Golden Bay on track to finish office project amid pandemic  

MANILA, Philippines – Amid disruptions in construction of some major government infrastructure initiatives and private developer projects due to the ensuing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, Aspire Corporate Plaza, an 11-story premium office building venture of Golden Bay Landholdings Inc., is all set for completion on November 30 with top-notch facilities and amenities that bring upscale working experience and safe office environment for tenants and visitors alike.

“We are proud that despite the challenges presented by a pandemic our team came through and reiterated our purpose as a developer,” said Jardin Brian B. Wong, chief operating officer (COO) of Golden Bay Properties. 

“Despite the delay we still completed the project in record time and without any sort of accident or mishaps within the total duration of the construction process. Our team’s commitment remained resolute and firm,” he added.

Aspire will soon house a wide array of businesses ranging from manufacturing, trading, services, information technology and food, among others. 

“Some tenants have already started renovation works but actual move in date would be around second week of December,” Wong revealed. 

Most of these locators opted to have their main headquarters seated on this prime office address on the back of its strategic location along the Bay Area — the country’s fast rising central business district.

With ease and comfort of the end-user enterprises in mind, this mid-rise corporate tower will deliver on its promise to provide features, such as an elegant main lobby, retail plaza, Sky Garden, two levels podium parking and one level for basement.

Going beyond the original plan, Golden Bay went further in incorporating existing features expected out of a Grade A Premium office building, according to the young and dynamic COO.

“Time, effort and strategic thinking were invested by all of the designers, architects and development team for all the common areas,” Wong noted.

As a result, the building boasts of an improved parking using the “carousel system” made by German firm MHE Demag, a well thought of Sky Garden that serves as an informal meeting spot for businessmen and a recreation zone for both employees and visitors, as well as a best in class integrated Building Management System that controls, supervises and monitors electricity usage, water tank system levels, elevator usage, and security system.

Careful yet generous space planning and provision are also apparent in the hallway width (two meters as compared to the usual 1.5 meters) and number of elevators (seven high speed elevators as compared to four for buildings of the same size).   

Complementing these is the “green architecture” with natural lighting and ventilation to allow more light and air to enter and exit the entire building, thus making it more energy- and cost-efficient.
    
Since safety of the tenants and guests is always a top priority, KMC Savills — Aspire’s building management team — will strictly enforce government-imposed quarantine protocols once it opens next month.

These include the establishment of a permanent clinic office and installation of a disinfectant booth that will provide cleansing solutions and monitor the body temperature of anyone entering the building to prevent the spread of the virulent illness within its premises. 

Given the uncertainty as to when this health crisis will be over, the developer has already invested in cutting-edge technologies to minimize, if not totally prevent, the physical contact between registered tenants, building’s staff and visitors. 

In fact, it procured facial recognition devices in addition to standard RFID card and fingerprint mechanisms in primary entryways, matching this is the customized visitor management software that can be accessed through a touch screen directory panel. 

“Changes had to be made due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wong said of the decision made by the management halfway through the project. 

Motivated by their success to finish the project on time despite the difficult times, Golden Bay remains bullish on its business prospects and is committed to contribute to nation building.

“We have an informal tagline that basically says, ‘We Aspire to Inspire’, and we feel that we have a unique opportunity to lead by continuing to invest in high value and high impact projects that not only deliver optimal results to the bottomline of the company but ultimately yield a positive impact on the society,” he stressed.