Arthaland, the country’s foremost developer of sustainable and green properties, recently celebrated a significant milestone with the structural topping-off of Cebu Exchange, the largest multi-certified green office tower in the Philippines with approximately 11 hectares of gross floor area.
The event, which was well-attended remotely and broadcasted over social media and video conferencing, was the first virtual topping-off ceremony by a real estate developer in the country.
Strategically located at the gateway of the Cebu IT Park in Cebu City — which is fast emerging as one of the top IT-BPO destinations in the world — Cebu Exchange is envisioned to have a well-balanced business ecosystem. It will include the latest sustainable building features, green amenities, and a diverse retail mix where businesses and individuals can thrive in harmony.
A few notable sustainable features of this unique development will include improved indoor air quality, building envelope optimization, and a 100 percent-renewable energy source for power.
The vast green open spaces in this single tower amount to over 2,600 square meters and are the result of its terrace garden, sky park, and penthouse deck areas which will spread across its various zones. It will use native and endemic plant species for landscaping and it will feature a potager garden with organically grown vegetables and herbs which are highly in demand these days as well as several well-designed interactive leisure spaces.
The building will have its own independent greywater recycling system and materials recovery facility (MRF) integrated into it. The Cebu Exchange will prioritize low emission building materials, low voltage lighting, water-saving plumbing systems, and energy-saving air-conditioning systems.
“In addition to our unwavering commitment to these sustainable features, we continue to deliver projects on time and with the highest standards for excellence in design and quality,” said Arthaland Vice Chairman and president, Jaime González.
The handover of Phase 1 units will commence on Sept. 2020, as originally scheduled. Construction is in full swing, keeping in mind stringent health and safety protocols. Those involved in the construction activities are tested upon entry to the construction site and remain within the construction area under very strict protocols and they are provided onsite lodging accommodations during their entire scheduled work period.
“We look forward to becoming an integral part of the vibrant Cebu community. During these trying times, we hope Cebu Exchange makes a strong case for the need for more sustainable developments,” said González.
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Cebu Exchange is on-track to be a multi-certified development, having already been Pre-Certified Gold for USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®). It is also registered under PhilGBC’s Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE), the IFC World Bank’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE®), and IWBI’s WELLTM Building Standard certifications. It was awarded Best Office High Rise Development in the 2019 Japan International Property Awards, Best Commercial Landscape Architectural Design at the 2019 PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, and as the Best Office Development in the Philippines 2018 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards.
