Premium office tower boosts interest in Ortigas
The Ortigas business district is experiencing a revival with the construction of top-grade office buildings such as Exquadra Tower on main thoroughfare Exchange Road.
The 38-story curtain-walled structure leads a number of prime buildings that will be completed in the next two years in this major business district strategically accessible to most residential labor pools and to Metro Manila’s largest business centers.
According to Miguel Manipol, associate director at real estate services firm Leechiu Property Consultants, the biggest supply of new office buildings in the capital within the next five years will come from the Ortigas, Mandaluyong and Pasig areas.
“The availability of prime projects like Exquadra Tower has sparked the interest of corporate occupiers once more in this highly accessible area,” he observed.
He disclosed that many growing businesses seeking to upgrade their spaces as well as expanding BPO firms had inquired about Exquadra Tower which recently marked its topping off ceremony. The building boasts of high energy efficiency, and is pre-Certified LEED Platinum. It is the first in the country to utilize stateof-the-art magnetic chillers for its airconditioning system. It is also provisioned with EV Charging Stations anticipating the advent of electric cars.
Exquadra’s environment-friendly features also include facilities for paper waste recycling, can and bottle recycling. More significantly, the building is equipped with facilities to recycle its waste water in an effort to decrease water usage.
The building with a total gross leasable area of 57,000 sqm was designed by global architectural firm Arquitectonica. It will be distinguished by its graphic façade
that appears to project a drop of oil, a reference to the business line of project owner Exquadra, Inc., known for its clean range of fuels. The glass-clad structure will carry Arquitectonica’s signature style, a dramatic, expressive form of modernism.
The building is expected to be occupied by 6,000 to 8,000 employees upon completion. Tenants will have easy access to the myriad shops and restaurants of Ortigas Center and to the various public transportation facilities that service the area including shuttle vans to many residential areas of the metropolis.
Manipol cited how the building appeals to diverse clients. It has been engineered to meet the needs of BPOs for round-the-clock operations. It also offers large floor plates from 1,600 sqm to 2,200 sqm preferred by firms in the BPO space. At the same time, its fine finishes have caught the attention of business executives seeking a prestigious business address.