Sustainable university to rise in the South

Sustainable and eco-friendly designs are emerging architectural developments as these become a standard among companies and organizations to help conserve energy and resources, and to promote cost efficiency.

According to architect Carmelo Casas, sustainable or green architecture is not just a trend, but rather a practice that should be observed in constructing any building whether it be an office, residential, commercial or institutional establishment. His deep understanding of architecture, and standards and values in the field were formed from years of training and practice in Hong Kong working with multinational corporations.

‘Sustainability means to make a building function as it is designed more than the years it is expected to withstand, while green architecture is a necessity to care for the environment by using energy-efficient de- signs, processes and methodologies. We, at Casas+Architects, take it seriously to incorporate sustainable and green architecture in all our projects,’ explained Casas.

Currently, Casas works as the president and CEO of Casas+Architects, one of the top architectural firms in the country. He leads his team in creating buildings with style that are in sync with their natural environment. Their latest project is the new Far Eastern University (FEU) campus which will soon rise in Filinvest City, Alabang.

Far Eastern University entrusted the architectural design and master planning of its sixth campus to Casas+Architects. Situated in a 1.8hectare lot that can accommodate up to 18,000 students, FEU Alabang is envisioned to be a sustainable structure for the modern century and beyond.

The facilities of FEU Alabang are modern yet iconic in design, taking advantage of the orientation of the sun and prevailing wind direction to conserve energy for light and ventilation. The campus makes the most of its natural environment by applying soft landscaping and foliage to preserve the environment.

The biggest challenge was to create a structure over an existing terrain of two hills with a concrete road in between. As a solution, the buildings will be elevated nine meters above the road to minimize excavation and to limit cutting of trees.

FEU Alabang is a vertical campus with a 15-floor academic building that houses the laboratory and classrooms for Science and IT programs, and a seven-storey administration building that contains an auditorium and centralized library.

Other features that make FEU Alabang sustainable include accessibility to transportation with designated bus stops, close proximity to malls and other establishments, and a multipurpose building.

By incorporating a sustainable and eco-friendly architectural design, the university strengthens its commitment to preserve the environment.