CEBU, Philippines - From the 28th floor, a crane was waiting for the signal from below. And sitting directly on the ground connected to the crane by ropes was the final steel beam that would complete Innoland Development Corporation’s latest masterpiece. At count number three, the crane started hoisting the steel, and moments later, Calyx Residences has just “reached the topâ€.
Innoland once again marked its presence in the real estate industry with the formal topping off of Calyx Residences last Saturday, prompting company officials to call it already structurally complete.
The new high-rise development is situated at a 1,517-square meter property inside the Cebu Business District, two blocks away from the Ayala Center Cebu.
Barely two years after the ground-breaking ceremony, the 200-plus-unit Calyx Residences has now moved inch closer to its targeted date of completion. If all goes according to plan, it is set to open its doors to its tenants within the third quarter of next year.
Officials said sustainable green features are being part of the building’s architecture and interior spaces and this attribute of Calyx Residences is expected to strengthen Innoland’s grip on promoting green design in its chosen industry.
Innoland marketing consultant Tetta Baad said at a press conference that although going the green way would mean more costs to the company, they still want to champion the environment as their main product differentiation, adding that they wanted to offer something not yet offered in Cebu.
“To go green, we had to incur 15 to 30 percent more developmental costs but we are still committed to incorporate green features in our designs as we want to make this our unique trade mark,†Baad said.
Calyx Residences is designed in such a way that heat’s entry to the building is minimized so that air-conditioning usage will also be lessened. Its proximity, company officials said, provides tenants with only a walking distance to other key destinations within the area.
“Less energy use means more savings in electricity, less carbon footprints, less greenhouse gases,†explained sales and marketing director Crystal Chloe Ong.
Ong believes that people appreciate green buildings more nowadays and she said their appreciation is reflected in how Innoland’s sales are currently picking up. To date, Calyx Residences is already 97 percent sold with only six units remaining in the shelf.
Island living
Ong pointed out that Calyx Residences will reflect exciting facets of island living in Cebu. It will house Cebu’s first high-rise rooftop Aquadeck and an ionized infinity swimming pool on the 28th floor, giving a panoramic view of Mactan Channel and the islands beyond the city harbor.
The sky lounge and garden on the top floor is complemented by a gourmet kitchen and service staff for private parties. A spacious fitness gym on the ground floor is adjacent to the lobby facing a landscaped garden and reflection pool.
There are also garden lanai suites, penthouse suites and studio units in various floors.
Innoland prides itself as one of the first developers in the Philippines accredited by the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) developed by the Green Building Council in the United States.
LEED’s goal is to provide building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
Aside from building condominium projects, Innoland is also pouring heavy investments in constructing office spaces for the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry here in Cebu and in Metro Manila.
The BPO building called “The Link,†another Innoland project, has now attracted interested BPO tenants, which according to Ong is an indication that Cebu’s real estate development is on for a high-road at least in the medium term, if not in the long term.
Last year, Innoland turned over to its tenants the 225 units in its 26-floor Calyx Centre, a mixed-use building located at the Cebu I.T. Park. (FREEMAN)