The government plans to transform the five-hectare energy complex in Diliman, Quezon City into a high-rise mixed-use development, state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. said Monday.
“The plan is to develop the Diliman property into a commercial center with high-rise mixed-use development, offering both office spaces and retail spaces. It will be an accredited economic zone that will also provide offices for PSALM, the National Power Corp., Transco and other members of the Energy family that would like to move to the said location,” PSALM said in a statement.
PSALM selected the architectural conceptual design submitted by WTA Design Studio as the winning conceptual design for the Diliman project after a three-day rigorous selection process held from July 3 to July 5.
The winning conceptual design of WTA Design Studio will be utilized by PSALM as the basis for the master planning and the privatization options for the Diliman Property”•a 5.195-hectare asset of PSALM located at Quezon Avenue corner BIR Road, Quezon City.
“The design contest specifically required that the design entries would have to integrate into such development the existing two buildings designed by the National Artist Leandro Locsin, in compliance with the requirements of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009,” PSALM said.
PSALM said WTA Design Studio’s conceptual design entry entitled “The East Grid” was selected for its multi-dimensional people-oriented concept of developing a new environmentally friendly business center that integrates energy efficient systems and innovative and sustainable design ideas.
“This design entry assimilates pedestrian-friendly spaces, interactive installations, bike trails, green promenades, alfresco spaces and play areas into a development that will ensure a net leasable space of about 400,000 square meters,” it said.
PSALM president and chief executive Irene Garcia said the architectural conceptual design competition was a critical component of the company’s privatization program.
“The objective of the competition is to fully maximize the utilization of the Quezon City property, study carefully the possible highest and best use for it and ensure that the Government can strategically take advantage of the property’s full potentials,” Garcia said.
She said an outright sale of the land would be much easier but less advantageous for the government than developing it in accordance with its best use and eventually ensuring a substantial income stream and steady cash flow.
The selection committee is composed of representatives from the United Architects of the Philippines, the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners, the UP College of Architecture, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Quezon City Planning Development Office, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and officials of the Department of Energy, Department of Finance and PSALM.
Nine architectural firms submitted the pre-qualifying requirements. A stringent process followed to review the credentials, background and completed works of the said firms including the expertise and achievements of the partners representing the firms.
Five shortlisted architectural firms were carefully chosen to proceed to the next phase of the competition which involved the preparation of the architectural conceptual design and the necessary presentation materials.