Coscolluelas to help steer PH toward green future

THE COSCOLLUELA-DESIGNED Zuellig Building is the first project in the country to achieve precertification at the Gold level under the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design-Core and Shell (LEED-CS) program of the US Green Building Council. Photo by Charles E. Buban

With the recent appointment of twin brothers—architects Gil and Gary Coscolluela—as senior partners of WV Coscolluela and Associates, expect the 55-year-old firm to dish out strikingly beautiful and highly sustainable and useful buildings in the coming years.

“Together with my newly appointed senior partners, expect this firm to continue its commitment to deliver not only classic and reliable structures but also greener ones,” said architect William Coscolluela, who remains as the firm’s principal architect.

Proof of this advocacy is the new 33-story Zuellig Building located at the intersection of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas, which has been chosen one of the top three buildings in the “Best Office and Business Development” category of the internationally renowned MIPIM (Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier) Asia Awards.

Awarded

The Zuellig Building is the first high-rise project in the country awarded with a gold precertification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Core and Shell) program of the US Green Building Council.

“In addition, our team is also taking care of making certain interiors of Zuellig Building Platinum LEED certified,” said Gil.

The LEED rating system provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at increasing performance, reducing waste, and improving quality of life.

Each strategy listed on the rating system checklist is catalogued as a credit and are grouped into six major categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design and Regionalization.

All the credits in these categories are worth a certain number of points, for example, projects that achieve 40 points are LEED Certified, 50 points earn LEED Silver, 60 points earn LEED Gold, and 80 points earn LEED Platinum certification.

The firm’s latest advocacy could also be seen in the soon-to-be-launched P8.5-billion SM Seaside City Cebu; the P450-million Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo; the Unilab Corporate Offices on Williams Street, Mandaluyong City; and the nearly completed SM Aura Premier (Bonifacio Civic Center) at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Bringing together the best of both international and local retailers seeking the ideal destination for their flagship and concept stores, the SM Aura Premier will be the Philippines’ first commercial center that will be certified Gold by LEED standards.

“As more people move to urban areas in search of economic opportunities, the number of buildings needed to house them continues to rise. This is why the firm pushes for greener architecture as we try to lead the industry’s move toward more sustainable standards,” said the elder Coscolluela.

Major consumer

He related that the buildings in which we live and work are major consumers of energy that are responsible for some 30 to 40 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions, a similar share of total solid waste and 12 percent of all freshwater used.

“With the rate of urbanization reaching record levels, there will be more construction and buildings than ever before. I would appreciate the inputs of my two sons,” said William, who allowed his twins study in two separate but equally prestigious architectural schools in the country: Gil went to the University of the Philippines while Gary went to Mapua Institute of Technology, his father’s alma mater.

Gil’s previous works included designing several areas of the RCBC Plaza, the Equitable PCI Tower, Joya Lofts and Towers at Rockwell in Makati City as well as the Crowne Plaza and Galleria Regency in Pasig, while Gary was involved in several projects like The Grand Midori Makati, The Landmark in TriNoma, Anson’s in The Landmark in Quezon City and Discovery Shores Boracay in the province of Aklan.

“As their father and as founder of a firm that has been designing and building for over 50 years, I am especially proud to see them in these positions of leadership. They have both produced exceptional work as associate partners of the firm over the years. It is the perfect time for them to be the center of  our ongoing projects and help me carry them out,” said William, whose pioneering projects included SM City North Edsa, Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas as well as Raintree Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.