Gold Key Construction Management Inc.

- Philippines, a joint venture with

one of the biggest steel manufacturing company in China, joining hand in
development. The company has the qualification certificate issued by the
National Ministry of Development and has a vast scale of professional design
and technical team to provide customer with a total engineering consulting.

Our partnership with the China’s company as one of the largest steel
Address Email production and manufacturing company based in Fujian China, with 12 high-
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Ermita, Manila, 1005, Philippines company in accordance with the industry as the principle of the highest levels,
Tel. No. Website to undertake the construction projects producing high quality, customer’s
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4

Contents Global
Pinoy

CASAS+Architects

The Show
Must Go On
CASAS+Architects unveils the Maybank
Performing Arts Theater—the first stand-alone
theater in central Metro Manila

Cover Story 62
words by John Ravino Duanan

Architect John Joseph Fernandez

The Future
of Healing
Ar. John Joseph Fernandez shares his philosophy
in designing arguably one of the hardest building
types: hospitals.

10 Feature 1
words by Myla Sambas
July - September 2017
What’s inside

Architect William T. Ti, Jr. of

WTA Architecture and Design Studio

Great
Responsibility
A close look at Architect William’s personable and fascinating design
career as he recounts his love for superhero memorabilia, comic
books, and fantasy novels that inspired him to look at everything in a
different perspective.

Spotlight 38
words by John Ravino Duanan

Architect Carl
Remington Ty
Architect Carl shares his early days in the design industry, his
beliefs, inspirations, and triumphs with his colleagues as they
establish a booming name and a solid body of work

22 Feature 2
words by Estan Cabigas
6

Contents Global
Pinoy

JCB’s 40th
Anniversary
As JCB prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of Loadall
production later this year, D+C takes a tour of the UK
production line for a detailed look at the manufacturing
processes that make the company’s telescopic handler
the biggest selling in the world.

Trends 76
+ Stories

Intermat
ASEAN opens
in Thailand
Looming cranes and towering structures in various stages of
construction dotting Bangkok’s skyline was a fitting backdrop
as INTERMAT ASEAN opens in Thailand’s bustling capital
metropolis with D+C magazine covering the event.

Trends + Stories
86
words by Estan Cabigas

AkzoNobel adds
‘world-class’ color
to CONEX 2017
Architects, contractors, interior designers, trade professionals and other exhi-
bition guests were treated to a showcase of Dulux Professional’s portfolio of
paint and coating solutions for all paintable surfaces including interior, exterior,
metal, and wood.

Industry 76
News
July - September 2017
Contact + Team

Contacts The Team

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Myla Sambas
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12

Feature 1 words
Myla Sambas
images
Ar. John Joseph Fernandez

The Future
of Healing
There are thousands of places in the world people
would be willing to spend much money in, but there are
a few where they wouldn’t even wish to go into—yes, put
hospitals in the list. But as long as architects like Ar. John
Joseph Fernandez continue to attach weight to making
hospitals efficient in structure yet emphatic in nature,
going to hospitals and valuing one’s healthcare can be
less daunting but more engaging for all.

Ar. John Joseph Fernandez, a 10-year dean in

University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture,
who has recently ended his term and gone back to
teaching graduating students and private practice,
shares his philosophy in designing hospitals which
he thinks is one of the hardest building types in
designs and a chink in some architects’ armours.
Contrary to the common belief that hospitals are
simple, white, and plain (not to mention the long
queues of patients, the strong antiseptic smell
around, and rigid, musty beds), there is a profound
intricacy on how they are planned and constructed,
in which the architects put the welfare of the users
at the top of their design considerations.
July - September 2017
Feature 1
Fernandez prefers to be “an architect for the people rather
than an architect for himself” who renders hospital designs
that focus more on “being practical, functional, and effective
rather than being iconic.” “I try (to design) something new but
as much as possible, I present my ideas based on the wants
and needs of the owner (and patients). Designing for the users
is different from designing for yourself,” he says. Healthcare
designs cannot be treated with lenience and vagueness but
rather, should be born out of respect in the essence of hospitals
and the lives it strives to keep.
Born and bred to design
Currently, Fernandez is working on two big hospital projects:
the University of Santo Tomas Hospital Extension Building
in Manila and the Aquinas University Hospital in Legazpi,
Albay. Both projects have completed their design phases and
are now on their construction stages. Several changes in the
design layouts are happening as expected. Additional spaces
were required and floors were added. These changes extend
the completion of the projects, which Fernandez targets to be
by 2018.
While these projects are ongoing, he still handles
other ventures such as doctors’ clinics and a 25-bed hospital
antecedent to a medical college which will rise from a hundred
hectares property in Mindoro. All these come under his design
firm. “The original firm was my Dad’s: Fernandez Architectural
and Engineering Office. My Dad’s concentration was also into
medical institutions; he was a consultant of the DOH and had
designed several of government hospitals. Simultaneously, my
Mom’s business was into importation of medical equipment
so I grew up learning the terminologies used in the hospitals,”
Fernandez recalls. His family developed a peculiar connection
to providing healthcare which made his parents to ask him
take Zoology as his pre-medicine course. Apparently, being a
doctor was not on his course when he said “No” to entering the
medicine school in his final year in the program.
Fernandez decided to take on his first love: flying. He
went to Airlink International, a flying school where he earned
his private and commercial pilot license. He transferred to
Philippine Airlines and was flying domestic flights for two
years. While vision can be everything for a pilot, it is an
inevitable experience for anyone to have vision incompetency.
Fernandez discovered that he could be visually challenged
in few years so the airline doctor suggested that he consider
another profession. What could be that new direction?
Fernandez engaged himself in the strings of his mother’s
business for a while but eventually ended at his father’s turf.
“I went back to UST (and studied) Architecture and started
enjoying school again. I finished the Architecture degree in 1996,
took the board exam, got the license, and eventually was invited
by the dean of UST to teach.” Against the odds, Fernandez was
a called out one who couldn’t resist an innate artistic nature.
When his father died in 2000, Fernandez took on the
challenge of running the firm and renamed it to Fernandez
Architectural Design. He now works on other projects while
pursuing his doctorate degree in UST. “Right now I’m doing
my PhD, but because of my work, I can’t put much focus on it. I
need to do my dissertation yet. But I’d really like to finish that. I
want to be called a doctor, a doctor in architecture,” he said with
much zeal.
next
page
14

