Modular Architecture for a New Era of Gaming:

An ESports Facility that Adapts to the

Changing Landscape of Gaming

A Thesis Presented to the

School of Architecture, Industrial Design, and the Built Environment
Mapúa University

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in AR200-01: Architectural Design 10 for

the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Architecture

Submitted by:

Skyler H. Pamatmat
2019120716

Submitted to:

Ar. Arianne Joy Q. Dullas

Thesis Adviser

June 2023
 PART III

SITE IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS

Site Selection Process

The site selection procedure for an eSports facility is essential to the architectural design of a

project. It entails meticulously evaluating various factors to identify an optimal location to support the

facility's success and longevity.

Selecting a location for an eSports facility is intricate and multidimensional, requiring careful

consideration of numerous factors. Through thorough research, analysis, and evaluation, it is possible to

identify an optimal location that meets the requirements of the gaming community, provides convenient

access, provides the required infrastructure and services, and aligns with sustainability objectives.

Architects and project stakeholders can set the groundwork for a prosperous eSports facility by following

a stringent site selection procedure.

The Macro Setting

The most populous metropolis in the Philippines, Metro Manila is also home to a large and

passionate esports community. Additionally, the city is home to several successful esports teams and

organizations.

I. Natural, Environmental, and Physical Factors

Location/Geography

Figure 1. Map of Metro Manila

 The facility should be in a central Metro Manila location, making it readily accessible to spectators

and participants. The facility should also be located in a place conducive to esports, such as an area with

a high concentration of esports enthusiasts or a location. Metro Manila is one of the Philippines' most

populated and economically significant regions. This makes it an ideal eSports venue, as many potential

competitors and spectators will have simple access. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority for

2021, the National Capital Region (NCR) had a population of 13,48 Million in 2020.

Metro Manila, a coastal megacity, has a land area of 686 square kilometers (PSA, 2012) and is

situated in the southwestern segment of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines. It is delimited to the

north by Bulacan, to the east by Rizal, and to the south by Cavite and Laguna. It is also surrounded by

three bodies of water: Manila Bay to the west, Laguna de Bay to the southeast, and the Pasig River,

which bisects the area. Its strategic location along Manila Bay and the Pasig River has contributed to its

growth and preeminence over the past three decades, with the bay providing an ideal port location for

local and international sea vessels to facilitate export-import trading activities and the river serving as an

active transport gateway to the central district of Manila until heavy siltation and land-based transport

rendered this system ineffective and prompted the transition to road-based transport.

Regional Geology

According to Luna et al. (2019), the Pleistocene Guadalupe Formation, also known as the

Guadalupe Tuff Formation, underlies Metro Manila. This comprises the Alat Conglomerate and Diliman

Tuff members. The Alat Conglomerate is a group of massive, weakly sorted round pebbles and small

boulders conglomerate and sandstone with medium to thin-bedded mudstone or shale. In contrast, the

Diliman Tuff is a volcanic ejecta containing some tuffaceous sandstone, siltstone, and shale. This

formation, referred to locally as "adobe," stretches from Quezon City to the southern province of Cavite.

Topography

According to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Metro Manila has a

predominantly flat to undulating topography. Along the coast, the terrain is generally low and level. As

one travels eastward, the landscape progressively rises, and the terrain rolls. The average elevation of
the earth in Metro Manila is between 10 and 30 meters above mean sea level (AMSL). The region's

gradients or slopes range from 0% to 15%. (JICA, n.d.)

Guadalupe Plateau, a topographically elevated feature, dominates the eastern portion of

Metropolitan Manila. This plateau stretches from Novaliches in the north to Paraaque in the south,

encompassing much of Metro Manila. The Guadalupe Plateau supplies the region with elevated terrain.

(JICA, n.d.)

Metro Manila's topography generally consists of a relatively flat coastal region and a progressively

rising and undulating landscape to the east. The presence of the Guadalupe Plateau lends variety to the

region's topographical features. (JICA, n.d.)

II. Geohazards

Tectonic Setting

The Philippine Mobile Belt corresponds to the complex boundary between the Eurasian Plate and

the Philippine Sea Plate, per Luna et al. (2019). The Philippine Mobile Belt is the portion of the Philippine

archipelago between the Manila-Negros-Cotabato-Sulu and East Luzon Trough-Philippine Trenches. The

active 1200 km long Philippine Fault, along with numerous other active seismic sources found within the

Philippines, is a tangible manifestation of the opposing movements of the surrounding tectonic plates.

