Anyone who frequents Bonifacio Global City knows about the building with a protruding boomerang-shaped facade.
The iconic structure, W CityCenter, is now the latest in the country to achieve LEED Gold certification from Green Business Certification Inc., the world’s leading sustainability and health certification body, as proof of its long-term sustainability as a healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green building.
Built by the W Group Inc., a leading developer of world-class boutique projects in BGC, the W CityCenter on 7th Avenue corner 30th Street is a 29-story building completed in 2016, designed by New York-based architectural firm CAZA.
W CityCenter 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. It is also the second building in the W Group’s portfolio to get a LEED certification after Citi Plaza.
The certification underscores the company’s commitment to creating globally attuned, grade-A projects that champion environmental awareness and public health and safety.
GBCI conducted the review process, which confirms the certification of qualified buildings. The review scrutinizes the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of green buildings, ensuring that standards are met—or exceeded—in the following areas: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.
“LEED is a transformative tool that ensures a building is designed, constructed, and operated to achieve high performance, improve human health and protect the environment,” said Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan, managing director in Southeast Asia and the Middle East of GBCI.
“Buildings that achieve LEED certification are lowering carbon emissions, reducing operating costs, conserving resources, and prioritizing sustainable practices and human health. We applaud W Group Inc.’s phenomenal leadership here – projects like W CityCenter are leading the way toward a future where healthy people in healthy places will equal a healthy economy,” he said.
As one of the company’s core project development principles, W Group factors the integration of sustainable practices in all its buildings including W CityCenter. During its construction, over 20 percent of the total cost of all materials were from recycled components such as glass, steel, and concrete with fly ash. Meanwhile, over 95 percent of W CityCenter’s construction waste was recycled and diverted from landfills to reduce negative environmental impact.
The building is also built with a green roof and low-E double glazed windows to reject heat and reduce cooling loads. The building’s eye-catching facade is a functional design, as it is made of high-performance low emissivity glass with special ceramic glass frit. This reduces W CityCenter’s solar heat gain while maintaining excellent light transmission inside of the building and quality views to the outside.
As it commenced operations, more internal systems at the W CityCenter ensured tenants’ well-being and the environment’s benefit. These include the use of low flow fixtures like lavatory faucets and toilets that reduce water consumption by over 45 percent, installation of LED lighting and energy-efficient cooling and ventilation systems to reduce energy consumption by 22 percent while maintaining thermal comfort and indoor air quality.
W CityCenter is compliant with the ASHRAE 62.1-2007 indoor air quality standards, improving occupant comfort, well-being, and productivity. The building also utilizes paints, adhesives, sealants, and floor finishes, low in volatile organic compounds for a healthier indoor environment.
According to Francis Wee, W Group’s chief executive, the LEED certification of W CityCenter entails several benefits both for the company, its tenants and communities.
“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.
The W Group’s Citi Plaza gained its LEED Platinum certification in 2017 and remains as one of the most premier business towers and prominent landmarks in BGC. Both the W CityCenter and Citi Plaza are built and operated by the W Group subsidiary, W Landmark Inc., the company’s real estate arm.