Project Name
Youcat Multi-purpose Hall
Location
San Jose, Nueva Ecija

Off-limits
While he doesn’t feel like being a true-blue healthcare architect,
Fernandez has much relish on the creating hospital plans,
knowing that it involves a variety of disciplines to go around to
and people to coordinate with, and can drag him into a hit and
miss experience. Whenever he designs, he knows that his ideas
might not always equate to what a hospital needs, what the
owner wants, and what the stakeholders would unlikely retort
to him. If only it was like creating his own house, he would go
wild for an avant-garde design or bring a future world into
life, but unfortunately, it isn’t. “If you design for the user or the
people (in the hospital), the first thing that you have to look
at is how functional the building will be and how parts will
contribute to the operations of the building. The aesthetic just
follows, (and) it should also limit you from playing around,”
Fernandez explains.
Hospitals do not share the same flexibility with those
of the residential and commercial units where one can put
all the trendy exteriors and impressive interiors that would
bless the eyes of the spectators. In hospitals, careful planning
and conscientious design that take months and years would
mean preventing the spread of infection, allotting space for
emergencies, and saving lives. “If you do not how to (properly)
design a hospital, one person with pneumonia could infect
all (in the hospital) because of the poor ventilation system,”
Fernandez said. Toiling over the design phase is worth the lives
of every person, and efficiency might not always mean beauty.
July - September 2017
Feature 1
On top of the common standards, reading the hospital’s
culture and financial direction also helps in delineating the
necessities and limitations. It is good to consider what the daily
operations will be; it is better to get feedback from the doctors,
nurses, and other officers; but it is best to figure out how much
investment the owner or provider is willing to draw out for
the plan. Fernandez says architects should stand in the gap
between being stylish and reasonably economical, “You can
introduce new ideas and processes to the owner but then it all
depends whether the hospital can afford them or not.”
Years back when having “green buildings” started to
become the trend, Fernandez presented the idea to several of his
clients who refused to consider it in their plan due to financial
Project Name
Youcat Center
Location
San Jose, Nueva Ecija
constraint. Now, they are easily accepting this “green building”
concept. “Don’t force the issue to the clients. As a designer,
your design has to be “future-proof”—meaning it should be
able to adapt to future requirements regardless whether it may
be an addition or deletion of an area,” Fernandez explains. It
only proves that it is good to learn from the past projects while
having his eyes at the back of his head so as not to fail his clients
and those who will benefit in the future.
“Healing hotels”
In pursuit of a consumer-centric service, many hospitals have
also started investing in luxurious facilities and adapting the
“business models” of the hospitality industry, believing these
could lure new patients, seal the eerie vibe of common hospitals,
and drive an emphatic duty toward patient’s satisfaction and
healthcare experience. “A trend in the healthcare nowadays
is that you make your patients feel like they are not in the
hospitals,” Fernandez shares. “Our hospital lobby in the UST
Hospital project was inspired by the Shangri-la Hotel lobby;
just imagine you have this circular staircase, grand lobby with
a chandelier, and a lot of marble and wrought iron grills which
are not usually seen in a hospital,” he describes.
next
page
16

While soft lights, bright curtains, or elegant flooring After presenting the interior through a mockup room,
and cabinetry do not necessarily measure how one gets better Fernandez agrees that everyone gets to comment on a lot of
patient care and is assuaged from stress which is beneficial things, on what to and not to do with regards to the overall
to his recovery, Fernandez leaves the decision to the owner’s design, “There will always be a discussion and all comments
vision and the stakeholders’ contribution, “It helps if the should be taken into consideration.” Yet the design should not
owner appreciates beauty, or somehow is in the same level be dependent on what will make the hospital look aesthetically
of appreciation and understanding of the architecture and pleasing, but how it will help to promote longevity of life.
architecture interior because you know that he (owner) will
appreciate what you have designed for him. However, the
concerns and inputs from other hospital personnel need to be
integrated with the decision, such as their thoughts on infection
control, psychological effect of colors to patients, and more,”
Fernandez explains.
July - September 2017
Feature 1

Project Name
UST Clinical Hospital Division
Location
UST Campus, A.H. Lacson Avenue, Manila