Seismicity

Luna et al. (2019) state that the Philippines are responsible for 3.2% of global seismicity. It is

located within the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the "Ring of Fire," where 80 percent of the World's

earthquakes occur. Plate subduction and strike-slip motions along transcurrent faults account for the

majority of seismicity in the Philippines. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) earthquake

database was searched for quakes with magnitudes of at least 4.0 within 100 kilometers of Metro Manila.

Since 1900, a total of 442 events have occurred. The list contained only five events between magnitudes

6.0 and 8.0, the greatest of which occurred on August 20, 1937, and had a magnitude of 7.5. This was a

15-kilometer-deep earthquake whose epicenter was approximately 69.4 kilometers from the heart of

Metro Manila. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the 19 km

wide, 56 km long strike-slip Laguna-Banahaw Fault was responsible for this.

Potential Earthquake Generators

Figure 2. Tectonic Boundaries in the Philippines (Left, Source: Dimalanta and Yumul, 2016) and

Distribution of Historical Earthquakes around Metro Manila (Right, Source: USGS)

According to Luna et al. (2019), the Valley Fault System is a network of active disturbances that

traverses Metro Manila. It comprises California's strike-slip West Valley Fault (WVF) and East Valley Fault

(EVF). The West Valley fissure is closest to Metro Manila, extending 110 kilometers from southern Sierra

Madre to Tagaytay. The East Valley Fault, on the other hand, spans approximately 30 kilometers.

The Lubang Fault is an active left-lateral strike-slip fault traverses Verde Passage between

Mindoro and Batangas and proceeds west toward the Manila Trench. The Lubang Fault is a significant

offshoot of the Philippine Fault. (Luna et al., 2019)

The Manila Trench is a narrow but long bathymetric depression that stretches from Taiwan to

Mindanao. The trench accommodates the subduction of the oceanic crust of the South China Sea basin

toward the east beneath the Luzon arc. The trench is associated with a Benioff zone that dips eastward,

thrust focal mechanism solutions and an active volcano belt. Seismic reflection profiles across the 5100 m

trench reveal sedimentary fill deformation, indicating the busy channel. (Luna et al., 2019)
 The Philippine Fault Zone (PFZ) is an active left-lateral strike-slip fault that spans approximately

1200 kilometers across the entire Philippine archipelago. It is the most active earthquake generator in the

country and has caused several devastating tremors. Notably, the Infanta segment of the Philippine Fault

is seismically tranquil and can be considered a seismic lacuna. (Luna et al., 2019)

Liquefaction

Figure 3. Liquefaction Susceptibility Map of Metro Manila (Left) and Ground Rupture Hazard Map

of Metro Manila (Right) (Source: PHIVOLCS)

Liquefaction is the phenomenon that occurs when a loose, saturated, and cohesionless soil is

subjected to cyclic shear stress, increasing pore water pressure and a decrease in effective stress to zero.

This results in the soil's fluid behavior and negligible shear resistance. The map of Metro Manila's

liquefaction susceptibility depicted in Figure 3 (Left) represents varying degrees of danger in various

regions.

Environmental Challenges (Flood Hazard)

Multiple scholarly sources (Arcibal 2014; Lozada 2014; Porio 2014; Yulo-Loyola et al. 2016)

demonstrate that the Philippines is highly susceptible to natural disasters. Despite the average typhoon

season between June and November, the country experiences approximately 20 typhoons annually

(Porio, 2014). This vulnerability is predominantly due to its location on a semi-alluvial plain formed by

sediment flows from multiple river basins, including Meycauayan, Malabon-Tullahan, Pasig-Marikina, and
Mangahan. As a result, Metro Manila, located in this region, is highly vulnerable to various climate-related

threats, including heavy to extreme precipitation, sea-level rise, cyclones, hurricanes, and flooding.

Metro Manila's susceptibility to inundation results from several factors. First, its location in the

path of typhoons increases the risk, as these storms frequently cause significant inundation. Moreover,

the intensification of the southwest monsoon rainfall, known locally as habagat, exacerbates the danger.

