In 2007, in response to the “urgent need to address environmental issues,” real estate giant Megaworld Corporation (MC) designed One Campus Place, its business process outsourcing (BPO) project in McKinley Hill Cyberpark in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, as a green building, “one of (MC’s) contributions to environmental conservation and the prevention of global warming,” MC EVP Jericho Go says.

More specifically, One Campus Place boasts of being “solar reliant,” with the installation – under the helm of a consultant from India, where BPO companies like Wipro and Infosys already widely use renewable energy sources – of a 30-kilowatt (kW) solar power generating system at the roof decks of the two 10,600 square meter six-storey building.

“Since the building is partly electrified by solar power, this will cut down demand for electricity from power stations. This will mean less burning of fossil fuels in power plants and fewer carbon emissions. This is clean energy that reduces dependency on fossil fuels and has zero carbon emissions,” Go says. But MC’s environmental effort is not stopping with One Campus Place.

The “top residential condominium and BPO office buildings developer” is slated to “put nature’s haven in the center of the congested metropolis” with its newest project, Manhattan Parkview Residence in Manhattan Garden City (MGC), Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

Strategically located in the Philippines’ “original ‘malling’ area” of Cubao where the Araneta Coliseum is), Manhattan Parkview will be the second set of condominium towers to rise in MGC after the three towers of Manhattan Parkway Residence. And all throughout the design of the three towers of Manhattan Parkview, “(we) underscore the nature concept, e.g. its outdoor development plan will feature a walkable, interconnected area and open spaces covered by greens – otherwise called green rooftop technolo gy,” thereby making it an “enclave of residential high-rises accessible to the train systems of the MRT and LRT 2 via a 729-meter, elevated garden walkway that will connect all the towers,” notes Megaworld Central Properties Inc. president Anthony Charlemagne Yu. Yu adds: “Many of us desire to live in a place that provides a natural relief from the business of life, a softening, outdoor sanctuary where we can rest and rejuvenate. Manhattan Parkview will give a nature park experience through its tropical plants, large foliage, wild flowers, accents, and water features.”

Boasting of “free-form planting arrangements,” instead of the “manicured, or formally laid out landscapes that commonly sprout in cities,” Manhattan Parkview’s “mass tropical planting will create a micro-environment, giving one natural feel while walking. (This way, we have) easily-propagated flowers in great varieties and bright colors (to) lend sense of warmth and joy. They will refine the residents’ discovery of MGC’s other amenities: the pool, benches, sun decks, trellises, and others. They will also serve as a screen and buffer, giving privacy to outdoor amenity users,” Yu says.

The greening, particularly of the rooftop development concept, of Manhattan Parkview is also expected to “insulate the building against both heat and cold, using less energy while creating more oxygen. (This, in turn, will) contribute greatly to human comfort and health within an urban area, like Araneta Center, by reducing urban surface temperatures, reducing storm water run off, and filtering pollutants and carbon dioxide,” Yu says, adding that “amid fresher air and greenery, MGC residents can move in greater speed and comfort as well to the capital’s commercial areas, premier universities, and business districts through a grand transfer pavilion that gives access to the LRT and MRT.”

Conceptualized by the Araneta Group and Megaworld, MGC is the first and only transitoriented development linked to two mass transit systems. But sans the convenience, the appeal, MC believes, may be from the good lifestyle that the place is expected to effect on its residents. “MGC’s various amenities facilitate neighborly interaction and cater to people with a wide range of habits and aspirations. Fitness and sports buffs can frequent the gym, lap pool, tennis court, or basketball court. Young families can stake it out in the picnic area and playground. The meditative types can gaze into the reflective pool or leave footprints on the reflexology path. Finding one’s own nook will be easy enough as a landscaped area will embrace every block of MGC towers at the fourth level,” the company says in a statement.

The response to One Campus Place, MC’s earlier development, continues to be strong, so that Go believes they are on the right track with developing green projects. “While One Campus Place is only one building, this is (MC’s) first step in the right direction to help
combat global warming,” Go says.

Thus, aside from “closely studying the addition of environment-friendly features in (MC’s) other building projects,” select projects are actually being built with the environment in mind, with the likes of Manhattan Parkview immediately coming to mind.

And so the re-building of environment for the environment continues.