Fri Sep 20 12:10:47 UTC 2024: ## Menarco Tower: A “Healthiest” Office Building Sets New Standards in Manila

**MANILA, Philippines** – Menarco Tower, a 32-story skyscraper in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), is turning heads as the country’s “healthiest” office building. The building, designed to combat the daily grind and the detrimental effects of urban environments, is a testament to the power of sustainable and well-being-focused architecture.

Led by Carmen Jimenez-Ong, CEO of Menarco Development Corporation, the project prioritizes employee well-being and sustainability over cost-efficiency, with a focus on creating a space that is both pleasurable and productive.

The building boasts several impressive features:

* **Health and Safety**: Designed to withstand earthquakes and storms, Menarco Tower is also equipped with a water filtration system to eliminate the need for plastic bottles.
* **Art and Culture**: A “vertical museum” showcasing 39 contemporary Philippine artworks adds an artistic dimension to the workplace.
* **Environmentally Conscious**: The building uses less energy thanks to its design and sustainable materials, achieving LEED Gold, WELL Certified Gold, EDGE Advanced, and IMMUNE Resilient certifications.

These features have resulted in an incredibly low vacancy rate of 0-5%, compared to the BGC average of 11%. The building has attracted high-profile tenants such as Facebook and Boston Consulting Group, and has a waiting list for available spaces.

Ong emphasizes the importance of prioritizing well-being over profit, especially in the long run. “You might as well make the right choices so when you wake up in the morning, you can face your kids and say, ‘I did the right thing for your generation,'” she said.

Menarco Tower serves as an example for other developers, prompting them to consider the impact of their buildings on the well-being of occupants and the environment. “If a little developer like us can do it, what more the bigger ones, right? Hinahamon ko lahat (I challenge everyone) to do the same,” Ong said.

Read More