Taking the Lead: Exquadra Tower earns LEED Platinum Certification
Ortigas, Pasig, Philippines – July 5, 2021 – Exquadra Tower has been awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) a LEED Platinum certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and a recognized international symbol of excellence in green building.
The Exquadra Tower is the 6th high-rise building in the Philippines and the 1st in Pasig to earn Platinum, the highest level in the LEED rating system for its design, sustainable construction, and efficient operational practices that improve environmental and human health.
The 38-story Ortigas prime office tower on Exchange Road joins the rank of the world’s most renowned state-of-the-art, environment-friendly buildings such as Bank of America Tower in New York, Asia Square in Singapore, and Taipei 101.
Unioil’s commitment to developing a sustainable project in the heart of Ortigas is a testament to its leadership in today’s world-class “green” architecture. The Platinum-certified Ortigas Landmark signifies Unioil’s legacy: one that is future-proof, iconic, and speaks of the longevity Unioil is known for.
“On its 50th anniversary five years ago, the company decided that despite its significant efforts in protecting the environment, it needs to do more… much more. That is why Unioil formed its first property development company, Exquadra. Today, this is just beyond dreaming. Exquadra Tower is now a LEED Platinum certified building in the heart of the Ortigas CBD. The most exciting part about all this is that we are just getting started.” said Janice Co Roxas-Chua, Director of Exquadra.
Even before the project’s inception, Unioil intends to build an innovative, people-centric, and technologically advanced structure. This is evident in the plans integrated by the team of architects and design consultants behind the Exquadra Tower, Arquitectonica, a world-class architectural firm in Florida, USA. While Barone International, Exquadra’s sustainability consultant, monitored the construction process to ensure that Exquadra adheres to LEED requirements.
“The developers of Exquadra opted for LEED certification by the US Green Building Council because it is the most “holistic” measure of sustainability…not just considering environmental impact but more on tenant wellbeing,” says Kelly Cada, Project Manager of Exquadra.
The resource-efficient systems and green technologies behind Exquadra Tower are designed using an integrated, whole-building approach. The building was designed to provide significant energy savings by utilizing chilled water systems and highly efficient air conditioning systems. The Exquadra Team emphasizes the importance of Indoor Air Quality with the building’s double-filtered air-conditioning system which was designed to introduce fresh, clean air exchange every 8.5 minutes so that the indoor air is constantly being replaced – a feature that has proven to be vital during this pandemic.
The tower is also installed with double-glazed curtain glass that efficiently reflects heat to reduce internal building temperature. It also boasts LED lighting throughout the building, and provisions for energy-efficient destination control elevators. The building’s parking lot is also equipped with electric vehicle charging stations, facial recognition software, and an under-chassis camera for better security. The Exquadra Tower is also the first 5G-ready building in the Philippines.
“Achieving LEED certification is more than just implementing sustainable practices. It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing others to do better,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president, and CEO, USGBC. "Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role buildings play in that effort, Exquadra is creating a path forward through their LEED certification.”
There is no doubt that Unioil’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, innovation, and longevity has paved the way to further raise the benchmark for greener and cleaner living. Exquadra Tower is well primed for the future. This is just the beginning.
About Exquadra, Inc.
Exquadra Inc. was established in 2016 to create an iconic building that will disrupt the commercial landscape of Ortigas. With its high and seemingly unrealistic ambition, local and international industry leaders, experts, consultants, and contractors worked together in creating its very first premium building in the heart of Ortigas' business district. Guided by the vision and principles of our company and its stakeholders, Exquadra Inc. will continue to provide the market with innovative solutions to provide the best experience to its customers.
