Sustainability has transcended trends and has become somewhat of an art form in itself. In business, it has now been refined to qualify as a point of sophistication, with good reason. Implementing sustainable practices into an operation requires both technological innovation and their creative application.

Much more than that, sustainability is also an embodiment of modern values, where short-term gains are foresworn for the benefit of the future generations. The significance is further heightened in the wake of current global crises.

In the words of the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin in their 2022 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) report, “The world is facing a confluence of crises that threaten the very survival of humanity. All of these crises — and ways to prevent and navigate them — are addressed holistically in the SDGs.”

Sustainable Development Goal 11 focuses on building sustainable cities and communities, as more than half the world’s population live in cities today. By 2050, it is predicted that seven out of 10 people will likely live in urban areas.

“Cities are drivers of economic growth and contribute more than 80% of global GDP. However, they also account for more than 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If well-planned and managed, urban development can be sustainable and can generate inclusive prosperity,” the UN report writes.

In property development, the development and refinement of sustainable or green buildings have been the foundation of rating and performance measurement systems like the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

Ultimately, the goal is to create the best buildings possible, with consideration to all the necessary elements in the grander context of the modern era. LEED provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon and cost-saving green buildings, and LEED-certified buildings are globally recognized as symbols of sustainability achievement and leadership.

LEED-certified buildings save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. They are a critical part of addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities.

Rockwell Land, as a leading premium property developer in the Philippines, strives to embody such qualities in its portfolio. In fact, the company is raising the bar of sophistication in Rockwell Center with the launch of the Proscenium at Rockwell.

The Proscenium at Rockwell stands as a symbol of modern values in property developer, a holistic community in Makati consisting of five residential towers with a sprawling amenity deck designed by world-renowned Uruguayan architect, Carlos Ott. In this enclave where all needs are within reach is Rockwell Workspaces’ newest office tower, 1 Proscenium.

As a LEED Silver-Certified building, 1 Proscenium builds on the luxury experience created by the mixed-use complex, offering 214 square meters (sq. m.) to 640 sq. m. of office spaces, equipped with the latest Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air-conditioning system and is built with operable windows for greater air circulation. With 21 floors and floor-to-ceiling windows, the office spaces feature plentiful natural sunlight to its tenants while providing a distinct exclusive view of the Rockwell community within Makati.

Aiming to provide the best office spaces for the finest professionals and discerning executives, 1 Proscenium is an integral part of the Proscenium masterplan. The balance of conduciveness, thoughtful office functionalities, and the unique touch of Rockwell’s distinct lifestyle is what makes it the ultimate workstyle experience.

Rockwell Workspaces first ventured into creating premium office spaces through its pioneer project, Rockwell Business Center Ortigas in Pasig. This was followed by its first LEED Gold-Certified building, 8 Rockwell, located in Makati City. Rockwell Business Center Sheridan in Mandaluyong and Santolan Town Plaza in San Juan were soon launched afterwards. Through the addition of 1 Proscenium to its portfolio, the brand continues to provide and preserve the signature workstyle they create.

To learn more about the office spaces for lease in 1 Proscenium, please visit rockwellworkspaces.com.

Article taken from: https://www.bworldonline.com/spotlight/2022/08/10/467001/bringing-sustainability-to-the-fore-of-philippine-workspaces/

Written by: Ching M. Alano

Rise and shine! Time to drag yourself out of bed and get ready for work. Yes, work at the office and not at home, which served as your instant office during the pandemic. With the COVID-19 restrictions easing up as more people are now fully vaccinated, the country’s workforce is transitioning from working from home to going back to work. To get the economy back on track, business establishments are reopening and companies are trying to bring their employees back to the workplace.

But not all of us are all that keen to go back to the office.

Indeed, people have settled down to a daily routine around their work-from-home setup and found comfort in it. So, what would it take for employers to encourage employees to come to work? With businesses starting to surge back, how can companies make returning to the office work?

Providing a safe, pleasant and comfortable work environment is an important factor that can help employees work more efficiently and happily. Rockwell Workspaces seeks to answer the call by providing safe and modern office spaces that redefine what one would expect from the workplace.

Your safe office haven, 1 Proscenium, is ideally located on Estrella Street, Rockwell Center, close to Makati’s Central Business District.

Future-proofed office space

Picture a 3.6-hectare premier mixed-use development in a self-sustaining community with world-class office spaces designed for the finest professionals and executives in search of the perfect balance of innovation and sophistication, on the one hand, and convenience, productivity, and safety on the other.

Amid this thriving Proscenium community rises 1 Proscenium, developed by Rockwell Land which first ventured into creating premium office spaces conducive for tenants to embrace the distinct Rockwell workstyle.

An added draw for 1 Proscenium is that it’s a LEED Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified building offering 117 to 640 sq.m. of flexible office spaces suited to one’s business needs.

With a total of 19 prime office floors, 1 Proscenium is future-proofed beyond the pandemic.

Being a green building, it uses energy-efficient LED lights and low-consumption water fixtures. Equipped with the latest VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) air-conditioning system, you’ll never have to feel cooped up in an office building, in view of the pandemic, because there are operable windows that can be opened not only to allow natural air to come in but also to save on energy consumption. Moreover, providing natural lighting and optimizing air quality can only redound to a healthier, happier, more productive workforce.

To name a few, 1 Proscenium is already set to become home to workspaces of architectural and design firms, engineering and service companies, and law offices.

Work safety & productivity

The spacious and bright office spaces provide both comfort and security. Proscenium workspaces  are equipped with heightened safety protocols, adopting the latest technologies, to ensure tenants of work safety and productivity. For added security and safety, there’s RFID access in elevators as well as CCTV cameras, 100-percent backup power, and a centralized fire detection and alarm system. 1 Proscenium is the first Rockwell Center project to have an e-vehicle charging station.

Set in an exclusive community, 1 Proscenium enjoys both the luxury of privacy and the convenience of nearby retail areas at the Power Plant Mall. From shopping to dining and recreational destinations, everything is just a strolling distance away.

No sweat getting around this self-contained community as it’s also bike- and pedestrian-friendly. It’s likewise accessible via different modes of transportation, such as buses, jeepneys, vans, and MRT.

This vibrant neighborhood is also accessible to the business district of Taguig. And it will afford more accessibility with the Pantaleon bridge that connects Makati City to Mandaluyong.

Surely, you’ll look forward to a  day at the office if you work in an exciting place like this.

Article taken from: https://propertyreport.ph/news-and-events/2022/03/25/25067/creating-a-new-work-world-as-people-return-to-the-office/.

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Live your Rockwell Workstyle at 1 Proscenium! Office spaces for lease and sale. Contact 0917-155-ROCK or visit www.rockwellworkspaces.com.

Rockwell Workspaces launches 1 Proscenium, its newest office tower made for the finest professionals in Rockwell Center, Makati City. This latest development adds to its portfolio of well-appointed workspaces, which include Rockwell Business Center Ortigas, Rockwell Business Center Sheridan, Santolan Town Plaza, and 8 Rockwell. 

Located within the Proscenium at Rockwell, 1 Proscenium is a 21-floor LEED-certified building with a typical layout of 640 square meters of flexible office spaces fit for one’s business needs.

Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the exclusive community and a steady stream of natural light, while a cafe at the mezzanine is fit for quick coffee breaks. 

Enjoy an uninterrupted and comfortable workflow with 100 percent back-up power, as well guaranteed safety with exclusive access via an RFID card system, 24-hour CCTV monitoring, and security and property management teams on standby 24/7. 1 Proscenium also utilizes the latest Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Inverter Air Conditioning System by Samsung. 

As a Green building, 1 Proscenium makes use of energy efficient LED lights and low-consumption water fixtures. It has operable windows as well, that not only allow greater air circulation but are also energy efficient with the use of passive ventilation. 

Within the exclusive Proscenium community in Rockwell Center, the building enjoys privacy and the convenience of nearby retail areas. It is also bike-friendly, and affords accessibility with the Pantaleon bridge nearing completion, which will connect Makati City to Mandaluyong. These features contribute to what makes an office space safe and adaptable in light of the pandemic. 