In addition, a high level of subsidence in specific urban communities increases their susceptibility to

inundation (Porio, 2011). As a result, Metro Manila has the potential to become a vast drainage basin,

with frequent inundation caused by rivers and stormwater overflow. The inadequate capacity of existing

drainage channels, some of which trace back to the Spanish and American colonial eras, exacerbates this

problem.
 III. Cultural Factors

Land Use/Zoning

Figure 4. Land Use Map of Metro Manila (JICA)

Figure 5. Land Use Map of Metro Manila (Princeton University)

 a) Residential Land Use

According to JICA (n.d.) Metro Manila's most prevalent land use is residential, accounting for

65% of the total area. Wealth and middle-class neighborhoods form exclusive fenced communities in

Makati City, San Juan, Quezon City, Paranaque, and Muntinlupa. Frequently, they impede the equitable

distribution of traffic flows among road hierarchies.

According to National Housing Authority (NHA-NCR) survey data from 1996, 36 percent of the

population of Metro Manila consists of "squatters." Approximately four hundred thousand families are

dispersed throughout 276 main slum areas, including those that dot the PNR tracks.

b) Commercial/Business Land Use

According to JICA (n.d.) About 3% of the land area is utilized for commercial or business

purposes. Commercial developments, primarily retail centers, consumer durables, and financial services,

are concentrated along arterial roads and their environs (refer to Fig. 4).

c) Industrial Land Use

According to JICA (n.d.) Industrial land use accounts for approximately 5% of the total land area.

Most of the region's small and medium-sized industries are in Marikina, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Valenzuela,

and Novaliches.

d) Institutional Land Use

According to JICA (n.d.) The land area occupied by government offices, schools, and hospitals is

approximately 5%. They are more evident in Quezon City, which was intended to be the nation's capital

and is home to numerous government offices.

e) Agricultural Land Use

According to JICA (n.d.) Urbanization typically diminishes agricultural lands. These are

nonexistent in the inner areas but can be found on the outskirts of Metro Manila.

Building Regulations (National Building Code)

According to the Presidential Decree No. 1096, Section 101. This Decree shall be known as the

"National Building Code of the Philippines" and shall be referred to as the "Code" from this point forward.

In Metro Manila, the National Building Code also plays a significant role. It establishes the minimum
requirements and standards for various aspects of building design and construction: As stated in Section

102. Declaration of Policy, It is at this moment declared to be the policy of the State to safeguard life,

health, property, and public welfare, consistent with the principles of sound environmental management

and control; and to this end, it shall be the purpose of this Code to establish for all buildings and

structures a framework of minimum standards and requirements to regulate and control their location,

size, design, quality of materials, construction, use, occupancy, and maintenance. (National Building Code

of the Philippines, PD1096)

Utilities

Electric Services

Figure 6. Luzon Transmission Network (from NGCP)

According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (2022), Most of the Luzon Grid's

generation sources are located in the northern and southern regions of Luzon Island, while the load

center is in Metro Manila. About fifty percent of Luzon's total demand is derived from Metro Manila. Due
to this system configuration, the NGCP's transmission backbone must be capable of transferring

substantial power from both the northern and southern regions of Luzon to Metro Manila.

The proposed eSports facility can be designed to operate efficiently, reliably, and sustainably

within Metro Manila's energy infrastructure by recognizing and addressing the macro context associated

with the NGCP's transmission backbone and the power dynamics between the northern and southern

regions of Luzon Island.

Water Services

Figure 7. Water Supply System 1

Figure 7. Water Supply System 2

According to Samoza et al. (2001, there are three categories of water distribution systems in

the Philippines: Level I (point source system), Level II (community faucet), and Level III (individual

household connection).

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the most extensive Level III water

system, provides service to Metro Manila and several municipalities in neighboring provinces. It was

privatized in 1997 and is now run by two (2) concessionaires: Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (West Zone)

and Manila Water Company, Inc.

Internet Services

As reported by JICA, DPWH, and MMDA (2013). Private corporations have historically provided

telecommunications services in the Philippines, as in a few other countries around the globe. In the past,

some businesses offered both Fixed-line and Mobile Services. However, company restructuring has

advanced as a result of alignment and mergers. Currently, there are two influential organizations: PLDT

and Globe.

Furthermore, there is another Internet Provider in Metro Manila, which is Converge ICT.

According to the CEO of Converge, Dennis Anthony Uy (2021), A third core backbone node will facilitate

robust and redundant traffic routing in the network, thereby increasing its fault tolerance. Previously,

Converge's primary network backbone was connected to two central nodes in Metro Manila and

Pampanga. With the conclusion of a third Core network backbone node in December of last year, the

Converge end-to-end pure fiber network becomes more robust, resilient, and capable of handling outages

more effectively.

