A home for the future of energy

How ACEN’s new headquarters are the perfect showcase of efficiency, innovation, and sustainability—a great place to work

THE quest for a Net Zero world is a tall order indeed, and for the people committed to such a mission, it is important to have a workplace where they can continuously aspire, strengthen their belief in their ideals, collaborate, and most importantly, deliver on the promise of a sustainable future. 

This was the vision of ACEN, Ayala group’s listed energy platform, when the company underwent a transformation four years ago, and was faced with the valuable opportunity to move into a bigger office space to make room for a young, dynamic, and growing organization. “It was the perfect chance for us to start with a clean slate and to create a work environment that expresses and embodies all the values that we subscribe to,” explains ACEN President and Chief Executive Officer Eric Francia.

Thus, with deliberate planning and attention to detail, the team in charge of shaping the new ACEN headquarters successfully achieved what they sought to accomplish—to build a modern and progressive workplace, in both aesthetics and functionality, befitting the company’s commitment to a revolutionary future of clean energy. 

Sustainability

To start, ACEN’s Headquarters is housed in the state-of-the-art Tower Two of the Ayala Triangle Gardens, a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified building. This means that the structure is designed and constructed with resource-efficient features and minimal negative impact to its surroundings.  

Employees can access the main entrance conveniently and efficiently, thanks to innovative biometrics technology. Its no-touch, face recognition system helps ensure public hygiene as employees return to work. Contactless technology can be seen throughout the space, in access points towards private and public areas as well as in the bathroom fixtures and motion-activated lighting, to ensure a virus-safe environment. Water-saving faucets are used in the restrooms, and abundant natural light is maximized by floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Environment-friendly materials are used wherever possible, such as in the flooring and carpets. This is an important recognition of circular economies that generate products with little to no impact on natural resources, and that support small enterprises. 

Materials used in the office are supplied by third-party vendors who also espouse sustainability. “It is of utmost importance that we work with and support these sustainability-oriented enterprises to make sustainability a more pervasive and holistic way of doing business and that we integrated the concept across all areas of our business,” says ACEN Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications and Sustainability Irene Maranan.

Indoor plants are also generously and strategically placed all throughout the offices, but these are not just for visual variety-they are particular species that are carefully chosen for their powerful air-purifying capabilities. Especially in light of COVID-19, maintaining good quality of indoor air is paramount to the inhabitants’ health and well-being. With the help of these special plants, toxins and carbon dioxide in the enclosed office environment are eliminated and converted into oxygen in an efficient and natural manner.  

Inclusivity

On every floor, employees can have their fill of coffee, tea, and drinking water at the Teapoint. Bar 35 and Bar 36 are nooks specially designed to accommodate catering services during events or cocktail mixing for a little nightcap after office hours. Louis de Jesus of ACEN Investor Relations appreciates how these little but thoughtful provisions are meaningful to team members. “When we are hard at work, we often take for granted how helpful it is to take a break with a cup of coffee or a drink of water, so having these things on hand really show us that ACEN cares for our comfort and well-being,” he says. 

Employee welfare is top priority at ACEN, and as such, inclusivity was taken into consideration in creating the new headquarters. During the planning period, ACEN’s Human Resources facilitated focus group discussions and implemented employee surveys to gather inputs on how to make the design and features of the new ACEN offices more appreciable and relevant for all team members.

All meeting rooms, including the Board Room and the Executive Lounge, are equipped with the latest technologies for efficiency and convenience—plug-and-play provisions for seamless virtual conferences, which are the new normal in a post-pandemic world. Other high-tech features in the meeting rooms include turning the glass windows opaque at the touch of a button for privacy during closed-door discussions. 

Spaces and views

There are also spaces that are deliberately designed for human needs apart from those necessary for carrying out daily work. “Nurture” is a dedicated breastfeeding or lactation room, “Recharge” is a private nap area, while “Refresh” is a complete shower facility. “Energize” is a time-out zone where team members can play a round of table tennis, watch a movie, or hop on the treadmill. 

A notable feature that also encourages inclusivity and diversity in the ACEN offices are gender-neutral restrooms for the free use of all employees and visitors. 

Most importantly, there are spaces at the ACEN HQ that foster collaboration and enable greater productivity among all team members.

The convergence point across the entire ACEN headquarters is the Melting Pot, a common area that features an amphitheater set-up perfect for company-wide gatherings. It can accommodate up to 200 persons and is the venue for townhall meetings, partner events, and many other major gatherings. On ordinary days, it is a free-for-all space that can serve as a dining area or workspace, with strategically placed booths by the windows. 

All these functionalities are presented in sophisticated, contemporary interior design that speak of ACEN’s pride not only in providing the best working environment for its employees, but especially in receiving visitors and guests in its offices. The overall intent is a futuristic industrial atmosphere, with the predominant use of polished concrete surfaces for the floors and walls. 

Tower Two’s prime location also provides some of the best views in the Makati central business district today—the calming, unobstructed green expanse of the surrounding gated villages and the mountain ranges of Rizal in the far distance, in addition to the vibrant city skyline. These vistas bring nature indoors and contribute greatly to the everyday wellness of employees and guests at ACEN.

At a time when companies and enterprises are rethinking the way they do business in the aftermath of COVID-19, the offices of the future clearly have to be more than just a place to clock in and do work. It ought to be a veritable second home where employees not only perform what is expected of them, but where they are inspired to go beyond and live out their passions. It is the goal of a future-proof workplace such as the new ACEN headquarters to be such an enduring, safe space where its leaders, team members, partners, and even visitors and other stakeholders can converge in their common interest of shaping a sustainable energy future.