Think twice
Our country continues to welcome the repercussions of a globalized and
technology-driven perspective, and days cannot stop it. Our hospitals,
especially the newly-built ones, are not distant from the standards and
performances of international hospitals, but at some point, Fernandez
advices to be careful not to embrace much of the “present” nor the
“unknown.” He gives this example: the use of pneumatic tube delivery
system, a system that propels cylindrical containers to quickly transport
medical materials such as pharmaceuticals, specimens, and blood
product from an origin to its destination, has slowly breaking in the
healthcare industry. This system, in other countries, has been proven to be
patient’s safety concern. “Many hospitals are using this (system) already.
Apparently, when you ask its suppliers, ‘What are its down sides?’ and
they will say, ‘Watch what people place in it,’” Fernandez shares. In one
hospital, he said that it was used to deliver a staff’s personal wares and
food. The staff used the tube to transport a liquid-like stuff (probably it
was not screw-capped or vacuum-closed) which blew inside the tube that
caused an unexpected failure in the system, and eventually broke it.

next
page

Project Name
UST Hospital Extension
Location
UST Campus, A.H. Lacson Avenue, Manila
18

Project Name
Aquinas University Hospital Extension
Location
Legaspi, Albay
July - September 2017
Feature 1

Project Name
St. Benedict’s Sports Complex
Location
San Beda College, Taytay, Rizal

next
page
20

Project Name
San Beda Annex Building
Location
San Beda College, Taytay, Rizal
July - September 2017
Feature 1

Project Name
Shrine of Divine Mercy
Location
San Jose, Nueva Ecija

Project Name
Miascor Cathering Services
Location
NAIA Compound, Pasay City
22
Project Name
Sta. Catalina College
Location
Legarda St., Manila
The effectiveness of new medical equipment or system
should circumspectly be checked with the existing protocols
and human elements. “If there is something new you think
can be added in (your) design, you do not have to buy it right
away. You wait first before you adapt it. It is the latest but is
it adaptable in your hospital? Sometimes, the conventional
(might) still seem the best because it is already proven and
time tested. Also, it is very hard to change the system inside
the hospital,” Fernandez advices. Trends should not be robbers
of hospital’s effectual and exceptional service, but fancies and
new technology are at least expected to measure up with the
required safety and security.
The structural designs of the hospital are also given an
additional safety factor so it can withstand unexpected hazards
in the future. “In the event of earthquakes or any disasters, the
hospital should be the last building to stay and stand. When
all buildings are already down, hospitals are expected to
withstand calamity because everybody will run to it during
one,” Fernandez explains. Choosing a good area where the
hospital will rise from is too significant to ignore. People would
forget the newest or the most impressive hospital system or
device when they are faced with a serious mishap brought
by the vulnerability of the area to danger. “Safety is critical. If
you couldn’t choose a good site (for the hospital), it will not
withstand,” Fernandez foresees.
July - September 2017
Feature 1

Project Name
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Location
Villasis, Pangasinan

Shelter in the future Constant consultation and continued education while

So how should the new healthcare architects design the future keeping pace with the latest updates are vital for any architects
hospitals? “The responsibility of hospitals in the future should who cling to hospital designs. Architecture is the highest
not be only based on the architect’s basic knowledge of what a form of art, as Fernandez believes in, and it is should not
hospital design is but on the advance knowledge and forecast only appreciated but be exhaustingly utilized in creating a
of where hospital systems and technological equipment are welcoming, safe, and healing shelter for all. D+C
going in the future,” Fernandez says. “Due to the continuous
upgrading of medical equipment and systems, last year’s
knowledge of a certain hospital device may already be archaic;
hence, architects should always be updated with the changes in
the course of time.”
26

Feature 2 words
Estan Cabigas
images
Remington Ty Architects

Architect Carl
Remington Ty

Tan Residence

Project Name
Proposed 2-Storey Residence with Attic

Project Type
Residential

Location
Treveia, Nuvali, Laguna
July - September 2017
Feature 2

It was a natural curiosity and doodling, enjoying the Drawing

classes during his grade school that the creative interest might
have started. But perhaps, it was seeing blueprints and floor
plans from working engineer uncles at their home offices
that eventually sparked the initial interest at building things
and structures and thus sowed the seeds to be an Architect
one day. “I got curious with how to make and how people
experience a finished structure. And I thought there was no
Math in Architecture,” Architect Carl Remington Ty recalls with
fondness.

next
page
28

Left to right
Izhar Alindada, Rigel Kent Hayag, Ar. Carl Remington Ty,
Ar. Gilbert Tuiza, Christian Roco

Education and early years as an Architect

Initially encouraged by his father, a businessman, to take up Business Management and

discouraged to take Fine Arts, he tried Interior Design but it was passing the Architecture exam
at the University of Santo Tomas that he steeled his resolve and graduated in 2007. On the
Mathematics part, “I was able to handle it and realized that Engineering Math and Architecture
Sciences are very much important and helps in how we think logically therefore providing the
best possible design solutions to the problem.”

A year after graduating, he applied for a job as an intern but it was working at his second
firm, VAZDesign Asia Consult Inc. that he really learned the ropes of being an Architect, what
he considered as his training ground. While in the first firm he was just doing the typical toilet
and kitchen detailing, it was at the latter, under the direct supervision of Architect Rhodora
Candelaria, that he was able to learn all stages of the architectural process, from initial to final
design, working on the site, dealing with clients, etc.

