FOLLOWING the success of its flagship office project in Cebu, Manila-based Arthaland is cementing its property footprint in the Visayas and Mindanao corridor with the launching of its first “sustainable” residential condominium project Lucima in one of Cebu City’s booming business districts.
Lucima sits on a prime 2,245 square-meter property at the corner of Cardinal Rosales Avenue and Samar Loop in Cebu Business Park. This 37-storey residential tower is envisioned to be the first quadruple-certified sustainable high-rise residential condominium in the country.
“With this project, we are expanding our footprint in the Southern Philippines,” said Jaime González, Arthaland’s vice chairman and president. “We want to share our vision and commitment to different parts of the country. Cebu is the best place to start it off in the south for Arthaland, following the success of our company’s office building development, the Cebu Exchange.”
Lucima is part of the P9 billion capital expenditure earmarked by the company for its Cebu projects. The group entered Cebu some six years ago through Cebu Exchange, a green office tower along Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
González said Cebu has always been on the radar of Arthaland’s expansion plans, describing the island as an “influential economic center.”
“Cebu is fast gaining prominence as a leading regional hub and preferred location for some of the most renowned global institutions. Cebu is a huge catchment for Visayas and Mindanao markets,” said Christopher Narciso, executive vice president at Arthaland.
Lucima was coined from the Latin word “lux,” which means light and Spanish word “estima,” which means appreciation, light and its benefits.
It features 263 one to five-bedroom living spaces ranging from 38 to 542 square meters. Each unit boasts a high floor-to-ceiling height of 2.9 meters, and residents can enjoy a view of the ocean, the mountains, or the city.
This residential project broke ground on Monday, July 5, 2021. Its completion is scheduled in the third quarter of 2025.
Upon the project’s reveal, González said the company has already received P1.2 billion worth of interest to buy, solidifying the group’s bullish optimism for Cebu and the project.
“Investors and locators alike can look to Lucima to set the standard of luxury living in the city through its timeless design, meticulously executed construction, and thoughtful sustainability features,” added Narciso.
Features
Bearing in mind the lessons learned during this Covid-19 pandemic, Arthaland elevated its standards in terms of health, safety and security. The firm said its future residents will benefit from “lower electric and water bills and improved indoor air quality.”
Through its efficient building envelope and use of energy-efficient air-conditioning and lighting system and low flow plumbing features, residents and tenants can achieve at least 40 percent savings in electricity bills and at least 20 percent savings in water consumption.
Each unit will have an Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) that improves indoor air quality by bringing in fresh, filtered air while controlling the humidity for thermal comfort.
The ERV is equipped with highly efficient air filters, the same grade used for laboratories, to prevent harmful microbes and pathogens from entering the space.
Moreover, the units are also air-tight, where the main door and windows are mechanically designed, to prevent unwanted dust, sound, and odor transmission between spaces for better acoustic and indoor air quality.
As with other Arthaland developments, Lucima will have its own potager garden to provide residents with fresh, organic and nutritious produce.
Lucima has already earned its pre-certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold by the US Green Building Council. It is vying for WELL Building Standard, Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, and Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence certifications. (KOC)