A certain area earns the designation "CBD" or Central Business District when it becomes the main hub devoted for commercial activities of a city. Mere size does not suffice to become a CBD; it takes developers with a clear vision and the expertise to bring it to life.
Ayala Land, known for its iconic CBD in Makati City, is on the path to create another authentic CBD in the country. Rapidly taking shape in Kawit, Cavite is Evo City.
Evo City, a 200-hectare master-planned estate, is well on its way to becoming an innovative and prime CBD in the south of Metro Manila. The innovative mindset of the estate stems from the vision of Ayala Land to bring together the best practices of existing estates as well as new features relevant to the needs of today's market.
Accessibility and High-Growth Potential
Ayala Land is leaving no stone unturned in developing Evo City as the premiere CBD in this side of the country. With its strategic location and superior accessibility, Evo City is projected to be the South's newest growth center.
Kawit is a city rich in history as the site of Philippine independence. It is a burgeoning city on the verge of modernization, and Evo City is leading the way by becoming the catalyst for growth. Kawit is the ideal location for Evo City due to its strategic positioning at the intersection of 'histori-city' and 'urbani-city'— then and tomorrow merging into a dynamic growth environment of today. Its location is easily accessible to key cities via existing infrastructure and will be enhanced further by the rise of future infrastructure projects.
As Evo City is centrally located in the South, it is near the airports (20 minutes away), and the CBDs of Makati (50 minutes) and BGC (55 minutes). A robust road network using existing infrastructure such as the Manila-Cavite Expressway, the NAIA Expressway, and the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, (PITX) allow dwellers and workers inside Evo City to be near neighboring provinces and various places of interest.
Future infrastructure projects, like the C-5 Southlink Expressway and LRT 1 South extension (projected completion by 2028), are anticipated to further boost Evo City's attractiveness. The CALAX extension is also much welcome once the Cavite section is completed, it's going to expand the market by interconnecting all southern towns of Cavite and Laguna, which will all be funneled toward Evo City thru the Kawit Interchange inside the estate.
Once in Kawit, the main entrance of Evo City is along the busiest highway, the Centennial Road (Antero Soriano Highway). It is only 4 kilometers away (10-minute drive) from the CAVITEX toll gate exit. The entire estate spans four barangays, covering nearly one-tenth of Kawit.
Masterplanned and Mixed-Used Development
A genuine CBD must meet several criteria, with mixed-use development being a major requirement. Evo City follows this framework, combining residential and commercial spaces to create a vibrant, round-the-clock environment where people can live optimally and sustainably. Ayala Land has applied all its best practices in estate development through the years to this rising estate.
Masterplanned by renowned international design and planning firm DPZ (Duany PlaterZyberk), Evo City incorporates four design principles: rationalized densities, mixed-use components, walkability and connectivity, and sustainability.
"Rationalized densities" ensure a balanced mix of high-density to mid-density mixed-use and institutional developments, along with low-rise residential developments across the estate.
As for "mixed-use components," this new estate will transform the way people inhabit spaces, what we do in them, and how and when we move from one to the other. Business, residential, commercial, recreational, and retail environments fuse together forging future-forward lifestyles.
At the gateway of Evo City is the Park Plaza, a 32-hectare mixed-use retail and entertainment center similar to Ayala Center in Makati. This will include the estate's entry marker, Visitor's Center, a 1,000-seat Church designed by Dominic Galicia Architects, a 2.6-hectare Active Park, regional mall, transport terminal, and campus-type BPO buildings.
The Ayala Mall, with a Gross Leasable Area (GLA) of 12,000 sq. m, as part of its first phase, is targeted to open by 2024. At full completion by 2026, the mall's GLA will become 58,000 sq. m. It is a mixed-use retail and lifestyle center complemented with a transport terminal, to further strengthen accessibility within the estate. There will also be a 2.6-hectare active park that will connect the mall to the church. All of these are part of Ayala Land's commitment to building up the community and ensuring that the estate thrives, through the infusion of P4 billion investment over the next three years.
To capitalize on the growing BPO market, Ayala Land Offices is currently constructing the 2tower Evo City Technohub, projected to open by 2025.
And like any Ayala Land Estate, Evo City shall be a model of "walkability and connectivity" with its distinct and interconnected park networks and pedestrian-friendly road networks with bike lanes. Its park network — totaling a massive 13 hectares — includes a variety of sprawling parks and open spaces that are seamlessly connected throughout the estate to create a pleasant pedestrian experience.
Evo City is also remastering the road network system by adapting the pedestrian experience of existing estates such as Makati and BGC. Shared bike lanes create a new dimension in the urban setting, allowing people to safely move around Evo City in a smarter mode of transportation.
Evo City highlights its resiliency as it is designed to reduce risks brought about by natural and geographical factors via astormwater management system through retarding basins, improved waterways, allotment of areas for rainwater percolations, and use of native and climate-resilient plants and trees for landscaping. To save energy, solar-power facilities are provided and residual waste reduction programs are also implemented.
A truly effective CBD is where people are mobile and can easily walk from one place to another. This is possible in Evo City as it has prioritized pedestrians and public transport facilities in the design of the estate.
Convenient public transportation and a more pleasant pedestrian experience are seamlessly incorporated into the development through a Transit Terminal, which will be a 15-minute walk from any point in Evo City to retail areas and parks. There will also be bike racks and resting areas at different points.
Space for Homes, Venues for Businesses
On the laidback side of the estate, there is The Residences at Evo City built by Alveo LaThis is perfect for people working at Evo City or neighboring cities, or those who just want a quiet respite from the buzz of a dynamic CBD.
The first phase of The Residences at Evo City is currently being turned over. Facilities and amenities such as a clubhouse, parks, jogging and bike paths, and gardens shared by the community present residents with vibrant spaces to unwind, keep active, and connect with family and friends.
Evo City also becomes a venue for businesses and enterprises with its commercial lots located at the first phase or West District that are also currently being turned over.
Soon, there will be a new district in Evo City, projected for turnover in 2027, and located along Daang Hari Link Road, Innovation Drive, adjacent to The Residences at Evo City.
Within over 200 hectares, amidst a sustainable estate created by Ayala Land, the foremost estate developer in the country, Evo City is continuously evolving. As the first-of-its-kind in Kawit, Cavite, it is becoming a standard for the rise of contemporary central business districts with innovative urban design and systems promoting efficiency and sustainability. Evo City is not only providing employment to thousands of Filipinos but also providing them the opportunity to evolve their lifestyles as they thrive in a world-class address — the prime CBD of the South, Evo City.