Green bldg with high performance advantages

MANILA, Philippines – Upon completion in 2011, the 14-story Sun Life Centre in Bonifacio Global City will be the leading edge office building in the Philippines for utilizing sustainable “green” building practices and initiatives. It is the first building in the country to be topped off with a pre-certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Core and Shell Developments (LEED-CS), an internationally recognized green-building certification system.

According to Armand Apuya, director of administrative services of Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), the pre-certification is evidence of Sun Life’s commitment to sustainability in design, construction and operational practices. This sustainability philosophy will be beneficial to the over-all health and well-being of the occupants of the building, and consequently lead to better performance on the job. The building will allow its corporate tenants and individuals to contribute to the reduction of their carbon footprint and its harmful effects on the environment. 

More than just bragging rights, the sustainability performance of an office building is becoming an important issue especially among multinational tenants, according to Lindsay Orr, chief operating officer of Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu. Jones Lang LaSalle is a global services firm focused on real estate and operating in more than 60 countries. In the Philippines, it operates as Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu (JLLL). JLLL serves as sole leasing agent and marketing consultant of the Sun Life Centre.

He observes: “High energy costs, tenant demand for sustainability as well as emerging legislation in a number of countries are driving the high demand for sustainable spaces among corporate occupiers. They want spaces like the proposed Sun Life Centre that offer energy and water efficiency, a low carbon footprint and improved indoor air quality.”

According to Riza Mantaring, president and CEO of Sun Life Financial Philippines, the investment of the Sun Life Centre’s tenants in sustainability will make a positive impact on both the environment and their overall expenditures. “Aside from the energy and cost savings derived from the green features of our new building, we also anticipate enhanced productivity among our employees. Plus, this sustainable building is proof of our long-standing commitment not only to the Filipino society but also to the global community in which we operate,” adds Mantaring.

With a gross leasable area of 22,500 sqm., a key feature of the building is its window system which utilizes double-glazed Low Emissivity Glass. This allows daylight into the building while blocking noise and heat from outside. Low E-glass is only 15 percent efficient in transmitting heat in contrast to non-coated glass rating of 85 percent. Thus, building occupants can expect to spend less on air-conditioning. Moreover, the base building makes use of highly-recyclable material distinguished by its low levels of harmful emissions.

The Sun Life Centre’s green roof will also mitigate “heat island effect”. This technical term refers to the propensity of concrete building rooftops to become “pocket islands of heat.” Moreover, the vegetated roof will be part of a rain harvesting system earmarked for irrigation, toilet flushing and other non-potable water uses.

For more details about the Sun Life Centre, please call Ms. Sheila Lobien of Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu at 902-0888 or visit www.sunlifebuilding-phil.com.