13 May 2014 — ONCE completed, the Five ¬Ecom Center will be a major center for the business-process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the country since it is expected to house BPO companies.

“We’re very optimistic on this building because this building was primarily designed to capture the opportunities of the strong BPO market. We all know that the BPO market is one of the strongest drivers of Philippine economy,” said David Rafael, senior vice president for commercial properties group of SM Land Inc. in a recent interview with the BusinessMirror during the topping-off ceremony held at the Mall of Asia  complex.

Five Ecom is the third in a series of six iconic office buildings envisioned to comprise the premier business hub of SM Prime in its flagship master-planned estate, the 67-hectare Mall of Asia Complex (MOAC) in Pasay City.

Rafael said the Ecom complex has already developed a solid track record in building office spaces for the BPO industry. He cited the success of One Ecom and Two Ecom in attracting major BPO players to locate their operations in the area.

“As of today, almost 35 percent of the area has been pre-leased to tenants. Within the first half of 2015, we expect Five Ecom to be 100-percent leased,” said Rafael.

Rafael cited location, accessibility of talent, presence of a seafront in vicinity and the presence of a live, work and play environment as the prime factors why many locators are choosing the Ecom complex for their operations.

He said that the availability of world-class facilities such as strong Internet connection and availability power on a 24/7 basis are also important elements to ensure clients will stay in Ecom.  “Compared to Fort Bonifacio and Makati, our rates here are competitive,” said Rafael. “Rental compared to other CBDs, rental here is competitive.”

Miami-based architectural firm Arquitectonica, known for its stylish patterns, complex façade accents and graphic structural forms, designed the building. The firm was also the designer of  SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City, SMX Convention Center, and the SM Megamall expansion and renovation, among others. 

Five Ecom Center is a 15- level office building with a gross floor area of 125,716 sq m and approximately 85,000 sq m of leasable area.  Potential tenants can look forward to small office spaces, as well as large floor plates of up to 7,000 sq m. 

Five Ecom’s air-conditioning system was designed differently from its predecessors in a variable refrigerant volume (VRV) format in order to provide tenants flexibility depending on their operating hours. Five Ecom will also feature basement parking, a pioneering feature among the Ecom buildings. 

Primarily designed for BPO firms and other similar high-technology companies, it will also cater to other types of companies apart from the traditional BPO market.

The open-air fourth-floor podium, called Five Ecom Prism Plaza, allows for a relaxing, scenic view of the historical Manila Bay to unwind from the busy atmosphere of the workplace. There will be two covered bridgeways interconnecting Five Ecom to its adjacent Ecom buildings, which lead to the Mall of Asia located on the second- and fourth-floor levels.

Five Ecom will continue to enjoy SM Prime CPG’s reliable and round-the-clock security, utilities and power. The Ecom hub’s location within MOAC offers accessible public transportation routes such as the MRT, LRT and bus lines traversing the main Edsa thoroughfare. A ferry terminal in MOAC also provides future opportunities for sea travel. MOAC is also only a few minutes from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City. Five Ecom is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2015.

In Photo: FSL & Associates Senior Project Architect  Carlos P. Sauco;  EEI Corp. AVP-Buildings Engr. Andy P. Tumbokon III; Design Coordinates Inc. (DCI) President Jose Oscar O. Salvacion; EEI Corp. President and CEO Engr. Robert Jose L. Castillo; SM Prime Commercial Properties SVP-Commercial Properties David L. Rafael; SM Prime-Commercial Properties SAVP-Project Development Engr. Ranilo M. Gison; SM Prime Commercial Properties SAVP-External Affairs Noel S. Sanchez; FSL & Associates Associate Architect Fendi T. Lim; EEI Corp. VP-Operations, Building Engr. Albert C. Saringo; and  DCI Managing Director Engr. Franz F. Ziebert.