The current situation may have impacted the office market, but is expected to fully recover over the next two years. Rockwell Workspaces, in particular, maintains a strong occupancy rate and enjoys a higher capital appreciation because of its proven track record and strategic locations.

In the past five years before 2020, rental rates have been steadily increasing in Makati CBD and vacancy stood at five percent. Within the sought-after Rockwell Center in Makati, 1 Proscenium is expected to command rental rates at par with the CBDs, as seen in other developments by Rockwell Workspaces. In particular, 8 Rockwell capital values have appreciated by 90 percent from its original purchase price. This makes 1 Proscenium an ideal real estate investment both to diversify one’s portfolio. Office spaces in the building are also available to companies for lease. 

Learn more about Rockwell’s premium office spaces for lease and for sale on https://rockwellworkspaces.com/.

Source: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/09/rockwell-workspaces-introduces-1-proscenium/

By Amy R. Remo

Rockwell Workspaces has launched a green, sustainable office tower that is poised to attract upmarket occupiers seeking for safe, healthy working environments postpandemic.

1 Proscenium, the latest addition to Rockwell’s growing office portfolio, is a 21-floor LEED-certified building that offers well-appointed workspaces, with a typical layout of 640 sqm, for sale and for lease.

That it is located within the upscale Proscenium at Rockwell in Makati City is in itself a huge draw for many companies looking to have a prime business address that can command a premium in terms of prices and rental rates. But that it has also secured a certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design from the US Green Building Council undoubtedly gives 1 Proscenium a more significant competitive advantage in the market today.

Heightened preference

In its report in May, Colliers Philippines said that “there will likely be a heightened preference for sustainable buildings that provide natural lighting and optimize air quality, among other features. Over the next three to five years, these features should result in utility and talent acquisition cost savings and contribute to a healthier and more productive workforce.”

Colliers explained that the COVID-19 situation has accelerated the adoption of sustainable office spaces—a trend seen to complement the recovery of office leasing demand across Metro Manila beyond 2021. Green building certifications such as LEED are not only seen as a seal of authenticity highly appreciated by both local and multinational companies, but also as a way to future-proof office towers beyond the pandemic.

Colliers estimates that only 37 percent of new office space supply in Metro Manila from 2021 to 2023 will likely be buildings that come with LEED, BERDE, WELL or EDGE certifications.

Sustainable features

1 Proscenium will aptly address this growing preference for certified buildings which can offer energy efficient, sustainable features that promote the well-being of occupiers. It has thoughtful safety measures in place to help assure employees as they go back to the office.

For one, it has operable windows to allow better air circulation which is not only healthier, but is also more energy efficient as it allows passive ventilation. 1 Proscenium also uses the latest variable refrigerant flow (VRF) inverter airconditioning system, which will help ensure better air quality inside the office tower.

Other sustainable features include the use of energy efficient LED lights and low-consumption water fixtures, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the exclusive community and a steady stream of natural light. Occupiers are assured of uninterrupted and comfortable workflow with 100 percent back-up power, while safety is guaranteed with 1 Proscenium’s RFID card system, 24-hour CCTV monitoring, and security and property management teams that are available 24/7.

While occupiers can have a quick coffee break at the cafe at the tower’s mezzanine floor, they can also enjoy the convenience of having a host of nearby retail areas within the exclusive Proscenium community itself or those in other buildings within Rockwell Center, including the Power Plant Mall. What’s good is that it’s easy to get around within this self-contained community as it is both bike- and pedestrian-friendly.

Needless to say, businesses will enjoy 1 Proscenium’s premium location, boosted largely by its accessibility and proximity to the central business districts of Makati and Taguig. Soon to be reopened to the public is the four-lane Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge, which some also call the Rockwell Bridge, that connects the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong.
Such a location has allowed properties within Rockwell Center to enjoy capital gains, including 8 Rockwell, an office tower whose capital values have appreciated by 90 percent from its original purchase price in 2016. This only makes 1 Proscenium truly an ideal real estate investment to diversify one’s portfolio.

