As part of PropertyGuru Philippines’ awards program, Jean De Castro brings a tech-forward, engineering-led perspective to the table, ensuring that technical excellence and smart construction practices are equally recognized alongside aesthetics. Her role is critical as the property portal champions both design vision and execution excellence in uplifting the Filipino expertise in the real estate industry.

With careful deliberations focusing on the form, function, and innovation of each project, de Castro emphasized, “What makes the PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards different is its balanced judging criteria — we look at design brilliance, yes, but also how a project performs, serves communities, and is built to last.”

De Castro makes certain that construction quality and safety should not be taken for granted, especially in a disaster-prone country. The structural integrity of a building is crucial for life safety, while the quality of the project execution is what end-users appreciate as part of their living conditions.

By examining the engineering aspect, de Castro can identify how innovation was adopted to enhance the building's performance. “Whether it is in the use of a more innovative structural system or new eco-friendly and lightweight materials, recognizing technical ingenuity inspires further advancement in these areas to meet sustainability goals,” she added.

“The challenge of being able to bring a vision to reality is where engineering and construction come in. It brings life to the project. Executing the project means meeting both its aesthetic qualities and functionalities. This is where the triple constraints of time, quality, and budget begin a three-way tug-of-war, requiring a developer to prioritize among competing interests and reveal its true DNA – or what it holds most important. Intelligent engineering allows for a better balance of these three factors,” she emphasized.

Coming from her vast experience as a certified BIM manager by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore and a certified program manager of the Philippines Constructors Association (PCA), de Castro champions the integration of digital tools and sustainability metrics in modern developments — themes she looks for in winning entries.

From her position as CEO of engineering firms ESCA Engineering & ESCA International, Inc., she recognized that “more developers today are using Building Information Modeling (BIM), sustainable materials, and tech-enabled designs — and it’s our job as judges to push that further by recognizing those who lead, not follow.”

ESCA Engineering is a strong advocate of the use of BIM for planning, design, construction, and operation. The use of BIM allows for a collaborative approach among stakeholders to design and build better-performing buildings that are more efficient and operationally sustainable.

BIM involves creating and managing digital representations of a building's physical and functional characteristics. These digital models provide a clear vision and technical information that can be used throughout the planning, design, construction, and operation phases.

“Through a BIM model, both technical and non-technical stakeholders have a single source of truth that allows them to walk through a project and see all its bones even before it is constructed. BIM also allows for smart construction practices such as the use of modular construction that prevents a lot of time and material waste,” explained de Castro. “As a visual tool, design alternatives can be explored and even interiors can be laid out in detail, granting the client to appreciate it early in the process without having to construct the actual project. Changes can be more easily applied in the BIM model than in actual construction, allowing for flexibility and cost efficiency.”

In raising industry standards, PropertyGuru’s panel of judges also looks for sustainability metrics that must be present in future-ready, structurally sound developments. De Castro defines high-performance buildings as energy-efficient and environment-friendly, which enhance the well-being of their occupants.

Future-proofed buildings are expected to last beyond 50 years and evolve into historical and cultural structures that will serve generations of future communities. Its structural integrity must manage the risks from natural disasters and climate change. A prolonged lifespan of a building should also prevent unnecessary or premature demolition and additional new construction that adds to the carbon footprint.

To achieve disaster-resilience and the capability to operate even during emergencies and calamities, high-performing buildings may be designed beyond the minimum requirements of life safety.

These structures must also be flexible enough to adapt to a changing population and its evolving demand on the use of space as a living, working, and sustainable environment, allowing the building to remain functional in the long term.