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Century City Mall Opens

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Broadway Malyan-designed Century City Mall opens in Makati City, Philippines

The 1bn Philippine Peso ‘Century City Mall’, designed by global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan, has opened to the public, making it the newest retail development in the City of Makati for nearly a decade.
1 CENTURY CITY MALL FACADE IN KALAYAAN AVENUE (facing Makati Avenue)

Broadway Malyan delivered an integrated package of design services, covering architecture, interior and landscape design to wayfinding, on the 17,000 square metre retail centre.

The Mall hosts a wide range of luxury retail, fashion and lifestyle brands, includes four state-of-the-art cinemas and features a roof top garden with al fresco dining and a bar, complementing a series of ‘green paths’ オンライン カジノ that thread through the scheme.

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Tenants include Rustan’s Supermarket, fashion and beauty stores Desigual, Fresh/H20, Beauty Bar, Hush Puppies, Philip Stein, Swarovski and Victorinox, and food and dining establishments Azurro Bistro and Restaurant, Early Bird Breakfast Club, Pepper Lunch, Starbucks Coffee, TWG Tea, Mochi Sweets and US burger joint CaliBurger.

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Century City Mall is one of several buildings that Broadway Malyan has designed and which are now being built as part of the landmark mixed-use Century City scheme developed by Century Properties in Makati City.

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Distinguished by our global reach with 16 studios across world centres, unrivalled diversity with 500 design experts and distinctive client focus with over 75% income from repeat business, Broadway Malyan creates world-class and fully-integrated cities, places and buildings to unlock lasting value and deliver a ‘return on design’.

 

ABB and Philips Join Forces

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ABB and Philips join forces in commercial building automation for energy efficiency and increased functionality

Philips’ lighting systems will connect seamlessly with ABB’s building device controls, reducing the cost of renovation of mid-and small-sized commercial buildings

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – ABB, a leading power and automation technology provider, and Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), the global leader in lighting, today announced a collaboration to simplify the integration of connected lighting systems and building device control for commercial buildings. Combining Philips’ wealth of expertise in LED lighting systems with  ABB’s knowledge of building automation will benefit systems integrator, commercial building owners, facility managers and the people who work in these buildings.

Philips’ connected lighting system will interface seamlessly with ABB’s automation software to offer the ability to control a commercial environment including lighting, blinds, building access and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).  The introduction of the solution from ABB and Philips will make it much simpler to reconfigure spaces. In a hotel this could mean altering the lighting scene after combining several separate rooms into a large meeting room, just through one click.  Or in a shopping complex, a building manager can simply reconfigure the access, HVAC and lighting when a single unit is split into smaller ones.

Eric Rondolat, CEO of Philips Lighting, said: “Philips’ LED lighting combined with controls can deliver up to 80% energy savings compared to conventional lighting, while providing high quality light for a comfortable, more productive work environment. Together ABB and Philips will support our customers by making it easier to introduce the latest technology to drive energy efficiency and increased functionality.”

Tarak Mehta, head of ABB’s Low Voltage Products division, added: “The future is the ability to reconfigure spaces at the touch of a button, while reducing energy consumption. ABB and Philips will work together to offer a simple, scalable solution to streamline the introduction of this technology in commercial buildings.’’

Currently, re-configuring different building systems requires entering lines of code for each separate element.  By enabling the control of all the different elements of building automation through compatible software, building management is simpler and more affordable to install and maintain.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting constitute 70% of the energy consumption in commercial buildings and the introduction of building device control can improve energy efficiency by approximately 30%. Upgrading to more energy efficient systems represents a significant opportunity for building managers to save on operational costs.

AECOM opens the longest bridge in Southeast Asia

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Longest Bridge in Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR (March 4, 2014) AECOM celebrates the official opening of Second Penang Bridge – the longest bridge in Southeast Asia

 AECOM has played a key role in partnering with the contractor to deliver an innovative structure designed to withstand the severe seismic stress of a once-every-2,500-year earthquake.

Second Penang Bridge is a 24-kilometer (14.9-mile) bridge linking the Penang Island and the Malaysia Peninsula and is the largest civil engineering project in the past 20 years in the region. It consists of precast segmental concrete marine viaducts in 55-meter (180-feet) span modules and a cast in-situ concrete cable-stayed bridge measuring 475 meters (1,558 feet).

AECOM’s team in Malaysia, together with engineers from the long-span and specialty bridges group, worked in the design, construction supervision, and construction engineering of this record-breaking project. A special aspect of the project involved applying intelligent construction engineering techniques to enable successful erection of the 240-meter (787-feet) main span cable-stayed bridge over the main navigation channel.

“The Second Penang Bridge is subject to the merciless forces of nature, such as earthquakes, potential tsunamis, and wind, to name a few; and is exposed to a hostile marine environment. These challenges were overcome through meticulous planning and design, and the result is one of the world’s largest sea-crossing projects in recent years,” said Dr. Robin Sham, AECOM’s global long-span and specialty bridges director. “We have helped accomplish an immense human endeavor; creating many innovations along the way.”