Recovery in the offing

Colliers Philippines, in its April 2021 report titled “Office leasing opportunities amid COVID surge”, said that it “sees net take-up recovering by the end of 2021, especially with the successful roll out of the COVID vaccine.”

Rockwell Workspaces, however, has maintained a strong occupancy rate and continued to enjoy a higher capital appreciation because of its proven track record and strategic locations. Apart from 1 Proscenium and 8 Rockwell, its other office towers include Rockwell Business Center Ortigas, Rockwell Business Center Sheridan, Santolan Town Plaza, and Proscenium Podium Offices.

It is expected however that once business and consumer sentiments improve and as soon as the economy fully recovers, demand for office space will again pick up pace.
But it won’t be surprising if 1 Proscenium will see a robust take up as early as today. It has, after all, what companies will ever need and demand amid and beyond this pandemic.

Learn more about Rockwell’s premium offices for lease and sale on https://rockwellworkspaces.com/.
Call 0917 155 ROCK or email workspace@rockwell.com.ph.

Source: https://business.inquirer.net/326763/leed-certified-1-proscenium-offers-safe-premium-workspaces#ixzz71zElc18v

By VG Cabuag

A setting sun is seen on Thursday from C5 Road in Buting, Pasig City, with the Kalayaan Avenue and Rockwell skyline in Makati City providing a stark backdrop.

Property developer Rockwell Land Inc. on Monday said the Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the Philippine office market, but the company expects the segment to fully recover within the next two years.

The company noted that its Rockwell Workspaces, its brand for offices both for sale and for rent, maintains a strong occupancy rate and enjoys a higher capital appreciation because of its proven track record and strategic locations.

“In the past five years before 2020, rental rates have been steadily increasing in Makati CBD [Central Business District] and vacancy stood at 5 percent. Within the sought-after Rockwell Center in Makati, 1 Proscenium is expected to command rental rates at par with the CBDs, as seen in other developments by Rockwell Workspaces,” the company said.

The company recently launched its 1 Proscenium, its newest office tower made for the professionals in Rockwell Center, Makati City. This latest development adds to their portfolio of workspaces, which include Rockwell Business Center Ortigas, Rockwell Business Center Sheridan, Santolan Town Plaza, and 8 Rockwell.

The company said 8 Rockwell capital values have appreciated by 90 percent from its original purchase price.

“This makes 1 Proscenium an ideal real estate investment both to diversify one’s portfolio. Office spaces in the building are also available to companies for lease,” it said.

Located within the Proscenium at Rockwell, 1 Proscenium is a 21-floor LEED-certified building with a typical layout of 640 square meters of flexible office spaces fit for business needs. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of the exclusive community, while a cafe at the mezzanine is fit for quick coffee breaks.

The company said it has 100 percent back-up power, with exclusive access via an RFID card system, 24-hour CCTV monitoring and security and property management teams on standby 24/7.

The new office building utilizes the latest variable refrigerant flow inverter air-conditioning system by Samsung.

As a green building, 1 Proscenium makes use of energy efficient LED lights and low-consumption water fixtures. It has operable windows as well, that not only allows greater air circulation but is also energy efficient with its use of passive ventilation.

Within the exclusive Proscenium community in Rockwell Center, the building has privacy and the convenience of nearby retail areas. It is also bike-friendly, and affords accessibility with the Pantaleon Bridge nearing completion, which will connect Makati City to Mandaluyong.

“These features contribute to what makes an office space safe and adaptable in light of the pandemic,” the company said.

To learn more about Rockwell Workspaces, visit https://rockwellworkspaces.com/.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/07/05/rockwell-land-expects-office-market-to-recover-in-2-years/

THE 1 Proscenium tower is located within Rockwell Center, Makati City.

ROCKWELL WORKSPACES recently launched its newest office tower in Makati City.

Located within the Proscenium at Rockwell Center, 1 Proscenium is a 21-floor building with a typical layout of 640 square meters (sq.m.) of flexible office spaces.

The green building has a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, and uses energy efficient LED lights and low-consumption water fixtures.

It also has 100% back-up power, provides exclusive access via an RFID card system, 24-hour CCTV monitoring, and security and property management teams on standby 24/7.

