BUILDING FOR

A SUSTAINABLE
FUTURE
Asian Development Bank Headquarters
Manila, Philippines
 Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO)

2017 Asian Development Bank

6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City, 1550 Metro Manila, Philippines
Tel +63 2 632 4444; Fax +63 2 636 2444
www.adb.org

Some rights reserved. Published in 2017.

Printed in the Philippines.

ISBN 978-92-9257-376-8 (Print), 978-92-9257-377-5 (e-ISBN)

Publication Stock No. ARM167936-2
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22617/ARM167936-2

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors
or the governments they represent. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term country in this document, ADB does not
intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO)

Building for a
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/. By using the content of this publication, you agree
to be bound by the terms of this license. For attribution, translations, adaptations, and permissions, please read the provisions and terms of use at https://www.adb.org/terms-
use#openaccess

This CC license does not apply to non-ADB copyright materials in this publication. Please contact pubsmarketing@adb.org if you have questions or comments with respect to content or

Sustainable Future
permission to use.
Corrigenda to ADB publications may be found at http://www.adb.org/publications/corrigenda

Notes:
In this publication, $ refers to US dollars.

Printed on recycled paper

Asian Development Bank Headquarters

Manila, Philippines
D Building for a Sustainable Future E

Contents Using Gardens to Regulate

30 Constructed to Last 46
Vice-President's Message 3 Temperature

ADB Headquarters Leadership

in Energy and Environmental 4 Energy Efficiency 34 Materials to Minimize Our 52
Carbon Footprint
Design Certified

Fail-Safe Technologies 38 Preventive Maintenance 58

Sustainable by Design 6

Optimizing Daylight while 16 ADB's Third Atrium 44

Saving Energy
F Building for a Sustainable Future Acknowledgments 1

Acknowledgments
This book, which highlights the different sustainable features of the
Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters, was prepared by ADB staff from
the Office of Administrative Services (OAS).

OAS services led by Risa Zhijia Teng, principal director; Natasha Davis, senior
planning and coordination specialist; and Chatiya Nantham, lead facilities
planning and management specialist, planned, supervised, and coordinated the
production of this book.

Special thanks to Amy Leung, Vijay Padmanabhan, and Kelly Hewitt for peer
review of the book. Layout, technical research, editing, coordination, logistics,
or photography done by Mirko Rizzuto, Mark Morales, Naomi Lissa Cruz, Ma.
Rita Habalo, Angelita Mangalindan, Erwin Casaclang, Marjorie Lee Oliver, David
Schwartz, and Gerardo Castro.

Printing and publishing of the book was provided by the Printing Services Unit of
OAS and by the Publishing Team of the ADB Department of External Relations.
2 Building for a Sustainable Future Vice-President's Message 3

Vice-President's Message
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) promotes economic growth and cooperation
in the Asia and Pacific region through loan, technical assistance, grants, and
equity investments. Environmentally sustainable growth is an integral part of
ADBs operations. ADB is dedicated to assisting countries in meeting their 2030
Sustainable Development Goals and their national goals for reducing greenhouse
gases. By 2020, ADB will double its climate financing to $6 billion, representing
about 30% of its overall financing.

Environmental sustainability is also a central feature of ADBs headquarters facilities

in Manila. These facilities support around 2,400 ADB personnel, as well as more
than 3,000 contractors, and other visitors.

To show ADBs commitment to lower its carbon footprint and minimize its effect
on the environment and the community, we are sourcing energy from solar and
geothermal plants, reusing rainwater for irrigation and other purposes, using
vermicompost to fertilize the grounds, operating a waste segregation area, and
using a sewage treatment facility to treat wastewater. Aside from these, we also
continue to achieve and maintain international certifications to ensure our goal
toward sustainability lasts into the future. The greenhouse gas emissions of ADB's
headquarters facilities decreased by 44% between 2014 and 2016.

The book showcases ADBs commitment to sustainable operations at ADB

headquarters, which would not have been possible without the efforts and
dedication of ADB staff and contractors.

Deborah Stokes
Vice-President (Administration and Corporate Management)
4 Building for a Sustainable Future ADB Headquarters Certified LEED Gold 5

ADB Headquarters
Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design
Certified
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a third-
party certification program that promotes a whole-building approach
to sustainability. Administered by the U.S. Green Building Council,
LEED offers an internationally accepted benchmark for the design,
construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.

LEED recognizes performance in key areas such as human and environmental health, water
and energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, implementing materials and resources
management, and maintaining a sustainable site.

Entrance to the main lobby of ADB.

6 Building for a Sustainable Future
Sustainable by Design
ADB headquarters is designed to be sustainable and prioritizes health and safety.
Our headquarters embodies sustainable
building design and development where
environmental impact is minimized and
health and safety of its occupants are
paramount. 2011 submission with higher points within the
As proof of its commitment to
sustainability, ADB applied for and
received the LEED Gold certification
for Existing Buildings Operations and
Maintenance (EB + OM) in 2011 for the
headquarters building in Mandaluyong
City, Metro Manila that was inaugurated
in May 1991.
Subsequently, upon completion
of the third atrium in November 2015,
it was certified LEED Gold for New
Construction in January 2016, which
recognizes the extension building for
criteria such as sustainable sites, water
efficiency, energy and atmosphere,
materials and resources, indoor
environmental quality, and innovation
and design.
Sustainable by Design 7
In 2016, the headquarters building including the
third atrium were submitted as one complex for
ADBs recertification for LEED (EB + OM) and
the results indicated an improvement from the
Gold rating.
Apart from attaining LEED certification,
ADB also achieved two certifications under the
International Organization for Standardization
(ISO), specifically ISO 14001: Environmental
Management in 2003 and ISO 50001: Energy
Management in 2012, which have been
successfully renewed regularly.
All of these internationally recognized
certifications demonstrate ADBs commitment
to providing an efficient and sustainable
environment for the thousands of ADB staff,
contractors, and visitors.
 Sustainable by Design 9
8 Building for a Sustainable Future 9

The total floor area of the entire ADB

complex is approximately 22,566 square
meters (m2). The original building measures
about 19,173 m2 with the third atrium adding
another 3,393 m2.
ADB is one of the first buildings in
the area designed to minimize energy
consumption. The building is oriented along
an east to west axis to allow the longer north
and south sides of the building to receive
natural lighting from indirect sunlight. From
the beginning and evolving over time, ADB
always did its best to develop a facility that
consumes the least amount of resources, to
minimize its effect on the environment.

Cross section of third atrium from the west driveway

showing the two light wells (top left). Cross section
of third atrium showing BIPV panels from the
west carpark (top right). South elevation of the
headquarters office tower block (right).
10 Building for a Sustainable Future 11

ADB is committed to meeting the highest

standards in its sustainable practices at
headquarters. Our ISO 14001 certification
for Environmental Management commits us
to manage activities and products in ways
that reduce the consumption of energy,
water and paper, while decreasing waste.
Furthermore, ADB actively measures
and reports its greenhose gas (GHG)
emissions according to recognized GHG
protocols. ADB has the GHG emissions
verified in compliance with ISO 14064 for
Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory.
The solar panels on the rooftop of the
Special Facilities Block and the interior
garden show ADB's commitment to
sustainability. The solar panels produce
clean energy, while the interior garden helps
reduce the urban heat island effect.

Solar panels on the roof of the Special Facilities Block

overlooking the central courtyard of ADB.
12 Building for a Sustainable Future 13

Entrance on the west parking lot (above) that provides

staff access to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) station (left).

Encouraging Transportation Alternatives

ADB encourages the use of public transportation, car- and van-pooling, and use
of fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles. ADB is readily accessibly by public
transportour exits are close to a metro rail transit station, buses, jeepneys, and vans.
14 Building for a Sustainable Future Sustainable by Design 15

Another way ADB supports low-emission-travel

is by providing 87 bike slots, and showers and
changing room facilities so that staff can bike or
walk to work.

There are two designated areas for bike racks. The first is
along the west driveway (right) and the second beside the
walkway to the west core entrance (below).
16 Building for a Sustainable Future Optimizing Daylight while Saving Energy 17

Optimizing
Daylight while
Saving Energy
ADB optimizes the use of natural daylight to illuminate
different sections of the building while considering human
comfort and gaining energy savings.
Within the nine-story tower block of the original building, interior offices and work
stations with single glazed windows benefit from the natural daylight reflected from
the anidolic mirrors at the roof-deck into the east and west atria.

The rooftop of the library makes use of light

scoops (below) to redirect sunlight into the
atrium (right).
18 Building for a Sustainable Future Optimizing Daylight while Saving Energy 19

The sunlight coming in from the original

building's atrium, along with the sunlight
redirected by the light scoops on the
rooftop, helps illuminate the library. This
further decreases the energy needs of ADB.

The atrium uses natural light to illuminate the library,

which further decreases the energy needs of ADB (right).
20 Building for a Sustainable Future Optimizing Daylight while Saving Energy 21

The third atrium makes use of new

technology that allows illumination of
the interior offices, while generating solar
energy.
The atrium skylight includes two
types of glass, low-emission panels at the
base and 80 panes of Building Integrated
Photovoltaic (BIPV) solar panels at the
apex. Optimally angled to collect solar
energy, the BIPV panels generate about 6
kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity.

BIPV panels at the top of the third atrium generate 6 kWh

of electricity (right and far right).
22 Building for a Sustainable Future Optimizing Daylight while Saving Energy 23

The two light wells are a new feature in the

third atrium. Measuring 3.35 meters by 13.80
meters, both travel from the roof-deck to the
second floor. This helps reduce the energy
consumption of ADB by allowing natural
light to enter the building from single glazed
internal windows.

One of the light wells on the roof of the third atrium (right).
The light well helps illuminate the inner sections of the
building (below).
24 Building for a Sustainable Future Optimizing Daylight while Saving Energy 25

The natural light from the light wells of

the third atrium illuminates adjacent
workstations, hallways, offices, and
meeting rooms.
Outside-facing offices of the third
atrium have double glazed windows
and utilize sensitive daylight-harvesting
systems that maintain an optimal wattage
by increasing or decreasing brightness
depending on incoming sunlight. And, like
the original building, offices have motion
sensors to turn off lights not in use.
26 Building for a Sustainable Future Optimizing Daylight while Saving Energy 27

Two skylights in the cafeteria make use

of natural light to illuminate and reduce
energy consumption.

Skylights on the roof of the cafeteria (below) provide

natural light (right).

T
28 Building for a Sustainable Future Optimizing Daylight while Saving Energy 29

To reduce the impact of the sun on the

indoor temperature of the building, stop
glare, and reduce incoming sunlight,
baked-on-painted-aluminum sunshade
grillage is installed on windows. This
helps conserve energy used for cooling.

Windows on the west core of the third atrium building with

grillage that help block sunlight.
30 Building for a Sustainable Future Using Gardens to Regulate Temperature 31

Using Gardens to
Regulate Temperature
In line with LEED requirements, a lagoon was designed to reduce heating and minimize ADB's
impact on the microclimate and wildlife. Furthermore, the 2,028 m2 west lagoon is filled with plants
indigenous to the Philippines.
32 Building for a Sustainable Future Using Gardens to Regulate Temperature 33

A 2,300 m2 central courtyard serves as the

focal point around which first-floor, public
spaces are arranged. It features ponds and
fountains, and is home to a large variety
of trees and shrubs, many of which are
indigenous to the Philippines.

The inner courtyard has a fountain and offers a

sample of diverse plant life.
34 Building for a Sustainable Future Energy Efficiency 35

Energy
Efficiency
Most of ADBs electricity is sourced
from renewable sources. ADB has a
target of reducing energy consumption
by 1.5% every year.
ADB conducts regular energy
audits and when replacing mechanical
equipment, ADB takes the opportunity
to install more efficient systems.

The solar panels on the rooftop of the Special Facilities Block.