Pioneering Bridge Technology

In addition to its large size, this RM 4.5 billion project pioneered new construction methods to minimize the risk caused by seismic activity near the Sunda tectonic plate, including the use of 2-meter-diameter (6.5-foot-diameter) bored piles founded to a depth in excess of more than 120 meters (394 feet) for the cable-stayed bridge, and the use of high-damping rubber bearings for seismic isolation of the marine viaducts.

The whole sea-crossing project introduced numerous innovations, including intelligent bridge geometry control, a lightweight form traveler machine for cable-stayed bridge erection, the extensive use of the statnamic pile-loading testing method and the use of high-damping rubber bearings for seismic isolation. The project also saw the most extensive use of precast hollow concrete spun piles in bridgework, and substantial driven tubular steel piles in a marine environment.

This strategic new link can alleviate the overloaded traffic of the existing bridge and improve the overall connectivity between the city and the Penang International Airport, spurring the area’s economic growth.

Singapore’s First Zero-Energy Green Gallery

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The Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG) Heritage Museum and the City Developments Limited (CDL) Green Gallery has officially opened. Visitors to the two new amenities will be able to visit the ‘Living in a Garden’ exhibition where they will learn more about the rich history of the 154-year old Gardens and Singapore’s greening journey over the last five decades.

 

To mark the opening, more than 50 activities were organised at the SBG for visitors to commemorate 50 Years of Greening Singapore. The new amenities and slew of activities are part of National Parks Board’s (NParks) efforts to raise awareness on Singapore’s green heritage and our City in a Garden.

 

‘Living in a Garden’ exhibition

The ‘Living in a Garden’ exhibition on Singapore’s greening journey is the first exhibition to

be held at the CDL Green Gallery. Open from 30 November 2013 to 30 June 2014, the exhibition features different themes of green Singapore, from its historical landscapes, to the rich biodiversity. Visitors will have the opportunity to create their own city through an interactive game. The exhibition also gives a glimpse into future developments in our City in a Garden, such as Destination Parks and Round Island Route.

 

The three Destination Parks, Admiralty Park, Jurong Lake Park, and East Coast Park are estimated to be completed by end 2015, end 2016, and end 2017 respectively. The three large regional parks were identified earlier to be redeveloped thematically to attract Singaporeans from all over the island. They will feature recreational elements not usually found in public parks.

 

SBG Heritage Museum and CDL Green Gallery

The SBG Heritage Museum at Holttum Hall and CDL Green Gallery are located next to Botany Centre in the Tanglin Core of the Gardens. The SBG Heritage Museum features interactive exhibits and panels that share little known facts of the Gardens’ rich heritage, as well as rare artefacts including botanical books, paintings, and more.

 

Developed as an extension to the SBG Heritage Museum on Holttum Lawn by CDL, the CDL

Green Gallery is Singapore’s first purposefully built zero energy Green Gallery, making the gallery self-sufficient. It is built with several eco-friendly technologies, including two innovative features introduced in Singapore for the first time – the biomaterial known as Hempcrete (largely made from the hemp plant) and a prefabricated modular system. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has accorded this Gallery with the BCA Green Mark Platinum status – the highest tier of green buildings in Singapore. Clad with vertical green walls, the building is planted with selected species that attract butterflies such as the Plain Tiger and Chocolate Pansy. After the ‘Living in a Garden’ exhibition, the CDL Green Gallery will feature other exhibitions on the cultural use of plants, botanical art, and orchids.

 

“In celebration of CDL’s 50th anniversary this year and in support of the Gardens’ nomination bid as Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, we are delighted to leverage our green building expertise and gather like-minded partners to contribute to the development of these green icons as our gift to the nation. Singapore has won many accolades on our economic success, we sincerely hope to do our part to help Singapore win international recognition of our cultural heritage,” said Mr Kwek Leng Joo, Managing Director, CDL.

 

Both the exhibits in the Museum and the completed Green Gallery are supported by CDL, at a value of over S$2 million, in cash and in kind, through the Garden City Fund, a registered charity and institution of public character established by NParks.

 

 

Johnson Controls Annual Survey Shows that Building Owners in Asia Make Energy Efficiency Decisions Based on Savings and Government Policy

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SINGAPORE – Building owners in Asia markets are motivated by savings and government programs to drive energy efficiency decisions, according to the 2013 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) study by Johnson Controls, the global leader in delivering solutions that increase energy efficiency in buildings. The survey revealed a 10 percent increase in interest in energy efficiency since 2010 in Asia, and a lack of capital and insufficient payback as key obstacles to implementing energy projects.

 

This is the seventh annual EEI study of global building leaders that tracks key energy efficiency trends, drivers for action, and barriers around the world. More than 3,000 decision-makers in 10 countries participated in the survey this year. In Asia, 1,263 executives who manage energy decisions for buildings from Australia, China, India, and for the first time, Singapore, were surveyed.

 

“Findings from this year’s study show a growing interest in energy efficiency in Asia, but also suggests that public policies and private investment must work together to transform interest into action in Asia,” said Soren Bjerg, vice president and managing director of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Asia.

