Many people have become more aware of the importance of sustainability in everyday living during the two years that the world faced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental awareness has caught on through practices such as shifting to paperless, reducing plastic use and planting more trees. For property developers, taking part in this movement means transitioning into green buildings and developments.
Such is the case for SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), a publicly listed subsidiary of SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) that is committed to building innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities. SM Prime is future-proofing its developments to be more responsive and adaptive to community needs and the effects of climate change in line with comprehensive sustainability goals ranging from energy to ecology.
Over the years, SM Prime has continued to elevate its approach to building and development of community spaces. All these green initiatives have been recognized by reputable and well-known organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) which awarded Conrad Hotel Manila and SM Aura Premier the Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
“When we build, we build with the community in mind. This is why it is important to integrate sustainability in our developments and operations. We remain committed as an environmentally-conscious and responsible integrated property developer ready to serve the ever-changing needs and aspirations of our communities and stakeholders,” said SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim.
Building green office spaces
SM’s Commercial Property Group is renowned for balancing green design features with operational and practical considerations, enabling more companies and locators to enjoy environmentally sound commercial developments.
The CPG’s flagship properties are its five E-com Centers – all future-forward buildings catering mainly to technological, business process outsourcing, and Fortune 500 companies. All five E-com Centers are located in the MOA Complex. Each building has a proportionate amount of green open spaces and communal areas where workers can socialize and decompress from work.
CPG further promotes sustainable practices with its LEED gold-certified office buildings, solidifying its foothold and commitment to building green offices and commercial developments. These certifications are a testament to SM Prime’s dedication to reducing its contribution to global climate change—all while enhancing the quality of life within its communities.
During the two years that the world dealt with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals became more aware of the significance of sustainability in daily life. Increasing numbers of people are concerned about the environment and taking action to improve it, such as going paperless, using less plastic, and planting more trees. Part of this movement includes the construction industry making the switch to environmentally friendly building materials and practices.
For example, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) is a publicly traded subsidiary of SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) with a focus on creating new and sustainable communities for people to live in. As part of its broad sustainability aims, which span from energy to ecology, SM Prime is making sure that its next constructions are better equipped to respond to the requirements of the local population and to adapt to the effects of climate change.
There has been a steady improvement in SM Prime’s attitude to the construction and development of public areas over the years. Conrad Hotel Manila and SM Aura Premier were both given Gold accreditation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2016 and 2017, respectively, in recognition of their dedication to sustainability.
When we construct something, it is always with the locals in mind. That’s why it’s crucial that we incorporate sustainability into all of our plans and procedures. “We are committed as an ecologically conscientious and responsible integrated property developer ready to satisfy the ever-changing needs and ambitions of our communities and stakeholders,” said SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim. Creating Eco-Friendly Workplaces
In order to provide more businesses and locators with access to environmentally responsible commercial developments, SM’s Commercial Property Group is known for striking a fine balance between green design features and operational and practical issues.
The E-com Centers are the crown jewels of the CPG’s real estate portfolio. These five buildings are the epitome of cutting-edge design and construction, and they cater primarily to high-tech, BPO, and Fortune 500 organizations. As a whole, the MOA Complex houses all five E-com Centers. Green, open areas and common areas for employees to relax and get to know one another are distributed fairly across the many buildings. CPG’s LEED gold-certified office buildings are another evidence of the company’s dedication to sustainable practices and the promotion of green building. These accolades attest to SM Prime’s commitment to lowering its carbon footprint and improving local communities’ quality of life. Amazing architecture and environmentally friendly elements helped the ThreeE-com Center get the highest LEED rating possible. Landscape irrigation and non-drinking uses are two of these. Glass windows installed in the building reduce the amount of heat that enters the structure, reducing the need for air conditioning. This semi-circular, twin-tower office building is 15 stories tall and combines modern conveniences with a sleek, contemporary design. The new FourE-com Center, which was similarly built with tenants in mind and aims to improve work-life balance and office culture, has recently received the same certification as the original office building in the Mall of Asia Complex to receive it.
The Three and Four E-coms are exceptional among office buildings because they were both created by the internationally acclaimed firm Arquitectonica. “We sculpted the E-coms in innovative ways to allow views and airflows between the buildings, and of course, to give them interesting architectural identities, all while functionally meeting the BPO industry’s need for enormous, continuous floorplates. At the same time, the planted podium decks provide tenants with appealing shared green areas, and the buildings will eventually be linked by landscaped skybridges. According to David Zaballero, director of Arquitectonica, “the E-coms’ combination of modern architecture and lush greenery has made the area a magnet for global corporations and renowned brands.”
