Lessons from LIMA Tower One: Navigating the Challenges of WELL Certification in the Philippines
- Hearn & Hearn Consulting
- Aug 28, 2025
- 3 min read
Achieving WELL Core Gold Certification for LIMA Tower One Aboitiz InfraCapital was a landmark achievement for our team and a significant step forward in advancing healthier, more sustainable workplaces in the Philippines. As one of the few WELL-certified buildings in the country, this journey offered valuable lessons that can help streamline the path for future projects.
The process was both rewarding and challenging, highlighting opportunities for improvement in how WELL Certification is pursued locally. We share these lessons to guide developers, contractors, and professionals aiming to deliver healthier, WELL compliant spaces.
1. Adapting to Humidity: Navigating Climate Realities
Managing relative humidity (RH) levels was one of our earliest challenges. WELL sets a target RH range of 50–60 µg/m³ which is considered reasonable in temperate countries, but difficult to achieve in the Philippines’ tropical climate.
Despite advanced HVAC systems and dehumidification strategies, consistently meeting this threshold proved challenging. Fortunately, WELL recognizes global climate diversity and has adjusted thresholds for tropical countries like the Philippines, allowing for more realistic targets.
Takeaway: Climate-specific design strategies should be integrated from the very beginning. Engineers and designers must proactively optimize HVAC systems for local conditions to avoid costly adjustments later.
2. Bridging the Gap: The Need for Local WELL PV Agents
The Performance Verification (PV) phase posed unique challenges. Since WELL requires testing by an accredited PV Agent and none are currently based in the Philippines, an international agent had to be engaged. This naturally introduced additional costs related to logistics, travel, and specialized equipment, highlighting the need for more local PV capacity to support wider adoption of WELL in the country.
Takeaway: There is an untapped opportunity for local testing laboratories to become accredited as WELL PV Agents, expanding their service offerings and supporting the growing demand for healthy building certifications. With proper training and investment in the necessary equipment, local professionals could bridge this gap, significantly reducing costs and making WELL Certification more accessible to Philippine developers.
3. Low-VOC Furniture: A Hidden Culprit of Indoor Air Pollution
Another unexpected challenge came in the form of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can compromise indoor air quality and pose long-term health risks to building occupants. As we worked to reduce total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) to meet WELL’s stringent preconditions, we discovered that some of the biggest contributors were not paints or adhesives, but from furniture.
Even “green” or “sustainable” furniture can contain high levels of VOCs that off-gas over time, compromising indoor air quality and occupant health.
Takeaway: Procurement teams, designers, and building managers should prioritize low-VOC furniture and finishes from the outset. Embedding low-VOC standards into purchasing policies prevents costly rework and creates healthier environments from day one.
4. Starting Early: The Power of Integrating WELL from Day One
Perhaps the most valuable lesson was the importance of integrating WELL requirements early on in the design phase. Retrofitting WELL optimizations after construction often leads to higher costs, inefficiencies, and roadblocks.
By embedding WELL requirements into the pre-design and schematic stages, developers ensure that systems, materials, and operations align seamlessly with certification standards.
Takeaway: Position WELL not as an add-on, but as a core element of project planning. Taking a proactive approach lays the groundwork for success, enabling projects to achieve certification more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Building a Stronger WELL Ecosystem in the Philippines
Our experience with LIMA Tower One revealed both the potential and the gaps in bringing WELL Certification to the Philippines. By collaborating, innovating, and investing in local expertise, the industry can make WELL more accessible and deliver workplaces that prioritize health and well-being for Filipino communities.
👉 Interested in exploring how WELL Certification can transform your project? Let’s connect and take the first step toward creating healthier, more sustainable spaces.
📩 Reach out to us at theteam@hhconsulting.com.ph
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