Founding his firm

Inspired by his mentors, he started his design firm as a freelance and later founded his own
company, Remington Ty Architects after three years of freelancing working. His first projects
were small kiosks commissioned by a friend whose business grew that he was then designing
this friend mall shops and then boutique stores.

As an Architecture startup, it was also quite challenging because he doesn’t know where
to scout for potential clients, and on how to close a deal and have a fair remuneration. He started
talking with real estate people offering his architectural services. Diligence and patience paid
off when one responded. “It was really an uphill struggle looking for a client who will trust you
and give you a break given the fact that I’m new in the business and doesn’t have that much
connection in the field of work,” the architect said.
July - September 2017
Feature 2

Tolentino Residence Project Type

Residential
Project Name
Antipolo 3-Storey Location
Residence with Pool Sta. Sofia, Mission Hills of Havilla, Antipolo, Rizal next
page
30

Me and You Location Project Name

Market Market, BGC; SM Pampanga; Me & U Boutique
Alabang Town Center; Robinsons Place Manila;
Edsa Shangri–La Mall; SM Clark; Project Type
SM San Lazaro; SM Seaside, Cebu City Interior Fit-out Commercial

Today, Remington Ty Architects offers architectural services that

range from design for residential houses, condominiums, townhouses
and commercial buildings; interiors and interior architecture,
and conceptual planning that includes site planning and master
development plan.

Design Philosophy

For Architect Remington, Architecture is “bringing outside in, what you

get in the environment, you bring it back in the built structure” inspired
by “green suburban living, where nature is one with the users and the
built environment.” Thus, the firm approaches designs thru tropical
design concepts fit for the Philippine climate and environment and
promotes a greener solution, healthier lifestyle and sustainability to the
built environment thru the use of new technologies. “What we build at
site, as much as possible we bring it back to the environment in terms of
tropical design concepts like openness, canopy shading, high ceiling if
it’s possible with the height restrictions, proper orientation of the house
and even in consideration of simple fengshui.

Our design concept are not as wild as compared to most

Modernist architects but for me and my other colleague Arch. Gilbert
Tuiza and Mr. Christian Roco believes that our sleek modern design
concepts can last for many years.

In terms of design ideas, Architect Remington also looks up to

local Architects like Architect Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa for his Filipino
design concepts, and Architect Bong Recio for his modern designs.
These two inspire his work, merging the traditional and modern.

Residential Works

The Terrazas de Punta Fuego in Nasugbu, Batangas residential project

is one of the architect’s memorable work to date. It’s a community with
an imposed Mediterranean style architecture, sloping area and facing
the sea with specific height restrictions. “Nasunod talaga siya in terms of
what finishes and materials to use, lumabas talaga ang outcome in terms
of what we conceptualized.” The house fronts another and the main
challenge was how not to obstruct the view plus the other limitations.
Wide windows were incorporated, high ceilings in the living room for
good air flow. At the dining area, sliding panoramic glass windows
were done to take advantage of the sweeping views. The location itself
poses a challenge, being near the sea, salinity should be considered
and thus using the correct material specifications appropriate for the
location and environment is a must.
July - September 2017
Feature 2

Laxa Residence Project Type

Residential

Project Name Location

Laxa 2-Storey Duplex Residence North Fairview, Quezon City

next
page
32

Tayuman Residential Project Type

Mid-rise Residential

Project Name Location

Proposed 12-Storey Condominium Tayuman, Manila

Another residential project is in Antipolo

where the owner prefers a modern structure. The
architect proposed one that is also fit for the tropical
weather: a wide canopy to block off the heat,
minimal window openings in some parts but since
there is a view of Laguna de Bay, there’s a portion
where the client can appreciate the view. A sun
buffer or shading was implemented so that, while
probably taking coffee or resting after hours at the
roof terrace, the client can be protected from the
heat. Use of new green materials, like a sandwiched
Styrofoam wall panel to minimize heat gain getting
inside the structure and using double glazed
window panel protects the structure itself from
absorbing too much heat and the user can still enjoy
the spaces inside.

Keeping inspired and plans for the future

Travelling around is one of Architect Remington’s

main ways of taking a break from hectic work. It’s
through traveling that he keeps himself inspired
and updated of design trends in Architecture. He’s
particularly drawn to interesting facades and the
play of textures.

It is also in travel where he is interested in

seeing the use of space and flow of people as well
as modern urban design which he aspires to do one
day.

For now, he plans to slowly grow his

architectural firm, hopefully, focusing more on
providing residential projects like single detached
units and condominiums as well as recreation and
hospitality designs. He wants to learn new things
that he can apply to become one of the established
and well known architectural firms in the country.
Other than his architectural practice, he teaches
Architecture at FEU and is taking his Masters in
Architecture specializing in Urban Design at UST
Graduate School, a stepping stone in his future
plans to provide urban design solutions for our
country’s future. D+C
July - September 2017
Feature 2

Mr. Lao Residence

Project Name
5-Storey Apartment Building

Project Type
Residential

Location
Angelo St., La Loma, Quezon City

Molave Townhomes Project Type

Residential

Project Name Location

10 Residential Unit Townhouse Molave St., Quezon City
34

Davao Project / WCRC Inc. Location

Brgy. Turill, Davao City
Project Name
Retirement Village, Conceptual Master Project Type
Development Plan Proposed World Class Retirement Complex

