SITE SITUATIONER

ALTERCHITECTURE 2024
AgHimuan: Blueprint to Net-Zero Architecture

THE COMPETITION
ALTERCHITECTURE (Alter+Architecture) is an annual architectural design competition that
pushes the boundaries of architectural design, seeking transformative approaches to shaping
our world through progressive ideas and eco-conscious construction. It calls for a paradigm
shift in design thinking, urging architects to envision bolder, innovative solutions.

COMPETITION BRIEF

Alterchitecture 2024 highlights the role of commercial spaces in urban areas as vital for the
public. Our country’s landscape is dominated by commercial spaces, powering our economy
and shaping our daily lives. Yet, these same structures often cast a long shadow on our
environment. Can we envision a future where these hubs of commerce seamlessly blend
functionality with sustainability? The net-zero commercial structures competition dares you to
do just that.

The competition aims to design a commercially viable net-zero commercial building that
pushes the boundaries of architectural innovation. Try to imagine a vibrant marketplace that
generates its own energy, conserves resources, and inspires future generations of designers.
This includes the task of seeking solutions that are not just technically sound, but also
financially attractive, and proving that sustainable design can be a profitable driver of economic
growth. This is also an opportunity to reshape the narrative of commercial architecture, proving
that net-zero structures are not just a green dream, but the smart investment of the future.

This year, Alterchitecture 2024, generally aims to create net-zero architecture by utilizing
existing and innovative technologies (aghimuan; himuan in Visayan language means ‘to create
something’ or ‘to make‘).
COMPETITION OBJECTIVES

● Design a commercially viable net-zero building, achieving self-sufficiency in

energy production and minimizing environmental impact.
● Showcase creative and efficient strategies for energy generation, resource
management, and waste reduction within the commercial setting.
● Demonstrate how net-zero design can seamlessly integrate with user
experience, enhancing both employee and consumer well-being.
● Prioritize cost-effectiveness and market relevance, ensuring the design's
economic viability and attractiveness to investors.
● Call for a change in designing the built environment by way of shifting our
thought processes.
Design Considerations
Commercial Space Parameters

The word "commercial space" in real estate refers to any area utilized for business or
professional activities. A wide variety of areas found in various business buildings might be
referred to as commercial space. However, in designing these spaces, it is now important to
highly consider its sustainability.

With this, the design must incorporate varying international and national standards in achieving
a net-zero structure. Considering its length of 274 pages, the LEED Green Building Design and
Construction Guide may be difficult to instantly comprehend. Although it reviews sustainable
construction methods in great detail, readers who are new to the idea may find it to be overly
technical.

Thus, a beginner's handbook that summarizes the key elements from each of the nine LEED
criteria that emphasize potential application areas was created to make it easier for everyone to
understand the LEED sustainability principles. The purpose is to highlight the basic objective of
each criterion while also providing appropriate practical recommendations. A Beginner’s
Handbook to LEED Building Design and Construction Guidelines would be provided along with
the kit to help the participants understand the key considerations in designing a net-zero
commercial space.

It is also important to note that designing commercial spaces requires the consideration of the
following:

● Architectural diversity

● Character on its main entrance

● Visually prominent

● Architecturally compatible with its immediate surroundings

● Design consistency
Case Studies
The following are examples of existing and proposed net-zero commercial development
projects that have revolutionized architectural and structural design in both local and
international contexts.

Arthaland Century Pacific Tower, BGC, Taguig, Metro Manila

Arthaland Century Pacific Tower (ACPT) is the first certified net zero development in the
Philippines, producing no net emissions of greenhouse gases. The 32-story office building was
designed to be highly energy-efficient, with features such as double-glazed windows,
high-efficiency lighting, and a green roof. Renewable energy sources include solar panels
installed on the roof, motion sensor lights, occupancy-based HVAC systems, and water
conservation measures like low-flow toilets and faucets.