“The 1 Proscenium is expected to command rental rates at par with the CBDs, as seen in other developments by Rockwell Workspaces. In particular, 8 Rockwell capital values have appreciated by 90% from its original purchase price. This makes 1 Proscenium an ideal real estate investment both to diversify one’s portfolio,” the company said in a statement.

Office spaces in 1 Proscenium are also available to companies for lease.

To learn more about Rockwell’s premium office spaces for lease and for sale, visit https://rockwellworkspaces.com/.

Source: https://www.bworldonline.com/rockwell-workspaces-launches-1-proscenium/

By Michaela Tangan

The conventional wisdom for office space use remains relevant in the new normal. Corporate leaders continue to see the importance of having a headquarter as this provides a deeper positive interaction and productive collaboration while enabling professional relationships and cultivating company culture.

Another matter that sheds light on the perks of physical offices is the question of the remote work model’s long-term viability. While work-from-home shows promise, for now, studies have linked this setup to work-related stress mainly because employees are experiencing difficulty in blurring the line between work and home life.

Now, as the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines creates optimism and renewed desire to refuel the economy by going back to normal, businesses are looking into office spaces that value quality and character while placing high emphasis on back-to-work safety protocols.

Elevating business and lifestyle

Rockwell Land presents an array of elevated business and lifestyle opportunities with its premier office towers, especially in the new normal. As the company continues to expand its footprint in the office space sector, it pours its two-decade knowledge and expertise in residential real estate with office spaces such as 8 Rockwell.

Embedded with the luxury and convenience that Rockwell has been known for, the building has 19 floors with units that feature generous layout cuts needed for the distanced new normal. It is also aptly equipped with modern building systems and new technologies that make the office a safe space for its occupants.

Other central business districts (CBDs) and major thoroughfares are also easily accessible here. The Makati CBD is right around the corner, approximately only 1.3 kilometers away, while Fort Bonifacio in Taguig is around 3.7 kilometers away.

Since it stands at the heart of the Rockwell Center, the less-dense side of Makati, it is a comfortable walk away, via the underground passageways, from the prime lifestyle center Power Plant Mall. The nearby mall alone has a well-curated mix of tenants—from salons and apparel stores to cafes, restaurants, and a marketplace.

To provide convenience to the executives and their employees, there is an array of lifestyle choices within the vicinity, such as the Rockwell Club, Aruga Apartment, Rockwell Atletica, and commercial strips at Edades Tower and Garden Villas, Joya Lofts & Towers, and One Rockwell.

Indeed, 8 Rockwell has been an irresistible location for local and international start-ups, medium enterprises, and big corporations for its unique community and convenient and amenity-filled central location.

Among the many, highly successful corporations in 8 Rockwell is UCC Ueshima Coffee Philippines Inc.

UCC principal CEO Hubert Young, known for bringing the distinct and elevated Japanese dining and coffee experience to the Philippines, says that he had always wanted to invest in Rockwell.

Young has put his money where he saw the success of his investment, and acquired a space in 8 Rockwell.

He also took advantage of the unique community and culture in Rockwell by opening an Eight Coffee Bar by UCC in the building. Seeing great potential for the growth of his businesses within Rockwell properties, he opened CoCo Ichibanya and UCC Café Terrace at One Rockwell, as well as UCC branches at the Santolan Town Plaza in San Juan and The Vantage Gallery in Kapitolyo.

“It’s a privilege to have an investment in Rockwell. When the opportunity came in, we decided to own an office due to its wonderful community and proximity to where we reside,” the Rockwell lessee shared.

“What makes it unique is the walking distance of Power Plant Mall that is complete with everything you need. It’s hassle-free since Rockwell has never been crowded compared to other office spaces,” Young capped.

Aside from 8 Rockwell, other Rockwell workplaces in key CBDs in the metro—Rockwell Business Center Sheridan, Rockwell Business Center Ortigas, Santolan Town Plaza, and the upcoming office tower in Proscenium—all carry the brand’s promise of safety, convenience and luxury.