SM Mega Tower
Meanwhile, the highest skyscraper in the SM Prime complex, located on EDSA, will be added to the company’s growing list of LEED-certified green structures. The 50-story office skyscraper, known as Mega Tower, is environmentally friendly and prepared for the future.
The 50-story LEED-registered tower in the heart of Ortigas Centre is adaptable to the needs of both corporate and BPO clients. Each floorplan is thoughtfully laid out despite the building’s sculptural style, making for a unique blend of practicality and iconicity.
Sustainable building design takes into account the structure’s usefulness throughout its entire lifespan. While planning developments for the benefit of current and future generations, SM Prime invests one tenth of its capital expenditure to ensure that sustainability is incorporated into its properties, as stated by Mr. Lim, the company’s president and chief executive officer.
The CPG’s multi-segment or mixed-use approach, developed in tandem with the other SM Group divisions, optimizes the economic and social impact of its construction projects. Thus, SM’s commercial developments are linked to our shopping centers, neighborhoods, and public green spaces. They are all conveniently located near transportation nodes, making them accessible by foot and car. The company’s carbon footprint is reduced, new tenants and locators are attracted, and employee productivity is boosted thanks to the interconnectedness of the properties and the green and safe features that each have. Concerning SM Prime: ### Introduction
As one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent real estate firms, SM Prime Holdings Inc. is dedicated to creating environments that are both secure and long-lasting for its customers and employees. It bases its growth strategy on sparing use of its resources. Through the implementation of water, waste, and energy management solutions, it is able to promote resource conservation, environmental protection, and disaster preparedness in the areas it serves.
When it comes to promoting a greener planet, greener lifestyles, and a greener culture, SM Prime is a major player in the SM Green Movement’s efforts to better the lives of local communities through long-term, environmentally responsible solutions.
Learn more about SM Prime and SM Green Movement by checking out www.smprime.com and www.sminvestments.com/sustainability/sm-for-the-community/sm-green-movement/.
Both designed by globally renowned firm, Arquitectonica, the Three and Four E-coms are unique amongst business centers. “We designed the E-coms to functionally meet the BPO industry’s need for large, continuous floorplates, but also sculpted them in interesting ways so as to allow views and airflows between the buildings, while also, of course, giving them interesting architectural identities. At the same time, their landscaped podium decks create attractive communal green spaces for the tenants; they are envisaged to be interconnected via landscaped skybridges in the future. The combination of all these factors, architectural design and green spaces, have made the E-coms highly attractive to multinational companies and brands,” said David Zaballero, Arquitectonica Director.
SM Mega Tower
Meanwhile, SM Prime’s tallest skyscraper located along EDSA will also join the company’s growing roster of LEED-certified green buildings. Called Mega Tower, the 50-story office building is future-ready as it provides spaces that respect both its tenants and nature itself.
Strategically located in the busy Ortigas Centre, the 50-storey LEED registered skyscraper is flexibly designed to meet the requirements of both corporate and BPO tenants. Though its design is highly sculptural, each floorplate remains efficiently planned – combining functionality and iconic identity.
“Incorporating sustainability in property development means having the whole life cycle of a building in mind. We invest a tenth of our capital expenditure to ensure that sustainability is integrated into our properties as we carefully plan our developments for our communities, the environment, and future generations ,” SM Prime’s Mr. Lim said.
In close collaboration with the SM Group’s other business units, the CPG’s multi-segment or mixed-use approach maximizes the socio-economic potential of its buildings and developments. As a result, SM’s commercial developments are connected to our malls, residences, and parks and civic spaces. Notably, they are all easily accessible to transport hubs to ensure mobility for pedestrians and the commuting public. This interconnectivity, alongside each property’s green and safety features, reduces the company’s carbon footprint, attracts more tenants and locators, and encourages greater productivity among its workforce.
###
About SM Prime
SM Prime Holdings Inc., one of the leading property developers in Southeast Asia, is committed to providing safe and sustainable spaces for its stakeholders. Its development strategy is anchored on the responsible use of resources. In the communities it serves, it is able to promote resource conservation, environmental protection, and disaster resiliency by implementing solutions for water, waste, and energy management.
SM Prime is a key player in the SM Green Movement that aims to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.
Find out more about SM Prime and the SM Green Movement– visit www.smprime.com and www.sminvestments.com/sustainability/sm-for-the-community/sm-green-movement/
