SANTIAGO, JOSHUA M.

ARCH4A | FAR4205

CASE STUDIES – FOREIGN GREEN BUILDINGS

A. Project Name: Zuellig Building

Project Location: Makati

Architect/Designer: SOM

The Zuellig Building was the first in the country to receive LEED-CS (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design – Core and Shell) gold certification, which has now been upgraded to Platinum. It
is a 33-floor, all-glass building with a low-emissivity (Low-E) glass system that helps reduce solar heat gain
while maximizing natural light. It is a game changer in the Philippine architectural field. This floor-to-ceiling
panel allows daylight to illuminate nearly 90% of the interior of the building. It has a dimming system to
control the intensity of the light, as well as a heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system to
control outside air flow and ensure superior indoor air quality. These control systems contribute to a 15%
reduction in the building's overall energy consumption.
 SOM recently informed us that their new Makati Central Business District tower has been
shortlisted for a 2012 MIPIM Asia award. The Zuellig Building, with 33 stories and a height of 160 meters,
is the Philippines' first premium office tower built since 2000. It is also the first building in Makati to be
pre-certified by the United States. Green Building Council (USGBC) at the LEED Gold level, with LEED
Platinum certification expected by September 2013. More information follows the break.

The highly desirable location at its prominent intersection, which houses nearly 65,000 square
meters of Class-A office space and 2000 square meters of retail space, is intended to accommodate future
development. The overall shape of the structure was inspired by the geometry of the site, which is
bounded by Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas. The fan-shaped floor plates taper towards the southern
face, allowing the building's facades to be set orthogonally to the east and west property lines while also
engaging the city fabric in those directions.
B. Project Name: BTTC Centre

Project Location: San Juan

Architect/Designer: ADGo Architecture and Design

The BTTC Centre is the first LEED Gold-certified green building in Greenhills, San Juan. This green
building makes use of double-glazed glass or an insulated glass unit (IGU), which helps regulate and
maintain the temperature inside the building and reduces the need for air conditioning. The walls of the
building also insulate heat thanks to a green feature known as the Exterior Insulated Façade System (EIFS).

Another BTTC Centre innovation is the use of a power regenerating electrical system for the
elevators. If an elevator is not completely loaded, some of its energy is converted back into the building's
electrical system. AC units use a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, which uses less electricity to power
the compressors.

The structure also includes a water system and sewage treatment. Rainwater and wastewater are
collected and processed on a regular basis for other purposes.
C. Project Name: Shell Shared Services Office

Project Location: Makati

Shell Shared Services Office operates a 24-hour service center for 2,800 employees. It is the first
LEED Silver certified project in the Philippines.

The office invested in off-site wind energy to meet 100 percent of the building's energy needs.
In addition, the building employs low-flow water fixtures and treats all wastewater for landscaping and
toilet flushing.

The primary goal of this green project is to reduce energy consumption. Glare-free fixtures,
dimmable fixtures linked to daylight sensors on the building's periphery, and presence detectors for
office spaces are some of their efforts toward this goal. The buildings outside lights turn off
automatically during the day, and indoor lights turn off when a room is unoccupied, reducing overall
energy consumption by up to 37%.

The building also employs low-VOC materials and environmentally friendly housekeeping
practices.
References:

https://www.archdaily.com/283839/zuellig-building-som/zuelligbuilding_lobby7233_tlabrador

https://kmcmaggroup.com/building/bttc-center/

https://www.lamudi.com.ph/journal/12-sustainable-offices-philippines/