10 Sep South East Asia’s Healthiest Building

Menarco Tower, the first venture into development of the Jimenez family, received WELL™ Gold registration on 29 August 2019. It is the only building in Southeast Asia that has received such certification. This is an addition to the building’s LEED™ Gold pre-certification.

While LEED™ focuses on rating systems energy and environmental impact of buildings, WELL™ assesses on the health and well-being of occupants.

These certifications were achieved through the vision of Carmen Jimenez-Ong, managing director of Menarco, of a safe and work-conducive place. Under her guidance, the people behind the project went above and beyond the standard to provide “pure, clean air, drinkable tap water, adequate lighting and amenities that promote nourishment and enhance mental and physical well-being” for the workforce.

Chairman Menardo R. Jimenez Sr. said the building reflects the three priorities of the Menarco Development Corporation —  People, Planet and Profit — and that it is a “a fulfillment of a parent’s dream to see their offspring take off on their own will and strength to achieve something and leave a mark in this world.”

This project represents a great leap of faith as he entrusted the management of this venture to his daughter whose only experience in infrastructure was building their family home. Thus has a new breed of developers been born.

Standing on Block 5 Lot 8 on 32nd street of Bonifacio Global City, the 32-floor building boasts of high-speed elevators installed in 2017, more than two and a half years after its groundbreaking.

The key partners C/S Design Consultancy Inc., JACMI, AIDEA, Arcadis/Langdon & Seach Philippines Inc. and Sy2+Associates Structural Engineers, whom Carmen described as the best in the industry, topped off the structure with its final beam laid together on 8 June 2016.

“Surround yourself with the best,” Carmen said in her speech during the event where the two dark gray circular marbles symbolizing the building’s commitment to gold standards were unveiled.

She pointed out that the project kept true to the “values of understated refinement, timeliness, restraint, elegance, strength and intuition.”

Menarco Tower, the first venture into development of the Jimenez family, received WELL™ Gold registration on 29 August 2019. It is the only building in Southeast Asia that has received such certification. This is an addition to the building’s LEED™ Gold pre-certification.

While LEED™ focuses on rating systems energy and environmental impact of buildings, WELL™ assesses on the health and well-being of occupants.

These certifications were achieved through the vision of Carmen Jimenez-Ong, managing director of Menarco, of a safe and work-conducive place. Under her guidance, the people behind the project went above and beyond the standard to provide “pure, clean air, drinkable tap water, adequate lighting and amenities that promote nourishment and enhance mental and physical well-being” for the workforce.

A DIGITAL render of Menarco Tower’s lobby.

Chairman Menardo R. Jimenez Sr. said the building reflects the three priorities of the Menarco Development Corporation —  People, Planet and Profit — and that it is a “a fulfillment of a parent’s dream to see their offspring take off on their own will and strength to achieve something and leave a mark in this world.”

This project represents a great leap of faith as he entrusted the management of this venture to his daughter whose only experience in infrastructure was building their family home. Thus has a new breed of developers been born.

Standing on Block 5 Lot 8 on 32nd street of Bonifacio Global City, the 32-floor building boasts of high-speed elevators installed in 2017, more than two and a half years after its groundbreaking.

The key partners C/S Design Consultancy Inc., JACMI, AIDEA, Arcadis/Langdon & Seach Philippines Inc. and Sy2+Associates Structural Engineers, whom Carmen described as the best in the industry, topped off the structure with its final beam laid together on 8 June 2016.

“Surround yourself with the best,” Carmen said in her speech during the event where the two dark gray circular marbles symbolizing the building’s commitment to gold standards were unveiled.

She pointed out that the project kept true to the “values of understated refinement, timeliness, restraint, elegance, strength and intuition.”

The building was thus created “purposely taut and clean” with soft grey and charcoal grey palette in the first level. The design was an intentional departure from current trends with its quiet elegance and the subtle juxtaposition of materials.

The building is intuitive in that the location was put into consideration in its design. Tall and wide lobby acts as a link for pedestrians between the 32nd street and the open space at the back of the building.

As a testament to its commitment to wellness, the building houses yoga, Pilates and other fitness studios. It also has a Lifeline Clinic together with a hotline in cases of emergencies that require the transport of the sick or injured to the nearby hospitals.

In addition to its many amenities, Menarco has a green terrace on the 8th floor, an “oasis in the middle of the city,” according to Carmen, “where occupants can meet for business meetings or maybe just for relaxation while enjoying the view of the city.”

This article written by Khen Ramil of Daily Tribune.