To learn more about 8 Rockwell and other Rockwell Workspaces, follow www.facebook.com/rockwellworkspaces and www.instagram.com/rockwellworkspaces, and visit https://rockwellworkspaces.com/.

Source: https://propertyreport.ph/commercialoffices/2021/03/12/18573/rockwell-workspaces-tailored-to-the-work-style-of-the-finest-professionals/

By Michaela Tangan

Living up to the notable properties Rockwell Land has developed over the years, Rockwell Workspaces also provides premium office spaces in the most ideal locations.

The unsettled times urged us all to rise above the challenge, find new ways to thrive and reimagine how work can be done.

While others have tested the waters of the work-from-home arrangement, leaders across all industries continue to see the role physical offices hold when it comes to promoting collaboration and cultivating healthy corporate culture.

Therefore, offices are slowly transitioning into a destination with a purpose. From a place where one sits and works all day, it is gently becoming a venue where leaders train a new breed of professionals, important ideas are born, inspirations are shared, and huge milestones are celebrated.

With this, workplace decision-makers have also realized the need for better and more resilient spaces, one that stands with character amid an amenity-filled central location. This is where Rockwell Workspaces comes to mind.

Living up to the notable properties Rockwell Land has developed over the years, Rockwell Workspaces also provides premium office spaces in the most ideal locations. One of its most notable spaces is 8 Rockwell along Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center — the less dense yet ever-vibrant side of Makati.https://0c88fef176f6dcf1c361baa92e4f8fe3.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

Since its launch, 8 Rockwell has been providing conducive workplaces to a mix of tenants — from start-ups and medium enterprises to big corporations. Aside from spacious layout cuts, it further enhances the work-life of employees and executives, given its proximity to major thoroughfares, commercial spaces, and other CBDs. It enjoys a 93.17 average escalation rate compared to its initial selling price, thanks to the premium Rockwell brand and its strategic locations.

The workspaces in 8 Rockwell, Rockwell Business Center Sheridan, and Rockwell Business Center Ortigas command high rental rates similar to those in main CBDs.

Following its success, the company is also set to open more office spaces in the coming years. Rockwell’s office and leasing arm ups the ante of the Makati office market as it introduces Podium Offices, which also rises within the Philippines’ foremost financial hub. This newest endeavor ticks all the boxes, desires and needs of the finest, modern-day professionals.

The Podium Offices are also tucked on the second and third floors of Lorraine, Kirov, Sakura, and Lincoln residential towers. It veers away from the traditional enclosed office spaces. All workplaces have floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing one to revel in the view of bustling Makati streets, green open spaces, and architectural masterpieces while giving eyes a break from the screen.

Ranging from 80 sqm to 300 sqm, the workplaces are suited for flourishing start-up businesses and multinational companies expanding their footprint in the country as they can cater to bigger office space requirements.

Those based in this area are not only at the heart of the metro but also Makati. It is adjacent to Power Plant Mall, a lifestyle center that features well-curated retail shops, restaurants and a marketplace. Right outside and within the community, the building is a quick stroll away from more lifestyle choices.

Close by, Rockwell Workspaces is set to offer a new supply of posh office spaces in time for the anticipated rental growth recovery during the second quarter of next year as forecasted by Colliers.

With these upcoming developments, Rockwell Workspaces, yet again, witnesses the realization of goals and watches as dreams come to life within the Rockwell community.

To learn more about Rockwell Workspaces, follow its social media pages and visit https://rockwellworkspaces.com/.

Source: https://propertyreport.ph/commercialoffices/2020/11/27/16735/rockwell-workspaces-the-launch-pad-of-the-finest-professionals/

By Amy R. Remo

The office property sector continues to exhibit resiliency amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colliers International Philippines said a recovery is likely in 2021, during which office space rents are expected to pick up pace. Over the next 12 months, Colliers expects occupants providing essential services leading office absorption while some outsourcing firms might opt for plug-and-play offices for their immediate space requirements.