Rendered Visualization
Mark Dionisio
July - September 2017
Feature 2

TGT Coron Resort Location

Coron, Palawan
Project Type
Conceptual Site Development Plan, Project Name
Resort Development Phase 3 Proposed Sophia’s Garden Resort
36

Puerto Princesa Resort Location

Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Project Name
Proposed Kamia Bay Resort, Project Type
Phase 1 Conceptual Master Development Plan
July - September 2017
Feature 2

Marcilla Pine Residence Location

Legarda Rd. Baguio City
Project Name
Proposed 10-Storey Project Type
Marcilla Pine Residences Residential Condominium
38

San Mateo Location

Brgy. Ampid 1, San Mateo, Rizal
Project Name
5-Storey Mixed-Used Commercial Project Type
Building with Twin-V Gas Station Mixed-Used Commercial with Gas Station
July - September 2017
Feature 2

Valle Verde Location

Valle Verde 4, Ortigas, Pasig City
Project Name
Proposed 2-Storey Project Type
Residence Renovation Residential
40

Tolentino Residence Project Name

2-Storey Residence with Attic
Location
Sta. Sofia, Mission Hills of Havilla, Project Type
Antipolo, Rizal Residential
July - September 2017
Feature 2

Terrazas de Punta Fuego Project Name

Escalante 2-Storey Residence
Location
Terrazas de Punta Fuego, Project Type
Nasugbu Town, Batangas Residential
44

Spotlight words
John Ravino Duanan
images
WTA Architecture + Design Studio and Paul Quiambao

Great Architect William T. Ti, Jr.

Responsibility
Social Architecture and the Mind of
Architect William T. Ti, Jr.
July - September 2017
Spotlight

El Museo del Prado

Top view of El Museo del Prado en Filipinas in Intramuros, Manila

A travelling exhibition that takes the most important national

museums of Spain into the public spaces of the Philippines.

More of this project on page 54

The office of one Architect William T. Ti, Jr. is not what you
would expect from an architecture and design studio. His
shelves are festooned with action figures, statuettes, and
classic comics preserved in plastic packaging. Characters
from both the Marvel and DC stand shoulder-to-shoulder
with the Starks and the Lannisters. The Endless stand on the
shelf behind him, watchers and sentinels as always. Yoda’s in
the corner, wise and proud. To his right, Spider-Men. A swarm
of them in different suits and costumes. Along the hallway
outside is a small museum of 2-foot statuettes, preserved
behind glass like exhibits at the Fortress of Solitude.

