Zuellig Building’s new technologies and newest tenant

IMPRESSIVE main lobby of Zuellig Building

With all the extreme weather patterns we have experienced, many due to climate change, it has become more important to give a higher focus on carbon emissions. As we all know, carbon emissions negatively impact the environment. What I only learned recently is that buildings account for a big percentage of carbon emissions.

ZUELLIG Building in Makati City

While buildings don’t have engines that churn out fossil fuels, they do use electricity, which means they ultimately consume carbon. And in our country, which is urbanizing more and more rapidly, it is critical to look into sustainable architecture and even construction methods.

Green technologies

The green technologies employed in the stunning Zuellig Building along one end of the Ayala Triangle in Makati City have merited a Platinum level award from the US Green Building Council, under their Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design or LEED program. The Zuellig Building joins about a hundred Platinum-certified skyscrapers worldwide.

Among its green technologies, which reduce greenhouse emissions and energy costs, the Zuellig Building has an on-grid, photovoltaic, solar power system to generate renewable energy. In addition, it has rainwater collection systems and gray water recycling systems, both of which save up to 70 percent of its water needs.

The office building is owned by the Zuellig Group and developed by its real estate arm, Bridgebury Realty Corp. The architectural plans of W.V. Coscolluela & Associates and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill integrated the LEED requirements, which were monitored throughout the construction by Langdon & Seah, the project’s sustainability consultant.

Zuellig Building’s newest tenant on the 21st floor is the newly opened EA Regenerative Medicine Center of Excellence (www.earmcoe.com). EA is the first in Southeast Asia to offer advanced regenerative medical procedures using the Celution System from Cytori Therapeutics USA.

EA CENTER operating room

The new world-class ambulatory surgical complex and a StemSource Cell Bank cryogenic facility is the first and only one in the country to date. The clinic allows patients to harvest and immediately benefit from the cells, or store these in the Cell Bank.

Dr. Eder Garcia Dizon, managing director of EA Regenerative Medicine, opened this clinic as part of his vision to bring medical tourism to our country. The clinic’s Cytori Cell Therapy is the first in the region.

Interiors

The interiors of the center are designed to be comfortable and spacious, and set in a luxurious European flair. Interior designer Andrew Galutera relied on clean lines, polished surfaces and few intricate details.

Predominantly using neutral colors, the designer added bold colors like red, yellow and green for accent detailing. Texture was integrated in the soft furnishings like the pillows, accent chair covers and curtains.

EA REGENERATIVE Medicine Center of Excellence lobby

The elegant lobby reception has rich elements like stainless steel, chrome, onyx and Murano glass. Plush upholstered sofas and ottomans have a more homey and inviting setting.

Accent walls are highlighted with wall sconces. Murano tiles were cleverly added to the ceiling for a dramatic focal point. Artist Genalyn Bocar worked on this detail as well as the beautiful ceiling mural in the men’s and ladies’ powder rooms.

The private consultation offices of the principal doctors have a panoramic view of the Makati skyline and the lush greenery of the nearby Urdaneta Village. Next to these rooms are the well-appointed recovery rooms and a lounge area.

The surgical operating rooms have full-length windows to allow natural lighting to enter into the rooms. Patients also have a separate entrance for more private entry and exit from the clinic.

A highlight of the opening ceremonies was a symposium on the benefits of regenerative medicine by Dr. Steven R. Cohen of FACESplus Plastic Surgery and Laser Center and David Oxley of Cytori Therapeutics USA.

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