Practice Archives

WTA Awarded as BCI Asia’s Top Ten Architects in the Philippines 2020/2021

June 21, 2021May 22, 2022

Manila, Philippines, June 21, 2021 – WTA Architecture and Design Studio was honoured at the 16th BCI Asia Top Ten Architects in the Philippines 2020/21 awarding ceremony. Alongside 9 other firms in the Philippines, WTA was recognized for its newly accomplished and currently ongoing projects such as the FEM Stadium, Garden City, and the Omni Gardens.

The firm, despite challenges faced during a year of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, continues to provide dedicated service to its clients. Aiming to accomplish projects within set timelines, the firm has also learned to adjust and consequently apply new design solutions to its projects in order to address current and future challenges in health and well-being. WTA is honored to be part of the top ten awardees and plans to continue to provide the best design service for its clients.

The BCI Asia Top 10 Awards provides an overview of the regional building and construction industry by recognizing the top architectural firms and developers that had the greatest impact on the built environment in Southeast Asia.The annual BCI Asia Awards—now into its 16th year—recognises developers and architecture firms that have built and designed the greatest volume of buildings, as well as ecologically sensitive projects and impressive interiors in seven Asian markets: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This event seeks to encourage the creation of socially responsible architecture, and remains one of the most coveted awards in the regional building industry while serving as a platform for domestic and international networking among elite architecture firms, property developers, manufacturers and service providers.

BCI Asia Top 10 Architects 2020/2021 WTA Architecture and Design Studio

BCI Asia Top 10 Architects 2020/2021 WTA Architecture and Design Studio William Ti, Jr.

Anthology Festival 2021: Nature, Building, and City for “Our City

March 26, 2021March 30, 2021 Archinesia

Anthology Festival, an annual architectural festival held by WTA Design & Studio on March 19-21, 2021. Different from previous years and adjusting to the current pandemic conditions, the Anthology Festival 2021 is transformed into a virtual event with free online accessibility through the Anthology Festival’s official Facebook page.

However, this virtual event’s concept still attracted every session that was held. The 6th Anthology Festival with the theme “Our City” brings several practitioners of architecture, city development, art, and education. The talks and discussions in this event became more diverse and came from many points of view. Even the panelists and speakers involved are from various countries in the world. From the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, to China..

Starting with some young architects on the first day, the Anthology Festival presents Benjee Mendoza (BAAD Studio) on the Scale Model Tour. Then, other young architects were also present at the Shelter Dialogues session. They discussed trends and social media among young architects. Then, the first day of the festival was closed with Anthology Talks with Martijn de Geus and Han Zhang (Maison H), as well as the announcement of the winner of the “Revamp: Our Jeep” competition.

The second day was also interesting. This time, it opened with the Scale Model Tour with Cathy Saldana (PDP Architects). In contrast to the previous day, the festival on March 20, 2021, consisted of two Anthology Sessions. First session with Jason Buensalido (Buensalido Architects) who shared how models help them in studying fluidity building designs. Then it was followed by the presence of lecturers from various countries who talked about the teaching process during the pandemic. Various panelists also attended the Shelter Dialogue. Here they believe that one of the things that make up a city is the people in it.

Archinesia publishes about WTA Design Studio’s annual event Anthology Festival 2021 : Nature, Building, and City for “Our City”

WTA makes it to the top World Architecture 100 2021 list!

January 27, 2021January 27, 2021 WTA

Newcomer to the World Architecture 100 list, WTA Architecture and Design Studio ranks 100th in Building Design‘s annual survey of the world’s largest architectural practices! We are honored to be included in this year’s top 100 architects and architectural practices.

Every year Building Design surveys the world’s biggest architecture practices to create a report that is one of the most respected annual publications in the industry.

See full WA100 list.

Meet the COVID-19 heroes of the Ginebra Ako Awards

December 22, 2020January 29, 2021 CNN Philippines Staff

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Ginebra San Miguel recently held the “Ginebra Ako Awards Year 3: Pagkakaisa sa Gitna ng Pandemya” in a virtual awarding ceremony streamed via Ginebra San Miguel’s official Facebook page.