story continued
next page
46
Arch. Ti himself looks relaxed and casual. When one reads his impressive
credentials—a bar topnotcher, an esteemed graduate of the University of
Santo Tomas and the National University of Singapore, 2017 Architizer A+
Awardee, and either finalist or winner in many other competitions—one
conjures the image of a man steepling his fingers, pushing up wire-frames
that glint menacingly in the fluorescent light. Instead, he’s personable
and fascinating. He confesses a love for superhero memorabilia, comic
books, and fantasy novels. He identifies with Spider-Man on a personal
and architectural level, “On pure imagery, I first became acquainted with
architecture through reading Spider-Man comics.” As of the first urban
superheroes, Spider-man has the distinction of actively using buildings
as a vehicle in his stories. Superman flies above buildings. The X-men
routinely destroy their campus. But Spider-Man swings around and
through skyscrapers, using momentum and centrifugal forces to chase
after supervillains. “It’s different perspective of how things are.”
Architect Ti on Holocaust Museum, Berlin
Origin Story
WTA Architecture and Design Studio is an award-winning
multidisciplinary group of young and idealistic architects.
It’s a collection of thinkers, fueled by a social responsibility
to rethink the growth of this urban society. At the core of
their philosophy is three words: Design. Refine. Define.
“These are steps we want to take when we’re handling
a project. It’s our process,” Arch. Ti expands upon their
simple vision, taking it step-by-step. First, like with
any undertaking, you start with the design. A flash of
inspiration propelled in a given direction. Second, much
like drafts of a book or an article, you keep refining the
initial design. Arch. Ti places due importance on revisions
and improvements—the rigorous process of going through
different iterations until you settle on something that works.
Last, after this grueling refining and after the creator gives
his work the inaugural spit and polish, the end product
grow to define or redefine t. Arch. Ti is fond of analogies
as he compares the WTA process to outliers and pioneers.
Lebron James or Michael Jordan, redefining the sport
with sheer skill and hustle. Superman, tracing the cape all
superheroes were cut from. Star Wars, taking intergalactic
operatic drama and bringing it to the silver screen.
“In every genre, there’s a definitive archetype. If build
a library good enough, you will be able to define what a
library should be for years to come.” For Arch. Ti, this is
the goal of architecture—for buildings and designs to reach
a level of efficiency and perfection that they will become
definitive. And from that zenith, this cycle of designing,
refining, and defining begins anew. The WTA slogan
does not simply suggest a constant pursuit to go beyond
excellence, but the will and resolve to improve.
July - September 2017
Spotlight
Arch. Ti has a term for this pursuit:
social architecture. “Architecture that is
relevant and engenders positive social
change. Architecture that is mindful of its
setting and context. Architecture with a
strong intent and social purpose.” In a field
impelled by function and rationale, Arch.
Ti suggests reassessing the purpose and
intent of architecture. These ideals might
sound lofty, but in a developing country like
ours, you don’t need to take a hard look at
the surroundings to see areas of massive
improvement. WTA endeavors to be an agent
of change, and this yearning for betterment is
evident in the projects they undertake.
Secret Identity
In any business, the formation of company
identity has become almost mandatory to
keep pace with growing competition. Some
architecture firms opt to invest in the latest
technology, becoming early adopters to
rendering programs and high-powered
software. Some opt for more radical
approaches, letting their artistic inclinations
lead them to shatter the boundaries of
architecture. Arch. Ti, however, views his
firm’s architectural identity differently. “We
look at architects as thinkers. Our architecture
is based on ideas.” This rationale of architect
as instigator of ideas is elegant in its
simplicity. The identity of the architect is not
in the gears of the construction machines
or in the electricity of a circuit board—the
identity of the architect lies in the mind. The
entirety of the civilized world was built first
in the calculations of men and women who
felt the need to solve a problem. It’s a kind of
architecture that is distinctively human.
Arch. Ti expounds on his definition,
“How we do architecture is different. There’s a
rational process behind it. Good architecture
must be rational. You must be able to explain
it.” Some thinkers believe that architecture is
subjective, that it’s more akin to art. But Arch.
Ti doesn’t quite buy that, “There must be an
explanation behind it. Otherwise, it’s just
whimsy.” For WTA, this is what separates
good architecture from bad architecture; there
has to be a goal and explanation towards
that goal.
Special Issue
Probably one of the more well-known of
WTA’s projects is the Book Stop. The Book
Stop, for all intents and purposes, is a tiny,
open-air library. Tiny as it may be, the Book
Stop receives large amounts of traffic due to
it being situated in key pedestrian locations
around the city, making it quite a hotspot for
the well-read and the curious. And while
it operates in such a compact space, the
Book Stop offers a number of clever design
solutions all working towards a clear and
present goal: encouraging people to read.
Arch. Ti started the project with two
questions: ‘Do people still read?’ and ‘Are
libraries still relevant today?’ Taking into
account statistics on book sales, the first
question is a definite yes. For the second
question, a smile tugs on Arch. Ti’s face and
he says, “Well, that’s a problem an architect
could solve.” WTA looked at the country’s
public libraries and saw that they were either
badly-maintained or closed. So they decided
to do something about it. “Libraries are
some of the nicest pieces of architecture ever
made, and that itself becomes a hindrance
for architects.” He explains that architects fall
into defeatist thinking if they keep asserting
that libraries need to be grandiose and
monumental. There’s also the question of
cultural difference: Americans, for instance,
are used to going to public libraries. Filipinos,
on the other hand, are not. Be it a problem of
absence or inconvenience, we Filipinos aren’t
geared towards going out of way and making
a day of going to the library.
As response, WTA proposed a
deconstruction. “Bring the library to the
people. Break it down from this huge,
monolithic institution to a network of small
spaces throughout the city.” Arch. Ti and his
team imagined a scenario where libraries
could be as common as Starbucks. Promoting
the value of reading is not an original idea,
but Arch. Ti goes deeper into the struggle and
supplies us with a lucid answer, “Reading
gives you knowledge, and knowledge makes
for a more active citizenry.” WTA strives not
only for great social change, they also wish
to equip Filipinos with the skills to become
agents of that change.
So it was then that WTA decided
to build a library. During their initial
brainstorming sessions, they brought up
numerous key challenges that they managed
to solve. The question Arch. Ti first asked
is, “How do you guard the books?” An