Arthaland is the pioneer developer of premium green and sustainable projects in the
Philippines, adhering to global and national standards for green buildings such as the US
Green Building Council’s Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating
system and the Philippine Green Building Council’s Building for Ecologically Responsive
Design Excellence (BERDE) rating system. The building has earned the International Finance
Corporation’s (IFC’s) Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) Zero Carbon
certification, reducing energy use by 45%, water use by 64%, and embodied energy in
materials by 34%.

The building's sustainability concept involves studying the location's characteristics to

maximize natural resources and create an energy-efficient building envelope. The building uses
triple- and double-glazed curtain wall systems, optimized thermal zoning, a top-of-the-line
heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system, an Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system,
a Variable Speed Drive (VSD), intelligent lighting, and renewable energy sources.

Arthaland's commitment to sustainability extends into its operational life, with properties
monitored through Emera Property Management, Inc., to ensure the building remains a
premium-grade sustainable office building. The company's vision is to be the preferred
company for sustainable development, focusing on purpose, knowledge, significance, and
wealth, rather than just making money.

SM Prime, Philippines

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), a leading integrated property developer in Southeast Asia,
has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The company is
working with WWF-Philippines to establish its commitment and targets, aligning with the global
goal of achieving net zero by 2040. SM Prime addresses climate change by expanding its
renewable energy portfolio, optimizing energy efficiency, and conserving natural carbon sinks.
It is also implementing a large-scale energy and water conservation program.

In 2022, SM Prime achieved its 2022 commitment to sourcing renewable energy for at least
50% of its electricity consumption, strengthening its commitment to the Department of
Energy's program of increasing renewable energy supply in the Philippines to 35% by 2030.
SM Prime continues to support the transition to renewable energy through direct sourcing and
investing in manufactured, intellectual, and social capital to prepare for a carbon-neutral future.
SM Prime and Citicore Renewable Energy Company (CREC) signed a Memorandum of
Agreement on 11 July 2023 to champion renewable energy. The long-term agreement will
commence in the first half of 2024, in line with the Department of Energy's Retail Competition
and Open Access policies. This partnership strengthens both CREC and SM Prime's
commitment to the Department of Energy's program of increasing renewable energy supply in
the Philippines.

Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, USA

Levi's Stadium, a football stadium in California, was designed to be the most technologically
advanced, greenest, and fan-friendly stadium in the world. The stadium was completed in
2014 and hosted the 2016 Super Bowl. It was the first NFL stadium to achieve Gold
certification under the LEED for New Construction green building rating system and has since
achieved Gold certification under the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations + Maintenance
rating system.
It is considered the most technologically advanced sports stadium in the world. The stadium
offers great views for 68,500 spectators and hosts various major events throughout the year,
including national and international sporting events, musical acts, and massive events like
monster truck rallies and Wrestlemania.

Sustainability is evident throughout the building and visitor experience, with renewable energy
being one of the most visible strategies. The stadium's rooftop terrace features a
27,000-square-foot green roof garden with 16 species, including drought-tolerant plants, which
help regulate the overall temperature in the stadium and manage stormwater runoff. It connects
to Santa Clara's recycled water system, making it the first stadium in California to use a
drought-proof water source for 85 percent of all water consumed within the stadium. It also
additionally receives power from nearly 20,000 square feet of solar panels, combined with LED
lights, daylighting, and a smart energy system, which drastically reduces the stadium's carbon
footprint. On game days, the stadium achieves net-zero energy although energy use may vary
depending on the event.

The stadium also considers seismic activity and water conservation due to its location in
California. To mitigate liquefaction, 3,005 auger displacement piles were drilled to a depth of 60
to 70 feet, and Buckling restrained braces were used in the framing to protect against
earthquake-related stresses. About 40% of the stadium's materials were recycled, including a
cache of redwood reclaimed from the historic blimp hangars at nearby Moffett Field. Bamboo,
one of the fastest-growing and most renewable building materials, was also incorporated into
the design.

