DATEM Bags Two Wins at the Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards

DATEM has embraced environmental practices and sustainable development, demonstrating its dedication to being the leading green builder in the Philippines.

Philippine construction company DATEM received two prestigious awards at the first Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards 2024. The accolades recognized their innovative Green Materials Directory (GMD) and the LEED version 4 Building Design and Construction: Core and Shell Development certification for the Makati Commerce Tower project.

The GMD was developed to tackle the challenge of identifying materials or products that help earn green building credits. This resource has become crucial with the growing demand for green building and sustainability efforts. The Philippine green building community has faced difficulties meeting international standards due to the need for more local products.

In its inaugural edition, the GMD includes detailed product descriptions, highlighting green features and the specific credits each product contributes towards green building certifications. The directory will be updated annually to include more sustainable materials and raise awareness about the importance of sustainable construction.

It will also offer extensive information to offsite employees about the vital importance of responsibly produced and manufactured materials.

DATEM emphasizes the significance of its GMD in continuously inspiring like-minded suppliers and contractors to adopt sustainable practices in their manufacturing processes and operations. 

"By utilising environmentally friendly construction materials, applying responsible harvesting and manufacturing of raw materials, and complying with methodologies and procedures set by green building councils locally and internationally, DATEM solidifies its commitment to energy efficiency and stewardship for the environment," the company stated. 

DATEM's commitment to green building advocacy has earned it the Innovation in Sustainable Materials of the Year - Philippines award. Among its notable projects is the Makati Commerce Tower, which won the Office Construction of the Year - Philippines category.

This 37-story landmark in the city exemplifies sustainability through its innovative, future-proofing, and wellness features. It offers flexible and spacious floor plans, with typical floor plates ranging from 2,178 to 2,252 square meters on the high-zone floors and 2,178 square meters on the mid-zone floors.

The tower incorporates touchless technology to minimize common touchpoints, energy-saving features, parking with e-vehicle charging stations, a unitized glass curtain wall façade insulated with Low-E coating for enhanced thermal and acoustic properties, and low-flow plumbing fixtures.

The Makati Commerce Tower used 55,548 cubic meters of concrete during its construction, ensuring robust and resilient foundations. The concrete was selected and applied efficiently to guarantee the structure's durability, occupant safety, and environmental sustainability. This selection process also helped achieve LEED credits, particularly for sourcing raw materials, due to the local harvesting and manufacturing of concrete, which included pre-consumer recycled content in the form of fly ash. The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) awarded points for the project's compliance with 49.4% of permanently installed materials based on cost.

The pandemic has underscored the necessity for buildings like the Makati Commerce Tower, which are designed to future-proof office spaces by ensuring sustainability and durability and prioritizing the health and wellness of occupants. 

"The project team and developer's collaboration responded to the importance of having a building that delivers not only commercially but also the whole being of the occupants and the surroundings," the company said.

The Real Estate Asia Built Environment Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in construction, architecture, and interior design across Asia, recognizing innovation and sustainability within the industry.