As companies anchor their vision on sustainability, it is imperative for their team to also be housed in a sustainable property or building. This is the reason behind the redevelopment of Bank of the Philippine Island’s (BPI) head office, which will become a 45-story premium and sustainable office tower. This early, BPI announced that as part of its sustainability agenda, all relevant environment certifications authenticating green buildings—EDGE, LEED, and WELL—will be sought by the new headquarters.
According to a statement from BPI, the building will have “an energy-saving, 100 percent glass façade… its masterplan maximizes land efficiency while providing a generous civic space that seamlessly connects to Makati’s underground and elevated walkways.” The new building will sit at the prime of all prime addresses—the heart of the Makati Central Business District at the corners of Ayala Avenue, Paseo de Roxas, and Dela Rosa.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held last March 15, was attended by top executives from BPI, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land Inc., and the Makati LGU led by Mayor Abby Binay.
“Today, we broke ground and officially launched the redevelopment of our new headquarters, and at the same time, symbolically laid the groundwork for our future plans toward building a better Philippines,” said BPI President and CEO Jose Teodoro Limcaoco. “We are transforming our headquarters into a bigger, better, more sustainable, and inclusive building as we pursue bold moves to become the undisputed banking leader that is responsible and sustainable at the same time.”
The statement added that the building will feature “an iconic and timeless design and sustainable features. The building will house BPI’s headquarters and main branch. It will be a mixed-use property with retail spaces, event venues, landscaped spaces, and seven basement parking levels.”
The plan was conceptualized by global design firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), in collaboration with the architect-of-record, Aidea Philippines Inc. It will have a land area of 5,599 square meters, a gross floor area of around 89,000 square meters, and a gross leasable area of around 60,000 square meters.
Construction of the headquarters complex is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2029, while the opening of the building is expected in 2030.