The W Group’s buildings in different areas of the posh commercial district of Bonifacio Global City in Taguig stand out because they are visually aesthetic and undoubtedly design marvels in their own right.
But there’s more to these developments than being just a feast for the eyes. All six buildings are highly efficient, well-thought out, carefully-crafted, functional and more importantly, environmentally-friendly.
In fact, two of the W Group’s buildings are LEED-certified: a double LEED Platinum Certification for the CitiPlaza and a LEED Gold Certification for the W CityCenter.
What is LEED?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a program developed by the US Green Building Council that focuses on the design, construction, maintenance and operation of green buildings.
What does this mean for tenants?
It is essentially a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green developments and communities to help building owners and operators be environmentally friendly.
For tenants or users of a LEED Building, this means huge savings on electricity and other costs, which in turn reduces their carbon footprints.
This is particularly important in this day and age where investors are more critical and discerning and look into the company’s environmental practices and not just the bottomline.
W Citycenter
The W CityCenter, an iconic building with a protruding boomerang-shaped facade, is the most recent development in the Philippines to get a LEED Gold Certification.
A LEED Gold Certification means the building earned between 60 to 79 points of environmentally-friendly and efficient qualities.
Located at the corner of 7th Avenue and 30th Street, the W CityCenter is a 29-story building, which houses leading local and multinational companies including Globe Telecom, Willis Towers Watson, Cardinal Health, and one of the largest multinational technology companies in the world.
Citi Plaza: double platinum
The W CityCenter’s LEED Gold Certification comes just less than five years since the W Group also obtained a LEED Platinum Certification for Citi Plaza, one of the largest built-to-suit projects in the Philippines. It was designed specifically for Citibank N.A. by the company.
LEED Platinum is the highest LEED Certification level.
Citi Plaza is the W Group’s most thrilling project yet, with prime office spaces, energy-efficient double-glazed windows, high floor-to-ceiling heights, tenant-centered amenities, and an interesting mix of retail clients.
The world-class building secured a double LEED Platinum Certification for efficient use of energy and water, as well as other environment-friendly features and for quality commercial interiors.
Creating grade-a projects
Both buildings were developed by the W Group’s property arm WBGC, one of the pioneers in BGC and a property company which carries the DNA of the W Group, which reflects a strong commitment to quality and globally attuned standards.
Norman Vincent Wee is the president of the W Group while his brother Francis Augustus Wee is the CEO.
The LEED Certifications no doubt are testaments to the Group’s commitment to creating highly efficient grade-A projects that champion environmental awareness and public health and safety.
Green features enhance tenant well-being, environmental gains
Most LEED-certified buildings are located in metropolises such as in the US but the Philippines, through the W Group and a few other developers, are not left behind.
Among the two buildings’ green features are low flow fixtures like lavatory faucets and toilets and automated sensors that reduce water requirements by more than 45 percent.
More than 20 percent of construction materials used are from recycled materials such as glass, dry wall, steel and concrete with fly ash, as well as regional materials such as steel and concrete.
Over 95 percent of construction waste for the two buildings were recycled and diverted from landfills, reducing the project’s negative impact on the environment.
Both buildings also have low-E double glazing that protects the building from heat gain caused by the sun.
For ventilation, both buildings used HVAC equipment and fire suppression systems without CFC, HCFC or halon-based refrigerants, preventing the release of ozone-depleting gases into the atmosphere.
CityCenter utilizes LED lighting, energy efficient variable refrigerant volume systems and energy recovery ventilation which reduce energy consumption by 22 percent. City Plaza meanwhile uses energy efficient centrifugal chillers.
Francis Wee, W Group CEO said a LEED Certification entails several benefits not just for the environment and the community but also for the company and its tenants.
“A green-certified building allows us to provide world-class spaces to local and multinational locators who wish to nurture both their productivity and well-being. We are also able to operate at lower costs while the property increases its value as a future-ready investment. However, we believe that the environment stands to gain the most with sustainable building and operating practices like what we implement at W CityCenter. When we integrate the people and planet’s well-being in the structures we create, we are able to build for a kinder, environment-conscious future,” he said.