No land space was used for ADB's first solar power plant,
which covers 6,640 m2 .
36 Building for a Sustainable Future
Our building automation system
efficiently controls temperature,
humidity, and indoor air quality. It also
monitors needs and automatically makes
adjustments to match supply and demand
for everything from air-conditioning to
lightsall low-watt compact fluorescent
lamps (CFL) or light-emitting diode
(LED)allocating precise levels of cooling
and lighting to every part of the building.
As part of ADBs continued energy
conservation efforts, approximately
12,000 CFL tubes in the office areas of
ADB were retrofitted with LED tube lights.
Although the initial cost for an LED tube
is higher, the cost is offset by savings from
reduced energy consumption in the range
of 40%, and savings from the reduced
need for replacement due to the much
longer life span of the LED tube. Once all
bulbs are replaced, the estimated yearly
savings will be 300,000 kWh.
Control Center of the building management system (right)
Energy Efficiency 37
Most of ADBs energy comes from solar and
geothermal sources. The first solar power
plant was energized at ADB headquarters
in 2012 and was built on the rooftop of
the Special Facilities Block. It has 2,040
polycrystalline panels occupying 6,640 m2
and generates about 613 megawatt-hours
(MWh) of electricity.
Three years later, another solar power
plant was built on the rooftop of the third
atrium. The second power plant has 369
polycrystalline solar panels, covering an area
of 716 m2 and can generate up to 190 MWh
of electricity.
Both solar power plants provide ADB
with about 803 MWh of electricity annually.
The 369 polycrystalline solar panels on the roof of the third
atrium (left above). There are also 2,040 polycrystalline solar
panels on the roof of the Special Facilities Block (left below).
Aside from these, there are 50 polycrystalline solar panels on
the top of the multi-story carpark, which generate 6 kWh of
electricity (right below).
 38 Building for a Sustainable Future Fail-Safe Technologies 39

Fail-Safe
Technologies
Building a high-occupancy structure to operate 24/7
demands other considerations as wellenergy, water,
and waste management among them.

The synchronizing switchgear makes for a more effective

and highly efficient emergency power system (right). The
protective relays in the switchgear prevent over and under
currents (below).
40 Building for a Sustainable Future Fail-Safe Technologies 41

To promote fail-safe technology, six 1,050

kilowatt(kW) generator sets and alternators
were installed to supply stand-by power
to the building complex in case of power
outages from natural catastrophe such as
earthquakes or typhoons.
Moreover, to provide emergency water
supply for drinking, firefighting, and as a
hedge against uneven distribution of city
water, ADB built two reserve water storage
tanks with a capacity of 220,000 gallons
that can last for 15 days running at full usage.
ADB also promotes water sufficiency
by harvesting rainwater and uses this water
for irrigation, general cleaning, and the third
atrium lavatories.

Generators provide emergency power during outages

(right). Rainwater collection tanks are used to help decrease
dependence on potable water supply for irrigation, cleaning,
and lavatory use (far right). Diagram of the rainwater harvesting facility (above).
42 Building for a Sustainable Future Fail-Safe Technologies 43

For safety, ADB is equipped with a global

system technology (GST) fire management
system that includes a main control panel
and fire alarm subpanels, addressable heat
and optical smoke detectors, automatic
sprinklers, portable fire extinguishers, water
flow switches, manual call-point stations,
and addressable gas leak detectors. The
GST fireman's telephone system provides
communication between strategically
located telephone jacks, speakers and
mobile handsets and the Operations
Center.
Exits are also clearly marked, and
zoning doors can seal off building sections
in case of emergency.

Sprinklers can be found around ADB to ensure staff safety

in the event of a fire (right). GST fire management system
(below).
44 Building for a Sustainable Future ADB's third atrium 45

ADB's
Third
Atrium
The completion of the ADB headquarters
building in 1991 featured two atria and
advanced technologies, but there has
been a continuous need for updates and
improvements to increase sustainability. This is
why ADB architects looked far into the future
when planning construction of the third atrium.
46 Building for a Sustainable Future Constructed to Last 47

Constructed
to Last
Manila is located in an area where earthquakes are a significant risk.
ADB is approximately 1.3 kilometers away from the West Valley
fault system, which is capable of creating an earthquake of major
proportions. The third atrium incorporates a dual system that
supports gravity loads and provides resistance to lateral loads.

