Sun Life Philippines bags LEED Platinum Certification for Commercial Interiors
Proving to be a pioneer of green building in the Philippines, Sun Life Centre, which was built in 2011 at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, recently achieved a LEED Platinum Certification for Commercial Interiors.
The certification focuses on efficient use of energy and providing a healthy working environment for its occupants. It commends the use of green products in the construction, maintenance and housekeeping of interior office spaces.
Sun Life Centre is the first building of Sun Life Financial in the Philippines. It took about a year and a half to conceptualize and another year and a half to construct. Canadian Architecture firm B& H Architure handled the design concept while the detail architecture and engineering were designed by local consultants GF & Partners and Meinhardt for the base building and Goudie Associates for the interiors.
Sun Life Centre used a lot of ‘firsts’ in the Philippines: • Staining product instead of paint for the building façade. The green product has a warranty of 20 years not to peel. Double glazed Low E window glasses, which allow maximum daylight penetration while blocking off heat to save on aircon power consumption. The window glass also reduces noise coming from the outside. Green roof that harvests rainwater for irrigation and for non-potable water use such as toilet flushing. Low- flow toilet fixtures and waterless urinals, as well as rainwater that reduces the building water consumption by as much as 60 percent. Daylight sensors should be occupancy sensors. Daylight sensors auto turn off lights when there is enough daylight. • A highly intelligent building management system that runs all the building equipment automatically based on a set time frame. The construction of this world- class green building is another testament to Sun Life Philippines’ steadfast commitment to sustainability. “Our value of sustainability is not just a mere claim, because we believe that is the most effective when it’s practiced. The Sun Life Centre reaffirms our commitment to Filipinos, for a more secure future, and a life that is brighter under the Sun,” says Sun Life Financial Philippines President and CEO Riza Mantaring.
But the building is just the beginning. Sun Life ensures that this commitment is also embraced by its employees. Proper waste segregation and recycling are part of the building ordinances. In addition, the company sponsors various sports activities to encourage work-life balance among the employees.
Sun Life Foundation is also in partnership with ABSCBN Foundation in the P50million project ‘ Legacy of Light Village’. Together they help informal settlers living in the banks of Pasig River relocate to Laguna and find livelihood. The more than 100 housing units in the Legacy of Light Village have sustainable features.
According to Armand Apuya, Sun Life Financial Philippines Head of Administrative Services, sustainability is no longer an option. “Companies must act today to preserve tomorrow,” he says. “Environmental management is not a pure cost decision as it will generate benefits and returns in the long run.”
A construction like Sun Life Centre no doubt costs more than your usual building, but Apuya believes that this must be the standard. On the operational side, energy and water consumption is lower. More than that, employees and tenants love that majority of the interior space has natural daylight, which, based on studies, energizes occupants and increases productivity. “The biggest payback is that the employees are happy,” he concludes.