Socioeconomic Profile

As the country's economic hub, Metro Manila has the largest economy among the nation's 17

regions. From 2011 to 2013, its annual gross regional domestic product (GRDP) grew faster than the

national GDP. Moreover, while GRDP growth in 2014 declined in tandem with the national GDP, it still

contributed 2.1 percentage points (34.4 percent) to the national GDP growth rate of 6.1 percent (PSA

2015b), while the other regions contributed less than one percentage point each. Services continue to

contribute the most to its economy. At 52 percent, it was also the most significant contributor to the

national output of services. In 2014, its real per capita income of 203,132 pesos was the highest in the

country and nearly three times the national per capita GDP (PSA, 2015b).

Demographic Profile

Metro Manila, or the NCR, which had a population of only 3.5 million in 1970, now has a

population of 12.9 million (PSA 2015a), making it the second largest of the 17 regions in the Philippines.

With a daytime population of 16–18 million (Porio, 2018), the city is one of the most congested in

Southeast Asia. Despite having the smallest total land area among the regions, it has the highest
population density, with 21,000 people per square kilometer (PSA, 2015a). Unfortunately, economic

growth, essential services, and infrastructure investments have not kept pace with the population's

expanding requirements. Even though the poverty rate in Metro Manila is lower (11 percent) than the

national average (33 percent), one in ten residents lives in informal settlements (Ballesteros, 2010).

Therefore, urban governance and management are crucial to how cities provide essential services,

stimulate the economy, and create employment opportunities for their constituents (Porio, 2014).

Support

There is a need for a world-class esports facility in Metro Manila, as the esports industry in the

Philippines is expanding quickly. This facility would serve as a venue for esports athletes, teams, and fans

to compete, train, and interact. It would also be the city's foremost tourist attraction. A city in Metro

Manila annually conducts several eSports tournaments and is home to several eSports teams and

organizations. This municipal support would benefit a venue or facility for eSports. A city in the

Metropolitan of Manila, Philippines, hosted the Manila Major, also known as the Spring Major (Craft,

2016). From June 7 to June 12, 2016, the Mall of Asia Arena hosted the main event (INQUIRER.net,

2016).

IV. Accessibility and Road Networks

Urban Structure and Road Network

 1
Figure 8. Road Network of Metro Manila

According to JICA, DPWH, and MMDA (2013), Metro Manila's transportation network comprises

highways and railroads. The road system comprises primarily five (5) routes. There are circumferential

roads and ten (10) radial roads that connect the Central Business District (henceforth referred to as

CBD), commercial, and residential areas. The transportation system is depicted in Figure 8. Three

expressways connect Metro Manila to Region III and Region IV-A: NLEX, Skyway, and SLEX. The Central

Business District is a city's geographic and economic core, concentrated along EDSA. In particular, the

Makati and Ortigas central business districts along EDSA are critical economic centers in Metro Manila.

Traffic

2
Figure 9. Traffic Volume of Metro Manila

Figure 9 depicts the traffic volume on the road network of Metro Manila, as reported by JICA,

DPWH, and MMDA (2013). EDSA continues to be the most frequently traveled road, with 183,331

vehicles per day, followed by circumferential roads such as C5, C3, and C2, which also recorded high

traffic volumes. Ortigas Avenue, Marcos Highway, Manila North Road, and Aguinaldo Highway, which

connect Metro Manila to the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, and Cavite, also transport substantial traffic

volumes. Despite the presence of NLEX and SLEX, the two primary arteries connecting Metro Manila to

the north and south, respectively, this is the case.

1
Source: JICA Study Team
2
Source: DPWH AADT 2011, C-6 Expressway FS by 2011, ERIA Study by 2010, HSH by 2009, C-6 Expressway FS by 2007
Transit

There is a need for a world-class esports facility in Metro Manila, as the esports industry in the

Philippines is expanding quickly. This facility would serve as a venue for esports athletes, teams, and fans

to compete, train, and interact. It would also be the city's foremost tourist attraction. A city in Metro

Manila annually conducts several eSports tournaments and is home to several eSports teams and

organizations. This municipal support would benefit a venue or facility for eSports. A city in the

Metropolitan of Manila, Philippines, hosted the Manila Major, also known as the Spring Major (Craft,

2016). From June 7 to June 12, 2016, the Mall of Asia Arena hosted the main event (INQUIRER.net,

2016).
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