In compliance with the National Structural
Code of the Philippines, shear walls and
special moment resisting frames are
designed to resist significant forces caused
by earthquake motions.
To further resist earthquake damage,
the third atrium is constructed as an
independent building, separated from the
older building by a 65-centimeter seismic
joint. To maintain a seamless look, the joint
is inset several meters out of eyesight.
As with the original building, the third
atrium is buttressed by the latticework
surrounding the solid cores. The cast-
in-place concrete floor system provides
additional stability.
And where cast-in-place techniques
were unnecessarysuch as for arches,
staircases, and level 1 facadesless
expensive steel molds to form precast
concrete that could be set in place were
used.

Construction incorporated formworks into which concrete Third atrium arches were created using steel molds to form
was poured to make columns, floors, and wall slabs. A truss precast concrete forms that were then set in place (above).
system was used for support (above).

Steel I-beams with concrete slab on a metal deck base

supported construction above ADB's west driveway,
eliminating the need for scaffolding that would have
impeded vehicle traffic flow (left).
48 Building for a Sustainable Future New Atrium Design
Constructed to Last 49

The third atrium during its construction (far left). It has a

seismic joint that allows it to move independently from the
original building.

The third atrium rooftop during its construction. The BIPV

solar panels were installed after its completion. The apex
allows light to come in while generating electricity (above).
50 Building for a Sustainable Future New Atrium Design
Constructed to Last 51

West elevation of the third atrium (left). The west facade

of the third atrium makes use of recycled grillage from the
original building (below).
52 Building for a Sustainable Future Materials to Minimize Our Carbon Footprint 53

Materials to
Minimize
Our Carbon
Footprint
Marble is a feature of the lobbies and corridor floors in the
original building, which is porous, and leaves a significant carbon
footprint. By contrast, the third atrium uses nonporous, nonskid,
glazed porcelain tile that matches the tea-rose, beige, and white-
patterned marble colors in the original building. Unlike natural
marble, this substitute does not require polishing and reduces
energy consumption.

The porcelain tile used in the third atrium (left above) is a

low-cost/low-carbon substitute for marble (left below). The
galleria (right).
54 Building for a Sustainable Future Materials to Minimize Our Carbon Footprint 55

To maintain the architectural integrity of ADB's existing headquarters,

a continuous "one-look" was called for.
Granite was used for the exterior faade of the original building.
Extracting and shipping granite, however, disturbs the environment.
Real granite is also porous, so it stains easily and is hard to clean. The
granite appearance of the faade of the new atrium was achieved by
using a water-based resin paint which was sprayed on cement. The
environmental green paint used is low-carbon, provides superior
weather resistance, and reduces building load.

The third atrium used a water-based

resin paint sprayed on cement (left
above) for the facade. This method is
a greener option and costs less than
using actual granite (left below). The
sprayed cement is seen on the walls
under the third atrium skylight, which
has a garden and a breezeway that
allows cross ventilation (right).
56 Building for a Sustainable Future Materials to Minimize Our Carbon Footprint 57

Floors throughout the original and third atrium

building feature carpets approved by the
Carpet and Rug Institute for green buildings.
Made of recyclable content, the carpets meet
LEED specifications.

Carpets used on the different levels of the building are

approved by the Carpet and Rug Institute for green
buildings.
58 Building for a Sustainable Future Preventive Maintenance 59

Preventive
Maintenance
To continuously deliver on its commitment to minimize its carbon
footprint, ADB has to make sure that its sustainable features are
well maintained. The smooth operation of the building would not
be possible without a regular preventive maintenance program.

Following a regular maintenance The system maintains a database

schedule helps prevent expensive last-
minute repairs, increases reliability of the
building, and ensures safer operations.
Regular preventive maintenance is a
cost-effective way to keep the building
operations efficient.
ADB uses a computerized
maintenance management system
(CMMS) to ensure the optimal operation
of various engineering equipment.
of information about the banks
maintenance operations, such as the list
of equipment and the corresponding
periodic maintenance schedule for each
item. This makes it easy to identify when
the equipment is due for corrective
action. Deciding whether to maintain
the equipment or replace it with a new
one is also easier because the CMMS
records the occurrence of breakdowns.
A physical inspection is also conducted,
which further validates the information.
Shift engineers monitor the operating
parameters on a daily basis.

