Leading the sustainable transformation of Cebu’s skyline
TO SHOWCASE how the skyline of Cebu is undergoing a major transition towards environmentally responsible designs and resource-efficient building methods, ArthaLand Corporation (ALCO) together with Hong Kong-based investment firm ARCH Capital and the Urban Land institute (ULI) organized a business forum at the Cebu Exchange Gallery in Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City. The event was well-attended by members of the media, guests from the real estate sector and other industry stakeholders.
BIG, BETTER AND BERDE
The forum, titled Big, Better and Berde: How Cebu is becoming the new hub for sustainable developments in
the Philippines, focused on promoting and sharing green and sustainable building practices in the Philippines. Guest speakers talked about the advantages of utilizing innovative building designs while also reflecting concerns about economy, utility, durability and comfort. Properties who employ green building practices are cordially given either the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or Building Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) certification.
Raymond Rufino, ULI Philippine national council and the Philippine Green Building Council chairman, shared that “the trend of sustainable spaces and green buildings is not only geared towards attracting investors, but most importantly, targets the improvement to the quality of life and propel businesses forward.”
For his part, ARCH Capital’s Investment and Asset Management director Jonathan Umali underscored how the thriving Philippine economy is also spurring a sustainable building trend where businesses and tenants are slowly realizing the benefits of green real estate. He said that tenants are always looking for ways to take advantage of the cost-efficient features and promote corporate social responsibility towards the environment.
Meanwhile, Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc. director Phillip Añonuevo enumerated Cebu’s growing infrastructure in preparation for the expected boom in the real estate sector, namely; the newly opened Mactan Cebu International Terminal; the third bridge link between Mactan, Cebu City and Cordova; and the Bus Rail Transit (BRT) system.
CEBU EXCHANGE: THE GREEN SKYSCRAPER IN THE SOUTH
Key part of the business forum was the presentation of ArthaLand Corporation EVP and treasurer Leo Po who discussed the outstanding green features of Cebu Exchange, ArthaLand’s first property development outside of Metro Manila.
Poised to change the workscape environment in Cebu’s foremost commercial hub, Cebu Exchange is located at Salinas Drive, the gateway to the Cebu lT Park that boasted a one percent vacancy rate from total current gross leasable area in 2017. The initial concrete pouring of the Cebu Exchange last May signaled its arrival in the Cebu skyline as a stunning landmark, ArthaLand’s official entry into the thriving business ecosystem of the area.
With 39 stories of mixed-use commercial and office space built upon prime real estate, Cebu Exchange will be the biggest green building in the Philippines with a projected size of 109,000 square meters. It will also feature green elements such as efficient building envelope, water efficient plumbing system, lowenergy air-conditioning system, efficient lighting system, use of low-emitting materials and allocation for Low-Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicle (LEFEV) parking. The green project is currently on track to meet the highest certifications in both LEED and BERDE when completed and become one of the tallest skyscrapers within the Cebu IT Park.
INSPIRED BY SALT CRYSTALS
Aside from the scale of the project, Po also discussed ArthaLand’s design inspiration behind Cebu Exchange, explaining that the location of the project, Salinas Drive, became the stimulus behind the building’s geometric design, interlocking cubes resembling salt crystals to form the tower’s crystalline mass. “ArthaLand is committed to deliver bestin-class and sustainable developments, that not only add to the bottom line, but also are visual assets to the city’s skyline,” Po concluded.
For inquiries about the Cebu Exchange property, call (032) 236-1888 or (0917) 312-8111, e-mail ask@arthaland.com, or visit www. arthaland.com.