Cebu Exchange bolsters reputation as country’s largest multi-certified sustainable office with WELL™

With approximately 11 hectares of gross floor area, Cebu Exchange strengthens its claim as the largest multi-certified sustainable office tower in the Philippines following precertification under the prestigious WELL Building Standard™ last December 2020.

It currently stands as the largest precertified WELL™ building in the Philippines and the first outside Metro Manila. The points for WELL™ pre-awarded to Cebu Exchange in this building design category are equivalent to Gold level precertification.

A signature development of Arthaland and Hong Kong-based private equity real estate firm ARCH Capital, Cebu Exchange has already previously been Precertified Gold in the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®), as well as Design Certified 5-Stars in the Philippine Green Building Council’s Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE), the highest rating for this category.

The tower is also currently vying to receive Zero Carbon Certification from the International Finance Corporation’s Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE®).

Building envelope optimization and the use of double-glazed windows allow for better thermal and moisture insulation that leads to savings in energy consumption (Artist’s Perspective).

Launched in October 2014, the WELL Building Standard™ is the premier standard for buildings, interior spaces, and communities seeking to implement, validate, and measure features that support and advance human health and wellness globally.

WELL™ was developed by integrating scientific and medical research and literature on environmental health, behavioral factors, health outcomes, and demographic risk factors that affect health with leading practices in building design, construction, and management.

“For Arthaland, promoting personal health and wellness goes hand-in-hand with helping save the environment and advocating for sustainable lifestyles and practices that benefit society and the planet. The WELL™ precertification that the Cebu Exchange has achieved, alongside other accolades from several local and global green building certification standards, make this project your best office investment in 2021, whether for your use or as an investment to generate attractive high-yielding returns,” said Jaime C. González, vice chairman and president of Arthaland Corporation.

Some of the features of Cebu Exchange that qualify for WELL™ precertification are its highly efficient air filtration system that cycles in fresh outdoor air and effectively keeps the circulation clean and free from infectious pathogens.

RFID-enabled turnstiles at the main lobby and a total of 24 high-speed smart destination control elevators provide secure, easy, and contactless accessibility (Artist’s Perspective).

The building spaces were also thoughtfully designed to be thermally comfortable for improved occupant satisfaction and will positively impact overall productivity. It will have provisions for an energy-efficient air-conditioning system that lowers operating costs.

The lighting design will also accommodate the visual acuity and comfort of occupants, which can positively impact circadian rhythms as well as visual and mental health, promoting everyday ease and wellness.

With regard to water management, Cebu Exchange will be equipped with low-flow water-efficient and contactless plumbing fixtures that prevent transmission of diseases from high-touch surfaces, while generating savings on water bills by regulating potable water demand. Its water supply will be filtered and treated onsite through Cebu Exchange’s greywater recycling system to meet the contaminant threshold safe for the occupants.

As with other Arthaland developments, open and vegetated spaces are abundant within the development – landscaped gardens at the Terrace Garden, Sky Park, and the Penthouse Deck.

The seamless and on-schedule handover of Phase 1 units and the Retail Area happened last October 2020 (Artist’s Perspective).

Studies show that providing access to nature supports healthy environments by mitigating stressors and positively impacting cognitive and emotional health, focus, productivity, and overall well-being. It will also have its own Potager Garden at Cebu Exchange™, providing occupants easy access to healthy, sustainably grown food while raising awareness about the importance of good nutrition.

The tower is strategically located at the gateway of Cebu IT Park, right at the heart of the metropolitan area’s primary business district. It hopes to lessen the city’s air pollution and promote a healthy and active lifestyle with key features to address these concerns.

These facilities include bicycle racks and shower facilities that support cycling and other alternative modes of transportation, allocating preferred parking spaces for use by low-emitting fuel-efficient vehicles (LEFEV).

Its use of low-emitting and non-toxic building materials limits dust and harmful toxins in the air, thereby helping reduce associated health risks for occupants. In terms of movement within the tower, RFID-enabled elevators will be available to minimize contact with high-touch surfaces and allow better hand hygiene.

Over 2,600 sq.m. of lush and beautifully-landscaped green spaces will offer magnificent views of the Cebu City skyline for building occupants (Artist’s Perspective).

Cebu Exchange’s Phase 1 and Retail Area has started handover last October 2020, while Phase 2 is on schedule for completion by the 4th quarter of 2021.

It was awarded Best Office High Rise Development at the 2019 Japan International Property Awards, Best Commercial Landscape Architectural Design at the 2019 PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, and the Best Office Development in the Philippines at the 2018 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards.

ARTHALAND is the foremost green and sustainable developer recognized by both local and global organizations for its superior design, high quality, focus on sustainability and innovation. It has made its mark in the Philippine real estate industry by pioneering the development and management of exceptional best-in-class properties that adhere to international and local standards for premium green projects.

The Cebu Exchange showroom is located onsite at the ARTHALAND GALLERY, 2F Cebu Exchange, Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City.