Service provider cleans the facade of the building's

south wall (right). To improve energy efficiency, ADB
has retrofitted its compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs with
light-emitting diode (LED) lighting (far right).
60 Building for a Sustainable Future Preventive Maintenance 61

In addition to the in-house service

providers that handle maintenance tasks,
specialist contractors conduct periodic
inspections and may recommend parts
that require replacement for certain
equipment, such as generators, air-con
chillers, fire management system, building
management system, uninterrupted power
supply, and elevators.
ADB uses an inventory management
software to ensure that the appropriate
amount of spare parts is readily available
(min-max planning) from the engineering
store in case there is a need.
The most critical maintenance
work is servicing the power substation,
which is conducted every 2 years. For 21
consecutive Sundays, all components of
the seven substations are inspected and
a diagnostic assessment is made whether
these are defective, worn-out, or out of
calibration. The schedule is deferred if
there are weather disturbances or critical
functions in headquarters.

The on-site sewage treatment plant ensures that the water

released back into the city sewerage system has minimal
environmental effect (above).

Poorly working pumps use up energy without delivering

the proper amount of water pressure. Pumps are regularly
checked to ensure that water is delivered to all parts of
ADB headquarters efficiently (right).
62 Building for a Sustainable Future Preventive Maintenance 63

One of the major contributors to the energy consumption

of ADB is cooling. In 2013, ADB upgraded its chillers to help
decrease ADB's energy consumption. To ensure efficient
operations and to minimize breakdowns, the chillers are
maintained on a regular basis (left). The Manila Water
Company supplies ADB headquarters with potable
water, which ADB further treats by using media filters and
disinfection. This additional treatment process is regularly
monitored (above).
64 Building for a Sustainable Future Preventive Maintenance 65

The west driveway makes use of light-

emitting diode (LED) lamps. Since these
lamps are exposed to the elements, they
are regularly inspected to make sure they
are working effectively and release the
right amount of lumens needed to light
up the driveway. LED lighting is one of
the most power-saving and eco-friendly
illuminating methods available in the
market.

LED lamps are used along the west driveway (left). Service providers
inspect the LED lamps along the west driveway (below).
66 Building for a Sustainable Future Preventive Maintenance 67

ADB is committed to environmental

sustainability in its operations and headquarters
facilities in Manila. Further information on the
sustainability of ADB headquarters facilities in
Manila is available by contacting:

Natasha Davis
Senior Planning and Coordination Specialist
ndavis@adb.org

Mirko Rizzuto
Facilities Planning and Management Specialist
mrizzuto@adb.org
Building for a Sustainable Future
Asian Development Bank Headquarters, Manila, Philippines

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is driven by its dedication to improve peoples lives in Asia and the Pacific. Part
of this is moving towards a low-carbon climate-resilient future, which is why our headquarters embodies sustainable
development. ADB headquarters was designed to be a sustainable building where environmental impact is minimized.
Our International Organization for Standardization certifications commit us to operate in ways that reduce energy, water,
and paper consumption. ADB headquarters is certified Gold for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which
recognizes performance in human and environmental health, water and energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality,
implementing materials and resources management, and maintaining a sustainable site.

About the Asian Development Bank

ADBs vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty. Its mission is to help its developing member countries reduce
poverty and improve the quality of life of their people. Despite the regions many successes, it remains home to a large
share of the worlds poor. ADB is committed to reducing poverty through inclusive economic growth, environmentally
sustainable growth, and regional integration.

Based in Manila, ADB is owned by 67 members, including 48 from the region. Its main instruments for helping its
developing member countries are policy dialogue, loans, equity investments, guarantees, grants, and technical assistance.

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City
1550 Metro Manila, Philippines
www.adb.org