“With a general slowdown in leasing activity all over Metro Manila following reduced space demand from Pogo (Philippine offshore gaming operators), outsourcing and traditional firms, coupled with willingness among landlords to drop rents, Colliers retains its forecast of a 17 percent correction in lease rates in 2020. This is likely to be more apparent starting the fourth quarter of 2020. We see further correction in submarkets where there is a large upcoming supply. The vacant space is likely to be offered to non Pogo tenants at a 20 to 30 percent discount,” Colliers said in its latest report.

“However, an upside is that the central bank is projecting some form of economic recovery starting in the fourth quarter of 2020. This should also be supported by the expansion of outsourcing firms to comply with the government’s social distancing protocols. This should support growth in office leasing in the next six to 18 months and should result in a 2 percent growth in rents starting 2021,” it further reported.

Safety in the workplace

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reshaped office spaces today given the shift in the priorities and preferences of both developers and tenants.

Whether in terms of design, density, security measures or even technology, this health crisis has no doubt accelerated the adoption of critical changes that will enable businesses to comply with the new protocols such as thermal scanning and social distancing. There is a higher standard now in ensuring that office spaces are not only conducive for work and collaboration, but are also capable of securing the safety and well-being of the occupants.

In the office of the future, technology will play a central role in enabling employees to return to office buildings and to work safely… Organizations will need to manage which employees can come to the office, when they can enter and take their places, how often the office is cleaned, whether the airflow is sufficient, and if they are remaining sufficiently far apart as they move through the space,” noted an article from McKinsey & Company.

Offices in the new normal

Fortunately, some Philippine companies have already made significant headway in creating the new workplace in the new normal.

Rockwell Land, for example, has long initiated and rolled out new measures, even adopting the latest technologies in its office towers to comply with the new health protocols. Premium grade office spaces in 8 Rockwell in Makati, The Rockwell Business Center-Ortigas in Pasig, Santolan Town Plaza in San Juan, and The Rockwell Business Center-Sheridan in Mandaluyong all ensure that tenants and employees can function safely and efficiently.

One of the latest and most notable innovations being rolled out in Rockwell Workspaces is the installation of upgraded airconditioning panels which will ensure better and safer air quality inside the towers. This is crucial as the layout and design of a building, as well as the occupancy and type of heating, ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC) system are said to have an impact on the potential airborne spread of the virus.

By October, Rockwell Workspaces will be the first in the Philippines to have this new airconditioning system that utilizes a “Wind-Free” technology, which ensures almost no airflow, with a speed of less than 0.15 m/s. This “still air” allows occupants to stay safe even with just a 2-meter distance from one another. The Samsung Wind-Free 4Way cassette also has a purifying panel comprised of three types of filters (Pre-Filter, Deodorization Filter, and PM1.0 Filter) that can make the air fresh and clean. The improved airconditioning system, in particular, does not only capture ultra fine dust, but more importantly sterilizes virus and bacteria.

Other protocols

In line with the new health mandates, all employees and guests are required to use face masks and face shields at all times inside the office towers. Upon entry, a device will read their temperatures, detect if they’re wearing face masks and scan their faces for contact tracing purposes. They also need to step on the foot bath for disinfection. Guests are likewise required to accomplish a health declaration form.

To ensure continuous disinfection and sanitation within the office towers, alcohol and sanitizers are available before entering the building, elevators and lobbies while the so-called “high-touch” areas and surfaces are frequently cleaned. Rockwell also installed an automatic disinfectant inside the elevators; UV light inside the airconditioning units of the elevators and additional UV in the fresh air handling units. UV treatment is done within the common areas after office hours.

One cannot thus underscore enough the significance of implementing such innovations and protocols in this era of the new normal, when health and safety have become everyone’s paramount concerns. In having all these measures in place, employees, tenants and guests will all be assured that the office towers they’re in are fit for occupancy.

Rockwell Land, which has long been known for providing a lifestyle beyond ordinary, has clearly brought this same distinction to its office towers, ensuring that its buildings will always remain safe, healthy and conducive for work amid and beyond this pandemic.

For more information on Rockwell Land’s offices, email workspace@rockwell.com.ph and visit https://rockwellworkspaces.com/.

Source: https://business.inquirer.net/308232/rockwell-workspaces-continues-to-innovate-to-fit-the-new-normal#ixzz71tZJDMVY