SM PRIME's Green Buildings for Sustainable Cityscapes

Cities continue to shape the way in our lives – from shifting to greener lifestyle choices to reducing carbon emissions to help save the planet. The successful shift to greener cityscapes begins with the construction of green buildings, by providing smart innovations that work with the environment, and by promoting the well-being of the people who use these spaces on a daily basis.

According to a study made by the US Green Building Council, green buildings can reduce carbon emissions, by an average of 40%, water consumption by around 30%, and waste generation by around 70%. Aside from the environmental benefits, green buildings also help meet social needs by enhancing spaces, protecting human health, empowering differently-abled members of the community to be active in participating, and ensuring access to basic services at reasonable rates. Economic benefits can also be felt as well with green buildings commanding higher rent potentials, encouraging ‘greenovation’ and promoting cultural and recreational activities without harming the environment.

Committed to making our everyday living better, SM Prime had taken the initiative in leading and incorporating sustainability and resiliency in its designs, making each component work together as a fully-integrated city of the future.

 “Constructing greener buildings provides holistic solutions not only reducing emissions but also promoting social well-being.” shares Hans T. Sy, SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee. “We see this in our developments which drives us to build greener and even retrofit our existing malls to meet green standards.”

Amongst SM’s developments, a number boast of receiving LEED Gold certification while others are in the process of certification such as the SM Baguio expansion, SM North EDSA BPO offices, SM Megamall Mega Tower, and SM Retail Corporation, to name a few.

 

SM Aura Premier Park

SM Aura The iconic SM Aura at the Bonifacio Global City is a mixed-use development that incorporates retail, trade halls, and a Grade A tower for offices. The LEED Gold Certified mall promotes resource efficiency, green landscapes, and green mobility

SM Aura LEED GOLD Certification

• Green Mobility. Accessible bicycle storage, cyclists’ shower rooms, and convenient access to safe lanes to public transit.
• Green Landscapes. The SM Aura Premier Park covers over 55% of the building, it uses recycled water which provides enough room for plants to grow while protecting the building and people from heat.
  
• Resource Efficiency. SM Aura uses 16% less than conventional buildings through a high- performance building envelope that reduces solar heat and allows sufficient sunlight. Through a low flow water sensor and metering faucets, it also reduces one-third (1/3) of its potable water use. Only low emitting materials were used as paint, adhesive sealants and floor materials.

Bicycle racks at the Conrad Manila

Conrad Manila

Known as a lifestyle center, Conrad Manila is LEED Gold Certified. A hotel is designed with a dramatically-formed angular structure that houses a stylish 347-rooms, a spa, and a function space while S Maison is home to a swathe of smaller, more bespoke outlets for brands.

• Luxury Means Green Mobility. Boasting of high-end luxury experience, Conrad Manila remains environmentally friendly by providing preferred parking slots for low emitting fuel-efficient vehicles, car-sharing vehicles, and special parking spaces and facilities for cyclists.
• Eco-Friendly Materials. Locally manufactured and recycled materials and products were used whenever possible and more than 80% of the project’s construction waste was recycled. The filtration system maintains a minimum efficiency rating of 90% to eliminate airborne particulates.

• 

  Conrad Manila LEED Gold Certification

  Resource Efficiency. Conrad Manila is designed to reduce energy by around 12% less than American energy standards. Its water heating system recovers heat from chiller condensers to produce hot water, while its ventilation system recovers the coolness from the exhaust air, returning it into the building. The hotel is outfitted with occupancy sensors, tinted with low emissivity insulated glass that keeps the heat and noise out.
• Resource Efficiency. Conrad Manila is designed to reduce energy by around 12% less than American energy standards. Its water heating system recovers heat from chiller condensers to produce hot water, while its ventilation system recovers the coolness from the exhaust air, returning it into the building. The hotel is outfitted with occupancy sensors, tinted with low emissivity insulated glass that keeps the heat and noise out.

Going beyond the LEED Certification, SM Engineering and Design Development, the mall's design and construction arm have implemented these sustainable design strategies on the following projects:

SM Baguio Sky Garden

SM Baguio brings outdoor and indoors into one space optimizing natural lighting and ventilation with the Sky Garden. It has a green roof system as well as a provision for an underground water reservoir for storage and reuse of rainwater with a capacity of 4,389 cubic meters.

SM Seaside Cebu

SM Seaside Cebu mall-goers can enjoy an extensive green area, center courtyard, and roof garden. Constructed with low glass and utilizing EchoStop for noise management, designed to maximize natural light and ventilation. 

SM Lanang Sky Garden

SM Lanang Premier showcases lush greens, a roof garden, and green pavers that invigorate filtration and allow stormwater back to the underground soil. Also equipped with a rainwater catchment system with a water reservoir with a 546-cubic meter capacity based on 425mm per hour rainfall intensity. Has a materials recovery facility that receives, segregates, and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers.

SM Masinag Holding Tank

SM City Masinag helps communities avoid floodwaters with its 15,033 cubic meter water catchment facility,  designed with green screens to promote vertical plant growth, and is constructed with Clerestory windows as a source of natural light.

SM North EDSA Solar Panels

SM North Edsa is one of the SM Mall pioneers to use solar panels and also the first to have the Sky Garden and elevated parks.

Mall of Asia

SM Mall of Asia is uniquely designed with a seawall to forestall any damage from potential storm surges or sea-level rise. Built on reclaimed land, and used an excavation method providing a greater degree of protection against liquefaction and seismic events. It is elevated above the required building levels and equipped with wave return and drainage channels to prevent flooding due to storm surges and high waves.

SM Marikina on stilts

SM Marikina sits on 246 stilts and is built 20 meters beyond compliance with the safety zone. At 20.5 meters above natural ground level, it serves as the first responder and a place of refuge for the residents of Marikina in times of calamities. 

Today, real estate investors for business and personal use have grown to prefer spaces that support the sustainability agendas of the growing population. Pursuing green building standards to support the public’s aspiration for more sustainable communities that are designed for environmental and social well-being. SM Prime believes the importance for developers to work with communities to address climate change and achieve shared aspirations for a greener, more sustainable cityscape for all to enjoy.

“Creating a more sustainable way of life requires a sustainable backdrop that supports the shift. At SM Prime, our passion is to create one that is sustainable and resilient for the life we want for today and the future,” Mr. Sy.