A model CBD: Filinvest City's green design guided by LEED-ND certification
Filinvest
City in Alabang is once again making a remarkable stride in transforming the
landscape of the Metro South as it actively seeks the prestigious and coveted
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development
(LEED-ND) Plan Version Four Certification from the United States Green Building
Council (USGBC).
LEED for
Neighborhood Development was initiated to recognize large-scale townships that successfully
protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life. The LEED-ND rating system clarifies the
sustainability of neighborhoods using an integrated set of smart growth,
new urbanization, and green construction principles.
A future-ready, masterplanned urban center
Furthermore, in keeping with USGBC’s thrust, Filinvest City was
envisioned as a future-ready, masterplanned community that is
responsive to the needs of the changing times.
“Filinvest City
embodies the principles of smart growth with walkable streets
and an inviting mix of trees and development to foster a sense of community,” says Dean Barone of Barone
International, Filinvest City’s LEED consultant. “It is a place with its own unique character and function
where people live, work and play and interact with
the community.”
Filinvest City has proudly
established itself as the world-class Central Business District of Metro South,
harmoniously blending modern, state-of-the-art urban lifestyle and innovative
masterplanning with green, open spaces and eco-centric features that make it a
walkable and bike-friendly community. Its management believes that achieving
economic progress and prosperity can and should be done without sacrificing
nature and ecological balance. The masterplan was reviewed and enhanced further
to include more nature-friendly features and amenities. With this vision,
Filinvest City was also cited for Best Mixed Use Development at the Asia
Pacific Property Awards.
A self-contained, sustainable convergence hub
Ease of movement
with accessibility at its core, allowing for true pedestrianization, is at the heart of Filinvest City. As a sustainable community, it strives to cater to diverse
needs of existing and future city dwellers. It has established itself as a
modern metropolis where a quality range of residential options, lifestyle
centers, and community hubs are available for every lifestyle, with schools,
public and private hospitals, and government institutions nearby. Apart from
being a thriving business district, Filinvest City stands in a class if its own
Garden City with the enhancement of green spaces and parks and pedestrian- and
cyclist-friendly streets.
"We want Filinvest City to be an experiential
CBD, for residents and workers to experience the city at a ground level—that
their daily lives won't end at their offices or homes, but rather extend to the
parks and other play components provided for them," says Don Ubaldo,
Filinvest Alabang, Inc. vice president for townships.
Host to some of the biggest
multinational corporations, Filinvest City’s skyline also consists of sleek
high-rises and several green buildings, with certified projects
such as Axis Tower One, Vector Three, Toyota Alabang, Polaris, HSBC New
Alabang, and Capella. Even its premium residential developments like Botanika
Nature Residences is Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE)-certified.
The Northgate Cyberzone, the biggest, most innovative IT park
in the Metro South that is home
to a number of these buildings, takes pride in its District Cooling System
(DCS) which helps lessen the energy consumption of the buildings.
A progressive fusion of nature and modernity
A
verdant garden and breathable city—where modernity and nature meet—is what sets
Filinvest City apart. Lush landscapes and open spaces are provided as areas of
convergence for the whole community—locators and residents, as well as their
guests. Thus, Filinvest City is a more conducive working and living environment
compared to other CBDs which are saturated and have fewer open spaces.
Other
streetscape enhancements are in the pipeline, proof of Filinvest City’s further
commitment to green living. Plans include the Central Park along Promenade
Avenue and the Creekside Park development from Palms Pointe Village down to
Festival Alabang.
All
these and more are testaments of Filinvest City’s continuous efforts in making
the entire CBD a model township—one that uses only the best practices in urban
planning.
Adds
Ubaldo: “Our vision for Filinvest City is one that is forward-looking and
grounded on sustainability, where staying abreast with modernity is balanced
with the needs of the environment and the people.”
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