Going green is all the rage in Bangkok as developers seek new ways to attract multinational corporations to their developments. The main concept behind the design of many new office projects throughout Thailand is green and intelligent building, The Nation reported. In order to lure new tenants to their buildings, owners have embraced more environment-friendly design and construction concepts.
One major reason behind the focus on environmentally friendly buildings is the government’s desire to make Bangkok a ‘green city’. Of course there are other benefits for going green and the chief among these reasons is the demand from companies for green offices and the savings they bring.
Aliwassa Pattanathabut, managing director of CBRE Thailand, told the newspaper that office tenants now increasingly preferred LEED-certified buildings, especially if they have a policy to undertake LEED-certified interior fit-outs, which more companies are doing.
The Nation reported that companies that have completed LEED fit-outs in their Bangkok-based offices include Citibank, Unilever and L’Oreal while all new Starbucks stores will have LEED-certified interiors. Thai companies are also getting in on the act. Kasikornbank achieved LEED CI v2.0 Gold certification in 2011 for its headquarters on Phaholyothin Road.
Several newly constructed office buildings in Bangkok were rewarded with LEED Core and Shell certification including Park Ventures and Energy Complex which earned LEED Platinum status. Sathorn Square and the relatively new AIA Capital Centre both received LEED Gold certification, Aliwassa noted.
Buildings under construction targeting LEED Core and Shell certification include the Pearl Bangkok, a newly launched THB3 billion office building by Pruksa Real Estate located near Soi Aree, and Grand Canal Land’s Super Tower. The former is hoping for LEED Gold certification while Super Tower, which will be Bangkok’s tallest building once finished, is targeting LEED Platinum status, The Nation added.
A building doesn’t have to be old just to earn green certification, however. Aliwassa pointed out that older buildings in Bangkok could be updated and renovated to achieve green-building status, which would make them more desirable to companies in the future.