Since 2018, the Ginebra Ako Awards has been honoring the hero in every Filipino, and for this year, the award-giving body salutes the COVID-19 heroes in three categories: “Pilipino Ako Award,” individual or organization that emphasized the value of unity in advancing their causes; “Matapang Ako Award,” person or group who went beyond their call of duty in uniting their fellowmen for a common purpose; and “Lalaban Ako Award,” person or institution that used their talent and exemplified excellence in their craft to help those in need.

The awardees recognized for their contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic are Martin Xavier Peñaflor, chief executive officer of Tangere for Pilipino Ako Award; Minnie Pascual Klepacz, a nurse based in the United Kingdom and one of the proponents of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network and the Filipino Nurses Association United Kingdom (FNA-UK) for Matapang Ako Award; and the Emergency Quarantine Facility project led by Dr. Glenn Angeles and Architect William Ti for Lalaban Ako Award.

CNN Philippines publishes Meet the COVID-19 heroes of the Ginebra Ako Awards. Click here to read more.

EQF Team wins Ginebra Ako Awards

Award-giving body recognizes COVID-19 heroes

EQF Team wins Ginebra Ako Awards 2020: Lalaban Ako Award

December 22, 2020January 12, 2021 WTA

Ginebra San Miguel conducts their first virtual award ceremony, the Ginebra Ako Awards, on the their official facebook page last December 18, 2020.

The Ginebra Ako Awards has been commemorating exceptional FIlipino heroes and organizations since 2018. Continuing tradition, Ginebra San Miguel shines light on the noteworthy Filipinos that have contributed their efforts and specialties in the COVID-19 panndemic.

The Emergency Quarantine Facility Team receives the Ginebra Ako Award: Lalaban Ako Award for their voluntary efforts in augmenting and increasing the capacity of our hospitals. The EQF Team includes Dr. Glenn Angeles and Architect William Ti, Engr. Dan Quiaoit, Prim Paypon, Maj. Carmelo Jaluague, Lt. Col. Banjo Badayos.

Meanwhile, the Ginebra Ako Award: Pilipino Ako Award category goes to Martin Xavier Peñaflor, CEO and the chief architect of Tangere. Penaflor has provided aid and help thru market research accessibility to victims of Taal Volcano eruption, COVID-19 pandemic, and Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. Additionally, the Ginebra Ako Award: Matapang Ako Award was given to Minnie Pascual Klepacz for forming the Filipino Nurses Association United Kingdom (FNA-UK). The organization offers support to Filipino nurses in her community that includes meals and comfort.

Meet the COVID-19 heroes of the Ginebra Ako Awards

Award-giving body recognizes COVID-19 heroes

Learn more about EQF

Design to Improve Life (DtIL) Workshop

December 8, 2020January 21, 2021 WTA

The Index Project launches the ‘Design to Improve Life’ virtual workshop in partnership with the Design Center of the Philippines, last December 3-4 2020. Facilitated by Education Director Charlotte Høeg Andersen of The Index Project, the workshop introduces the Design to Improve Life Compass as a tool for creative problem-solving.

Participants where made to group themselves into 3 person teams to solve a challenge prompt. WTA Architecture and Design Studio was represented by Senior Manager Arvin Pangilinan, who was grouped with Heidrun Milan of Heidrun Milan Design Studio, and Pia Ocampo of ReMaker Space. Their challenge focused on how to bridge the gap between architects, designers and educators with the local community. the challenge is to inspire better spaces for more local communities in terms of making cities and settlements inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

With using the compass as a framework, the team devised the Design Dialogue Kit ( D2 Kit) to inspire design solutions that responds to the needs of local communities. The kit acts as equipment for designers to spark continuous dialouge with the community thoughout the design process.

Learn more.

The D2 Kit is comprised of:

The D2 Notebook & Question Cards (also Open Source content that will be downloadable through the D2 website)
Some of the materials & tools you’ll need for the community engagement exercises found in the Notebook: ex., ribbon, giant pieces of paper, markers, blocks
The D2 backpack that gets you in the ”immersive traveler” frame of mind
D2 tsinelas! to make sure you walk in the shoes of your community.

The Design Dialouge kit shall be used as an immersive tool that explores, investigates and analyses situations between the designer and the community that can bring about creative and innovative solutions.

Learn more about the Design to Improve Life Workshop.

AFP honors civilian partner in patient care center project

October 28, 2020December 10, 2020 Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday honored its civilian partner who helped construct several emergency quarantine facilities (EQFs) in military and civilian health institutions in Mega Manila.

AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, presented a plaque of appreciation to William Tan Ti Jr., principal architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, in a short ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The WTA Architecture and Design Studio was the lead company that designed and initiated the construction of EQFs in military and government health institutions.

Through its cooperation with the AFP’s engineering units, led by AFP chief engineer Maj. Gen. William Ilagan, they were able to complete and construct 75 EQFs.

Gapay thanked Ti for his efforts and for initiating a partnership with the AFP.

Ti’s efforts, he said, exemplified the “Bayanihan Spirit” and the positive outcome of public-private partnerships, especially during this trying time in the country.

The Philippine News Agency publishes AFP honors civilian partner in patient care center project. Click here to read more.

PARTNERS IN COVID-19 RESPONSE. William Tan Ti Jr. (left), the principal architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, receives a plaque of appreciation from AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay (center), in a ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Wednesday (Oct. 28, 2020). The WTA Architecture and Design Studio was the lead company that designed and initiated the construction of emergency quarantine facilities in military and government health institutions in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. (Photo courtesy of the AFP Public Affairs Office)

Learn more about the EQF

Emergency Quarantine Facilities (EQF) explained

October 22, 2020October 22, 2020 WTA

What role do architects play in the fight against Covid-19? William Ti, Principal Architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, explains the reasoning behind building Emergency Quarantine Facilities (EQF) around Mega Manila. He gives us a tour of the EQF at Camp Crame, housing 120 beds for the Philippine National Police.

The Emergency Quarantine Facilities are temporary structures that augment and increase the capacity of our hospitals, serving as housing for PUIs. WTA spearheaded the construction of these facilities early-on during the lockdown and since then, have managed to reach over 20 cities nationwide. We figured every community needs a builder, and we brought it upon ourselves to build shelters for our people.

Learn more about EQF

Daring By Design: Stories of courage and creative pursuits

June 22, 2020February 15, 2021 Denny Mata and Gabrielle de la Cruz | Bluprint/One Mega

” The first half of 2020 has been a rollercoaster of national and world events—from natural phenomena to global health security, and economic stability. The Philippines, for one, suffered from all three, with Taal volcano erupting and devastating the families and cities near it in the first month of the year. Shortly after, the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic due to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)—the country wasn’t spared. As of writing, the Philippines has recorded 30,052 validated cases with 7893 recoveries and 1169 deaths. It is at this time that faults in the system surfaced: the health sector was deemed lacking, the economy was paralyzed due to the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in selected cities and provinces, and several people in power resorted to force instead of presenting a concrete and research-based plan to mitigate the problem. The architecture and design community proved to be heroes in this battle against COVID-19 as groups of individuals and companies within the industry collaborated to design both contingent and permanent solutions. ” Learn more.

Design Needed in Creating Emergency Facilities

April 22, 2020November 27, 2020 Adobo Magazine

Adobo Magazine features the design considerations into making an EQF in their article – ‘Design: The Speed and Scalability Needed in Creating Emergency Facilities as Hospitals Reach Full Capacity According to Renowned Architect William Ti’.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – It’s not just the Philippines that is struggling to keep patients moving in and out of hospitals as they recover from the COVID-19 disease. Healthcare facilities around the world have an influx of patients and potential carriers of the pandemic that need to be cared for. Here in the Philippines, most especially in Manila, we see stories on the daily about patients having to be redirected several times until they find an empty hospital room for them to be tested on, and an empty bed they can use while in treatment and recovery.

A quick fix that architects over the WTA Architecture and Design Studio have thought of is building facilities that can be finished within six days with minimal manpower and readily available materials.

“The idea behind it started from a conversation between me and Dr. Glenn Angeles. We were discussing how the hospitals were filling up and were no longer able to accept [patients]. We thought that would be bad since people would walk around and spread it more. I remembered a pavilion we did before at Anthology Festival based on the idea of building something quick and easy. We brought it up quickly with the next day with Maj Carmelo Jaluague and Maj Banjo Badayos and very quickly we decided to give it a go,” shared William Ti, Principal Architect at WTA Architecture and Design Studio.

Read full article of Design: The Speed and Scalability Needed in Creating Emergency Facilities as Hospitals Reach Full Capacity According to Renowned Architect William Ti here.

Learn more about the EQF

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