Pandemic boosts adoption of green, sustainable practices in office space

PROPERTY consultancy firm Colliers Philippines said adopting green and sustainable features plays a crucial role in future-proofing office towers beyond the pandemic.

In its latest market report, Colliers said the Covid-19 situation “has accelerated the adoption of sustainable office spaces.”

“As part of occupier retention as well as attraction strategies, Colliers believes that existing landlords and developers should focus not only on wellness attributes, but also on green retrofitting activities,” Joey Bondoc, associate director for research in Colliers International Philippines, said.

Colliers said occupiers that are mandated to follow green initiatives should constantly be on the lookout for upcoming wellness certified office towers likely to be completed across the Philippines in the next 12 to 36 months.

In Cebu, the major building due to be completed from 2021 onwards is Arthaland’s Cebu Exchange Tower, the largest office tower to be built in the Visayas-Mindanao area with a gross leasable area of 108,500 square meters.

Colliers said Cebu Exchange will offer large floor plates (approximately 5,000 square meters), flexible unit cut-ups, and a smart building management system.

It is registered with US Green Building Council, LEED, Philippine Green Building Council and Building for Ecologically Responsible Design Excellence.

Upgrade

Colliers recommended to developers to upgrade their buildings by creating a seamless and efficient overall experience for today’s workforce.

“This can be done by incorporating technology and design enhancements in office space as we see the increasing importance of LEED and WELL certified options to attract major tenants,” Bondoc said, citing Collier’s market update.

Moreover, Colliers foresees a market that is due for an upgrade driven by shifting tenant profiles that cater to the more discerning knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), multinational corporations and traditional occupiers.

Given this, it noted that the market moves from basic structures to more spacious, LEED certified buildings, with more energy efficient systems, consequently improving the overall experience of employees and visitors alike.

Even post-pandemic, Colliers believes that landlords are likely to remain competitive by improving office amenities.

“Over the past two years, Colliers has seen a more aggressive development of LEED certified buildings. This should become more prevalent over the next three years as we see the expansion of discerning KPO tenants,” Bondoc said. (JOB)