open-air library in an urban location could
theoretically invite thievery. However, Arch.
Ti’s answer is considering the kinder side
of man. “An honesty system could work.
People who read books, don’t really steal.
And if you are the kind of person who would
steal books, I’d probably just give it to you.
You must really love them,” he jokes.
story continued
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48
The second insight answered the
question of place. “What makes a library
a library is a sense of place. It’s not just a
shelf on the wall—it has to be a distinct
place.” While Arch. Ti praises the Little Free
Library, small boxes in select malls housing
10-15 books, he feels the concept could be
improved. So how do you make it a place?
The question lies in its very components. You
need shelter. You need it covered. You need a
floor. It has to be on a separate platform. And
lastly and most importantly, you need books.
Working on a give-a-book-get-a-book
system, the Book Stop’s catalog becomes
mercurial and exciting. Patrons of the Book
Stop come from all walks of life, greatly
diversifying the collection. “If you build it in
a public park and you get enough foot traffic,
you can get 50-100 books a day.” Every
week, the Book Stop’s inventory changes
completely, making it appealing to the most
voracious of readers.
More than anything, the Book Stop’s
success lay in WTA’s absolute trust in the
people. In creating the Book Stop, WTA
didn’t just redefined the library, they wrote
a story. And it’s a story that more and more
people are experiencing. Drop by the Book
Stop and see for yourself. Find some street
kids cracking open old comics and children’s
books. Find a lone bookworm going from
shelf to shelf, jonesing for her next fix. Find
Architect Ti and his team atop The Book
Stop Project, winner of 2017 Architizer A+
Awards; finalist at 2016 World Architecture
Festival and 2017 WAN Awards
teens dropping off pre-loved fantasy books
with fan-crazed scrawls in the margins. Find
working men grabbing a paper-wrapped
novel, excited to see what new adventures
lie in wait. Find friends and strangers
discussing what they picked up and dropped
off. WTA has fostered a diverse and thriving
population in this little patch of bibliophile
heaven. They’ve managed to establish a
platform of interaction and community not
just in a single Book Stop, but in several
across the city. “Imagine ten of these instead
of one national library. Not to say you don’t
need a proper library. But if you’re talking
about purity of purpose: it’s about reading.
This gets more people reading.”
July - September 2017
Spotlight
Multiversity
Despite their youth, WTA Architecture and
Design Studio has accumulated an already
impressive track record of both conceptual and
tangible projects. In their Fragments exhibit in
Italy, they identified and highlighted each of
the sub-communities of Manila, recreating the
alleyways of Binondo and the glitz of Bonifacio
Global City with 3D models that sound and
smell like the places they represent. They’ve
built a testament to art deco and the glory of
old Manila in downtown Escolta. They’ve
conceptualized the “Backbone” a megabridge
connecting Cavite to Bataan, aiming to
accelerate the development of satellite cities
around Metro Manila. Recently, they’ve held
the Anthology Festival, a massively-attended
3-day architecture festival that celebrated
various design platforms in support for “an
architecture that matters.”
It seems like there’s no limit to their
imagination and desire to improve the world.
WTA is on the prowl for more interesting and
challenging projects. “My idea project would
be an art museum. Bar none. That would be
it, I think. Something the MOMA, the Met, or
the Tate. That would be the cherry on top of
an architecture career,” Arch. Ti remarks. But
somewhere closer to home, WTA is redefining
what Filipino architecture means. Using their
St. Scholastica Chapel Project in Norther Samar
as basis, Arch. Ti probes the vernacular behind
“Filipino architecture.” They steered away from
the old standbys of using wood and bamboo.
“So I was looking at the houses, and one thing
I noticed about nipa huts is the roof defines
the form it takes. We used that idea, extended
the roof, and that is your chapel.” The result is
a decidedly modern take on the bahay-kubo,
clean lines meshing with indigenous materials,
crowned with a halo of stained glass. “I think
Filipino architecture is defined by our ideas
on who we are, how we live, and what we can
contribute,” Arch. Ti shares, “We’re more than
an island nation—we’re an archipelagic nation.”
Arch. Ti reminds that this fragmentation is an
asset. “We’re a collection of different people,
and we’re more than the sum of our parts.”
Another concept WTA wishes to
reexamine is green architecture. “I think “green
architecture” is a palliative term. It soothes us
to think we’re doing something green. The key
word there is sustainability.” Arch. Ti proposes
that we must live sustainably, so we should
look at how the city is planned. And the trick
isn’t in the obvious answers. “I can build a
house in Forbes Park with the Tesla roof, with
zero energy consumption, all the solar power
I want, with third- and fourth-use materials.
But it would still be hugely, incredibly
unsustainable. Because that house there will
be occupying a footprint that can house a
thousand other people.” Arch. Ti pinpoints that
the predicament lies in poor urban planning,
decongestion, and fascinatingly, the Filipino
Dream.
The Filipino Dream is basically a small
American Dream. White picket fences, a lawn,
a backyard,” Arch. Ti urges. But for people to
reevaluate their conceptions regarding housing,
WTA had to come up with an alternative. And
it’s an alternative more and more Filipinos
are considering for permanent residence:
condominiums. Arch. Ti proposes the solution
is a re-imagining of the condominium, or rather,
how to overlay the Filipino Dream onto the
condo’s floor plan. “How do we re-imagine
a townhouse as a condo? How about small
communities in Cavite or Cainta? How will we
put them in a condo? How do you change the
condominium lifestyle given the opportunity?”
A student of the world, Arch. Ti believes
that the future of Philippine architecture lies
beyond our borders. “The hope is our becoming
more integrated to this global conversation on
architecture. And as one of the fastest growing
countries with one of the largest populations, we
can make a huge contribution as well.” WTA
stands firm in their belief Philippine architecture
can contribute, and judging by their portfolio,
they are setting forth to prove it. It is Arch.
Ti’s hope that the Philippines can be a part of
that international conversation, that we be
relevant, and that Filipino architecture will be
synonymous with good architecture.”
Much like his favored superhero, Architect
William T. Ti Jr. and WTA Architecture and
Design Studio possess great potential. They
are visionaries, intellectuals, and lovers of
their practice. But more significantly, they are
humanists. Their goal of architecture as an
instrument to change and improve people’s lives
never strays from their minds. This acute sense
of ethics, this great responsibility, ignites their
purpose and pushes them to involvement. Are
they heroes? Possibly. Maybe not in the literal
sense. But as it’s evident in their philosophy,
they are on-track to revise that definition. D+C
projects
next page
50

