Towering exoskeleton structure soon to rise in Makati

The BDO Corporate Center in Makati is an engineering and architectural marvel, and a hallmark of sustainability


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BDO Corporate Center Makati, the towering exoskeleton building (Artist's perspective)

Scheduled to be completed in 2028, the BDO Corporate Center Makati will stand as a landmark skyscraper in the heart of the Makati Central Business District (MCBD). On November 15, 2024, BDO Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson, and CEO Nestor V. Tan led the time-capsule ceremony, marking the start of the towering exoskeleton structure's construction. Key officers stored in the time capsule BDO Corporate Center floor plans, a copy of the 2023 BDO Annual Report, the latest issue of Wayfinder, BDO’s official newsletter, project document photos from 2019, and copies of newspapers from the country’s publications, including the Manila Bulletin

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Lesley Villanueva, president, DATEM, Inc.; Lilit Tumbocon, partner, DATEM, Inc.; Liberito Espiritu, chairman and CEO, DATEM, Inc.; Nestor Tan, president and CEO, BDO Unibank; Teresita Sy, chairperson, BDO Unibank; Bubut Montejo, SVP of facilities, procurement, and logistics, BDO Unibank; and Jerome Guevara, chief of staff, Office of the President, BDO Unibank

Combining five separate plots into a unified business hub, the BDO Corporate Center Makati consists of two towers and an annex building. The third BDO main office complex joins the BDO Corporate Center Ortigas in Pasig City and the nearly completed structure of BDO Corporate Center Cebu in the Visayas, as the latest addition to the growing number of BDO main office buildings,

With its innovative exoskeleton structure, the BDO Corporate Center Makati towers will feature open, flexible spaces without the need for conventional pillars. Because of its lightweight structural system, the concrete content of the buildings will be dramatically reduced by over 65,000 tons, thus improving its performance with the country’s seismic environment. Embodied carbon and whole lifecycle carbon management have been integrated into the design. In addition, operational energy will be down by more than 40 percent, its radiant cooling systems will drastically reduce energy demands, and over 70 percent of potable water will be recycled and reused onsite, earning the structure the platinum certification from Green Mark on energy efficiency. Green Mark is a green building rating designed to evaluate a building’s environmental impact and performance.

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Bubut Montejo, SVP of facilities, procurement, and logistics, BDO Unibank stores documents in the time capsule.

The overall design includes 75 percent of its rooftops covered in greenery, an urban farm, an auditorium, and event areas.  

Inside the buildings, workspaces will encourage collaboration and interaction, with flexible office spaces, trading floors, and business hubs. The center also includes areas for client engagement to facilitate a more personalized approach – all of which contribute to making the business hub a positive and inclusive addition to the city. 

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For Nestor Tan, president and CEO, BDO Unibank, the Makati office building complex is all about utility and comfort.

Tan, the new building complex is all about utility and comfort. “It incorporates spaces with minimal pillars, large open spaces, and full of natural light. It will be easy to navigate, and that adds to the productivity of whoever will use it. So more than the looks, which is the first thing that people notice, it’s actually the utility which we put a premium on, and that’s what we’re trying to build here. Because it would be the future home of BDO and other participants, and we hope that it will usher in the future of building technology.”

Designed by British architectural firm Foster + Partners, all the structural and environmental engineering, landscaping, and interiors support the vision of an environmentally sound structure that will be carried into the future. Construction is led by Datem, a Philippine firm known for its experience with green buildings.

“The BDO corporate stands as a testament to our commitment to best design, best building practices, and sustainable development. This project marks one of Datem’s enduring legacies in its more than four decades of existence. Our talented project team is honored to have accepted this challenge to build this magnificent structure,” said Datem, Inc. Liberito V. Espiritu in his inspirational message.