How the healthiest building in Southeast Asia is dealing with COVID-19

Menarco Tower on 32nd Street in BGC boasts of being the only building in Southeast Asia to be certified by both LEEDS (which measures a building's impact on the environment) and the WELL Institute (which measures a building's impact on the health of its occupants). As such, it is deemed the healthiest building in the region.

In a webinar co-hosted by its parent organization Menarco Development Corporation, representatives from Menarco and WELL Institute shared what they are doing to (1) keep their tenants and occupants healthy and (2) keep the virus out of its building.

Like most establishments, thermal scans and footbaths have been put in place, as well as floor markers to guide people in practicing physical distancing.

They've increased the frequency of cleaning, still using Green Seal certified products, regulated the density in rest rooms at 30-50% capacity, and lessened touch points inside the building.

To further lessen the risk of infection, one-way pathways for entrance and exit  have been implemented in Menarco.

To encourage tenants to use fire exits instead of elevators — safer in these times because of ventilation and better too to squeeze in some exercise — soft music is being piped in the staircase.

Meanwhile, there are now bike racks in the parking, in consideration of employees who've turned to biking as their primary mode of transport during lockdown.

According to Carmen Jimenez-Ong, president and CEO of Menarco Development Corporation, the thrust of their boutique property company has always been the health and well-being of occupants. This is why in the middle of constructing Menarco Tower, they decided to revamp the plan to adhere to the WELL standards and get certified.

WELL looks at seven key factors that promote the health and well-being of a building's occupants. And what Menarco has learned is that some of these very features are also helping them keep the virus at bay.

For instance, air quality. According to Jack Noonan, VP for Asia Pacific of the International WELL Building Institute, air quality includes ventilation, which, as we are all learning now, is an important factor in our bid against COVID-19 infection.

Menarco Tower boasts of having MERV 13 filters and built-in ventilation. It introduces fresh filtered air into the building and controls the humidity to 40-60%.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, it started running its ventilation at least 2 hours before the beginning of the day and two hours after to ensure there is no stale air. The fresh air exchange happens between 6-8am, so the air inside the building is "clean and filtered to the level of an international hospital," said Jimenez-Ong.

Another key factor is the quality of water available in the building. Because the tap water in Menarco is potable — "with water quality levels going beyond the requirement of WELL and the WHO," Jimenez-Ong says proudly — tenants don't need to order water from outside.

Which, apart from being able to save money, lowers the risk of COVID exposure among the building occupants: There are less people coming in the building.

The building boasts of physically distanced eating spaces, lessening the need of Menarco occupants to leave the building to buy lunch. It also has an edible garden in its terrace, which contributes to the wellbeing of its tenants — apart from the fresh air coming from the plants.

Keeping healthy and upping the immune system is among the things we can do to prevent infection. Getting about 15-20 minutes of sunlight, for instance, helps boost immunity, and with Menarco' double glazed curtain wall system, sunlight is something tenants get enough of — minutes the heat! — in the building.

Menarco has put a premium in their people's fitness, providing movement studios like pilates and yoga, to adhere to the WELL standards. But during lockdown when gyms are closed, they've initiated Zoom-ba, as in zumba session over Zoom video conference calls.

During the webinar, the experts gave tips on how we can translate all these in our homes — or even in our offices.

Chief of their recommendations is having good air quality and well-ventilated space by opening windows and surrounding yourself with plants. "Another way to achieve good ventilation is to reduce occupant capacity," Noonan suggested.

The simple act of opening windows, doesn't just help with better air quality — in some respects, that also helps in getting sufficient sunlight, which again, helps boost immunity.

They stressed the importance of exercise — or at the very least making time to move your body — and eating properly. 

In terms of water quality, Noonan highlighted the importance "keeping things flowing from time to time, so there will be no build up of molds."

"Check for leaks, use water filters, and make sure there are no stagnant water, pipes, or connection," he added.

"We spend 90% of our time indoors and with the pandemic, we are spending more time indoors — maybe 99% of the time now — so  what's important is how we maintain our environment," Jimenez-Ong said.

COVID-19 cases in the Philippines is still on the rise, with 2,987 cases reported on Tuesday to bring the total number of cases to 139,538.

Metro Manila remains in modified enhanced community quarantine until August 18. — LA, GMA News