 

Drivers in Asia Markets

Interest in energy efficiency and the importance of energy management is growing in Asia. The study showed that respondents from China and India have the greatest interest levels in energy efficiency globally, with 61 percent and 58 percent respectively saying that their organizations are paying a lot more attention to energy efficiency. In Australia and Singapore, which have a more mature market in this area, a majority of respondents (71 percent and 73 percent respectively) indicated that energy management is either extremely or very important.

 

The top energy efficiency driver for Asia is energy cost savings, consistent with businesses globally. Government incentives, rebates, and policy are also deemed important. Other notable findings include the criticality of energy security to China and India; as well as India and Singapore being the only countries surveyed worldwide to rank enhanced brand or public image as one of the top five drivers.

 

Possible Areas to Address

The study identified that barriers which hinder energy efficiency adoption are similar around the world. In Singapore and India, respondents cited online casino barriers such as the lack of available capital; insufficient payback; uncertainty regarding savings/performance; the lack of technical expertise to evaluate or execute projects; and the lack of awareness about opportunities as being equally challenging in their pursuit for energy efficiency. For organizations in China, insufficient payback as a barrier was significantly higher, while in Australia access to available capital was the top challenge.

 

Globally, a quarter of the respondents cited lack of funding as a top barrier to energy efficiency projects, declining from 30 percent in 2011 to 26 percent in 2012. Uncertainty about savings and performance in energy efficiency projects increased globally, from 12 percent to 15 percent.

 

Despite the diverse nature of the markets across Asia, the countries surveyed generally favored the use of tax credits or incentives as the energy policy for greatest impact, with Australia showing a particularly high preference at 30 percent. For China, stricter building codes as well as green appraisal standards are on par with tax credits or incentives. Singapore also accords a notably high level of importance to carbon pricing compared to the other countries in Asia.

 

The seventh annual survey of more than 3,000 building owners and operators around the world was led by the Johnson Controls Institute for Building Efficiency, the International Facility Management Association, and the Urban Land Institute.

 

For a comprehensive report of the 2013 Energy Efficiency Indicator study, please visit www.institutebe.com/Energy-Efficiency-Indicator

High Efficiency Air Conditioning Solutions for a Greener Building

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Carrier, the world’s leader in high technology heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, announced a range of high efficiency commercial chillersolutions to support Singapore’s growing green building market. Carrier is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

According to a 62-country study by McGraw-Hill Construction, Singapore is the most heavily involved country in green building. In 2012, 66 percent of the country’s project work was green as compared to the global average of 38 percent.

“For Carrier Singapore, preservation of the environment and protecting our finite natural resources remains a central tenet of our business. We are proud to continue to support Singapore’s ambitious green building goals by providing the industry with innovative and efficient solutions that maximize energy efficiency,” said Oon Wee Chin, vice president, Singapore and Southeast Asia, UTC Climate, Controls & Security.

With heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) accounting for 50 percent of a building’s energy consumption, Carrier’s innovative new products provide Singapore’s building and construction industry with a range of solutions designed to reduce energy consumption while creating comfortable indoor environments. Incorporating industry-leading technologies,the Carrier 23XRV, AquaForce® 30XW-V variable frequency drive (VFD)screw chiller and heat pump, and the beste online casino Carrier 19XR-E two-stage centrifugal chiller and heat pumpfor commercial and light commercial buildings, epitomize Carrier’s long-held commitment to the environment and dedication to innovation.

Carrier developed three high efficiency air conditioning solutions to help buildings maximise their energy efficiency while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint. 

1) The Carrier 23XRV VFD tri-rotor screw chiller is the world’s leading efficiency screw chiller with a 600 ton capacity and uses the ozone-friendly HFC-134a refrigerant. The 23XRV is capable of achieving low operational costs and is 20 to 40 percent more energy efficient than other water-cooled screw products in the market today. A similar Carrier chiller has enabled the Tokio Marine building in Singapore’s Central Business District to achieve the highest system efficiency in Singapore for a central commercial air conditioning system

2)The new 19XR-E centrifugal chiller and heat pump has a capacity of 800-1500 tons and incorporates a leading-edge two-stage gear drive compressor pioneered by Carrier to integrate air conditioning, heat pump, energy recovery andice thermal storage delivering temperatures as high as 65 degrees Celsius  and as low as -6 degrees Celsius

3)The AquaForce™ 30XW-V VFD screw chiller and heat pump with a capacity of 170-460 tons,uses the innovative Greenspeed™ VFD technology to deliver high performance and optimal energy consumption. AquaForce allows the precise matching of capacity with building load changes, making it ideal for green hotels, subway transport and office buildings. The compact design makes it suitable for retrofit projects as well

Carrier’s new range of light commercial products includes the high efficiency 30WQ/61WQ water heat pump;  full inverter Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) System with high heating capabilities;  new hydronic system and AquaFlow™ Variable Water Volume (VWV) System that offer one-stop intelligent HVAC management functions.

 

For more information, visit Carrier at www.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter @CarrierGreen.