BCI Asia recognizes country’s top architects and developers
THE PHILIPPINES’ 10 most active architecture firms and property developers took center stage at the 13th annual BCI Asia Awards 2017, one of the most coveted awards in the regional construction and building industry, held recently.
BCI Asia Top 10 Architects and Developers Awards recognized architecture firms and developers with the highest aggregate value of projects under construction during the last full calendar year by the extent of their sustainability efforts.
The portfolios of these architecture firms contain $11.45 billion worth of properties scheduled to start construction in Philippines this year while the portfolios of the top developers contain $2.27 billion.
BCI Asia Top 10 Architects were awarded to Aidea, Inc., ASYA Design, Edward Co Tan + Architects (ECT+A), H1 Architecture, Jonathan O. Gan + Associates, Jose Siao Ling & Associates, LPPA Design Group, R. Villarosa Architects, Visionary Architecture, Inc., and W.V. Coscolluela & Associates.
Meanwhile, the BCIA Asia Top 10 Developers were given to 8990 Housing Development Corp., Aseana Holdings, Inc., Ayala Land, Inc., Century Properties Group, Inc., DoubleDragon Properties Corp., Eton Properties Philippines, Inc., Federal Pioneer Development Corp., Filinvest Alabang, Inc., Megaworld Corp., and SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SPHI).
“What makes them stand out is that they accomplished the biggest amount of architectural work in a year. Maybe they don’t necessarily the most beautiful designs or the most fantastic skylines. But they are very successful in attracting assignments to design buildings. And the sum total, in dollars or pesos, of the work that they did in a year puts them somewhere in the ranking between one and whatever,” Dr. Matthias Krups, BCI Media Group founder and chairman, said in an interview with BusinessWorld.
Dr. Krups shared that BCI recognized these largest architects and developers who have a very big responsibility in shaping the built of environment to serve as a guiding light and show leadership for the rest of the industry.
For more than a decade, BCI Asia Awards aims to encourage the creation of socially responsible architecture and enables the market to better understand the important role and impact of these firms in the community and environment.
In his welcome address during the awarding ceremony, Dr. Krups explained that the current approach to designing, constructing and operating a building needs to be rethought. It needs a standardized collaborative approach with all stakeholders involved from the outset.
“Owners, developers, architects and builders need to first think about the goals and the ways how to organize the project, and they need to provide the capability to capture and utilize the masses of data that a project produces. Big data — the processing of high-volume, high-variety and high-velocity data for better decision making — will be the next ‘big thing’ in achieving more efficiency in construction,” Dr. Krups said.
“The commitment to embark on such a fundamental journey of change must come from the top. Senior management has to provide muchneeded leadership. BCI stands ready to assist in this process with reliable and comprehensive information on construction projects and participants,” Dr. Krups said.
Atty. Ruth B. Castelo, Undersecretary for Construction Industry Authority, said that BCI Asia and Department of Trade and Industry share a determined goal to boost country’s construction industry, and BCI serves as the government’s partner in achieving the highest quality infrastructure the Filipino people deserve.
“I am quite certain that everyone in this room has the same personal objective as I do, and that is to build the future of our children and our children’s children. We all want to leave the legacy of a better life and a brighter future to the next generation. But the government cannot do this alone. We need the support and cooperation of the private sector in order to achieve the national goals and propel the country forward, towards the golden age of infrastructure,” Atty. Castelo said during her keynote speech at the awards night.
BCI Asia Awards is held in seven different Asian territories including Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and has established itself among the most sought after awards for building and design industry across Southeast Asia. It is an annual gala industry event that serves as a platform for domestic and international networking among elite architecture firms, property developers, manufacturers and service providers.
During the ceremony, the winners for FuturArc Prize (Green design competition) and Interior Design Awards were also recognized and awarded. FuturArc Prize 2017 is Asia’s most foremost Green Building design competition, which has been established as a renowned platform for professionals and students worldwide. It showcases outputs that integrate architectural design and engineering with landscape design and urban planning.
One entry from the Philippines, Green 1 Mall 0: An Underground Shopping Center, has won a merit award under the professional category. The team of Karl Frederick I. Taberdo highlights the use of photovoltaic and rainwater canopies, as well as an underground sewage treatment plant in their project.
The Interior Design Awards is a competition for both emerging and experienced architects and designers that showcase their creative ideas and promote excellence in designing outstanding interior spaces. It recognizes excellent interior architectural designs that stood out aesthetically, functionally and ergonomically.
A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH