data for energy monitoring and management. This system provides insights into usage patterns, enabling continuous optimisation. To further reduce its carbon footprint, TRX has installed solar panels across its walkways along Jalan Utara. The rooftop solar panels reduce reliance on conventional power sources.
The equipment and systems used across TRX are merged into a single operation platform known as the TRX Integrated Management System (TIMS), allowing for real-time monitoring and optimised resource utilisation for the district.
Energy-Efficient Buildings
Beyond district-wide infrastructure, TRX’s buildings are individually designed with sustainability features that ensure the comfort of its occupants, while minimising energy consumption and environmental impact. For example, in the financial quarter, the iconic Exchange 106 is designed with a colour-changing crown, which is built with double-glazed glass and a vacuum in the middle to insulate against external heat. A UV coating further reduces heat penetration by 40%, lowering the need for extensive air conditioning. In combatting the urban heat island effect, Exchange 106 utilises open-grid pavement systems and heat-reducing materials with a high solar reflectance index (SRI) for its non-roof hardscapes.
In Menara Affin, the HQ of Affin Bank, the building employs a modern curtain wall system with low-emissivity insulated glazing to reduce infrared and ultraviolet light penetration which ultimately lowers solar heat gain. Menara Affin also features biophilic design with a roof garden and terraces for workers’ well-being. Meanwhile, Menara IQ utilises advanced chilled beam air conditioning system, high-performance double glazing façade, and locally sourced materials.
On the north-west side of the district, Menara Prudential uses an AI-driven building management system to monitor and optimise lighting and temperature. These energy-efficient building designs demonstrate TRX’s holistic approach to sustainability at both the infrastructure and operational levels.
All buildings in TRX adhere to a design and development code to ensure the alignment in sustainability goals. It is also a requirement for all present and future office buildings in TRX to achieve a minimum gold certification either from Green Building Index (GBI) or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Pedestrian-Friendly Design with Public Transport Integration
The TRX master plan has always prioritised pedestrian mobility. This is supported by the seamless integration with the MRT, encouraging public transport usage. The district hosts the only MRT interchange station in the city centre, linking TRX to 64 stops across Klang Valley. With over a million riders per month and approximately 50,000 daily footfalls, the TRX MRT station significantly reduces vehicle dependency and promotes a low-carbon lifestyle while keeping commuters active and healthy.
The pedestrian experience is further enhanced by a network of walkways that connects the district. TRX is intentionally built to be open, ensuring high permeability within and beyond its boundaries. One example of this is extension of the Bukit Bintang shopping belt via Jalan Gading, making it easy for shoppers to traverse between TRX and Bukit Bintang, as well as open plazas and green spaces to encourage walking and cycling.
TRX City Park - An Urban Oasis
At the heart of TRX lies the 10-acre TRX City Park, an urban green oasis designed to enhance biodiversity and community well-being. As the first major public park in the city in over two decades, it integrates seamlessly with retail, office, and leisure spaces, promoting a balanced work-life experience. The park is home to over 180,000 plantings from more than 190 different species of shrubs, trees, and ground cover, with approximately 95% being native and indigenous.
The varied planting palette mirrors Malaysia’s biodiversity, creating a natural corridor for birds, butterflies, and bees. With passive and active recreational areas including serene water ponds, walking trails, and interactive children’s play zones, the park is designed to support physical and mental well-being. The open spaces of the park also serve as a venue for global arts and cultural events. The TRX City Park is part of the larger TRX public realm designed with people in mind in terms of space, playscape, and landscape. It is versatile in use, while being a green lung for the city.