Walgreens, Evanston, Illinois

Walgreens opened its first Net Zero Energy retail store in Evanston, Illinois, in November 2013.
The store aims to produce energy equal to or greater than the building consumes, using
200,000 kilowatt hours per year of electricity while generating 220,000 kilowatt hours per year.
The store features a geo-exchange system, energy-efficient building materials, LED lighting,
and carbon dioxide refrigerant for heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment.
The design was scalable, allowing for emerging technology research without changing the
typical store operational characteristics. The store's energy signature was defined by energy
generation capacity solely from photovoltaic panels on the roof. The store's location, nine
degrees off the north-south axis, presented challenges in maximizing solar energy generation
while optimizing the site layout. The architects designed a tiered roof rotated to maximize solar
exposure and a canopy roof extended over the pharmacy drive-through for additional solar
collection.

Micro-inverters on the photovoltaic panels eliminated the need for a large electrical room and
provided real-time visibility of each panel's performance. The building was designed to include
well-insulated elements, with the roof and walls achieving R-30 and R-20, respectively. A
curtainwall glass design and operable clerestory glass were incorporated for public appeal. A
weather station monitored temperature, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed, allowing
windows to open automatically for natural ventilation.
Commercial Space Development Considerations
A commercial space shall be planned and designed to observe appropriate architectural
practices, to meet prescribed functional programs, and to conform to applicable codes as part
of normal professional practice.

Site and Planning Considerations

● Accessibility

The site must include fixtures and structures (such as tactile paving, ramps, and
signages) that allow accessibility to and throughout the site for individuals of all ages
and abilities in accordance with the existing international standards and local laws with
its implementing rules and regulations.

● Location and Land Area

The location must be in the Philippines and must be easily accessible by and
contextualized to. It can be located near or adjacent to any existing public or private
infrastructure. The land area can be of any size and flexible to the existing spaces in
their chosen community.

● Conformity with the Zoning Ordinance or Land Use Plan of the City/Municipality

The site must conform to existing zoning ordinances or land use plan of the chosen
city/municipality.

● Adaptability

The design shall incorporate disaster mitigation in consideration of emergencies that

can potentially occur.

● Environmental Sustainability

The design must incorporate the natural and cultural features of the site, preserving
much of its character. It must be sensitive to the history of their chosen community.

● Physical Suitability

The site must have characteristics assuring safe, healthful and environmentally sound
community life, in consideration of the area's susceptibility to flooding, landslides, and
other stresses. Encumbered land or land not suitable for development purposes shall
be avoided.

● Easements
 The designed commercial space/s must also take into consideration the provisions of
easements as may be required by related laws.

● Circulation

This concerns the hierarchy of roads, streets in conformity to the contours of the land,
provisions of major street extensions, minimizing critical intersections, and roads
complemented with pathwalks among others. This should also be considered in
designing the commercial space/s to allow vehicular and foot traffic in and out to
seamlessly flow within and around the structure/s.

● Feasibility and Cost

The commercial space shall be designed in a way that considers the practical context
of the site in terms of building cost, material availability, and long-term maintenance. In
addition, it is important to design the structure with the operational costs in mind.

Typical Commercial Space Use and Functions

Below are the typical as well as some suggested services and uses featured in a commercial
space, in no particular order. This does not limit the participant to incorporate other design
inclusions and the participant is also encouraged to choose their included spaces based on
their own understanding of the necessities of a commercial space.

● Office buildings
● Retail stores
● Shopping malls
● Restaurants
● Coffee shops
● Fast food establishments
● Grocery stores
● Convenience stores
● Lodgings
● Fitness centers
● Manufacturing facilities
● Warehouses
● Distribution centers
● Movie theaters
● Event spaces
● Art galleries
● Co-working spaces
● Industrial parks
● Data centers
● Storage facilities