The Book Stop Project

The Book Stop Project is the firm’s take on social

architecture. It is a network of pop-up book exchange kiosks
that bring the library closer to the people.
July - September 2017
Spotlight

next
page
52

The Book Stop Project continued from previous page

Give a book, get a book- The Book Stop Project is a book exchange
platform that operates through honesty system. In addition, it also
holds series of events that bring the community together.
July - September 2017
Spotlight

next
page
54

El Museo del Prado continued from page 45

The concept of this travelling exhibit takes the basic elements of a museum
and creates a module adaptive to the streetscape. Through a modular
design that is both visually and functionally derivative of the Museo Nacional
del Prado, the project achieves its goal of giving the public access to the
museum’s rich collection of art.
July - September 2017
Spotlight

next
page
56

Inoza Tower

The solid and clear form of the Inoza Tower gracefully clad in glass
represents the stability and achievements of the company it houses
July - September 2017
Spotlight

next
page
58

Omni Gardens

Soaring atop the dense and vibrant district of

Ongpin, Manila, Omni Gardens provides the
green refuge and breathing space that the
neighbourhood lacks
July - September 2017
Spotlight

next
page
60

One Mall Valenzuela

One Mall Valenzuela presents a bespoke integration of retail into the

community sensibilities. Both program and form is planned and designed
based on the parameters governed by its stakeholders and context
July - September 2017
Spotlight

next
page
62

One Mall Valenzuela continued from previous page

The massiveness of the footprint is offset by the portioned volumes of the

facade. The canopies in sweeping forms act as dynamic portals that evoke
visual excitement. The bright and lively colors and lighting magnet people in
without being intimidating
July - September 2017
Spotlight

next
page
64

St. Scholastica’s Mission Hospital Chapel

The chapel is formed by folding planes that come together as if folded in prayer. As praying
hands or a kneeling figure, the abstract form creates a hopeful seeking mod appropriate
to the setting. A form that is in fact inspired by the roofs of nearby houses, the chapel is a
familiar space to the locals made intriguing by an unfamiliar scale.
July - September 2017
Spotlight
68

Cover Story words

John Ravino Duanan
images
Ron Mendoza

THE SHOW
MUST GO ON
The Maybank Performing
Arts Theater and
CASAS+ARCHITECTS

The facade of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater is stylistically

fragmented to offset the the ‘black box’ structure.
July - September 2017
Cover Story

If you follow the uptown strip of the Bonifacio Global City, you’ll come upon
a curious new building. It’s a stimulating visual feast—a paradox of right
angles coruscated with diagonal lines. The façade engenders a rather sci-fi
effect of a hologram losing its integrity, revealing the true form within. At
first blush, the design invites the warring philosophies of both simplicity and
complexity, past and future, art and technology. As soon as the day wanes,
the transverse lines spark to life, like veins or circuits glowing with promise
and invitation.

Welcome the Maybank Performing Arts Theater. Please enjoy your stay.

story continued next page

70

The interiors of the theater are spacious and modern,

with ample space for various other events.
July - September 2017
Cover Story

A
rguably the main draw of the
Ayala-helmed BGC Arts Center, the
Maybank Performing Arts Theater
holds the distinction of being the
first stand-alone theater in central
Metro Manila. Opening its doors late
2016, the theater has already seen the rehearsals
and performances of a steadily growing list of
shows. From its grand opening till today, the
Maybank Performing Arts Theater continues
to capture the imagination of everyone who
passes it by, inviting curious looks and impressed
investigations.

But like all good theaters, the Maybank

Performing Arts Theater offers more than just a
pretty face. It’s the little theater that could—well-
equipped to house the rigors of local theater and
the demands of off-Broadway. It hides nooks
and alcoves that are more function than flash.
Every specification is measured to requirements
that fulfill local and international standards. And
this flexible space and all of its well-designed
and functional secrets are made possible by the
principal designers, CASAS+ARCHITECTS.

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72

The ‘black box’ allows for a unique,

modular theatrical experience.
July - September 2017
Cover Story

Act 1 – The Box

An architecture and design firm of almost 30 years,

CASAS+ARCHITECTS is a veteran in commercial, residential, and
hospitality architecture. Sporting an extensive portfolio of area-
defining works such as the rustic Manor in Camp John Hay and the
luxurious Bellagio Towers in BGC, the career of CASAS+ is certainly
illustrious and long-lived. It was no surprise that the Bonifacio Arts
Foundation Inc. (BAFI) considered them to manage the Maybank
Performing Arts Theater project.

After the inarguable success of the Mind Museum, the

country’s first world-class science museum, the -BAFI trains their
sights on a more art-oriented project. Armed with the experience
in building a performing arts space, CASAS+ was taken in as the
principal designers. Collecting a stable of acoustic consultants,
landscape architects, and many other contractors, the BAFI has laid
out the pieces it needs to bring art and culture to the heart of the
urban metropolis.

Arch. Carmelo T. Casas speaks about the architectural

framework of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, “The design
is a black box theater. The dimensions, the volume are definite. You
cannot go bigger or smaller.” The black box theater is a relatively
recent design innovation in theater construction, consisting of a
large square room with black walls and a flat floor. Compared to
the classic amphitheater, the black box offers a more versatile space.
Floor plans can be changed and sets can be switched without any
difficulty. Celebrated not only for its modularity, the black box can
offer a pure, singular theater experience. The absence of color in
the theaters transport, inspiring a sense of “anyplace,” allowing for
flexible scene cues and more emphatic lighting cues.

It’s a modest design with straightforward proportions, but

CASAS+ understands the deception behind simplicity. “We went
around the country, researching and visiting black boxes.” Exact
to the smallest of details, CASAS+ worked with local and foreign
consultants to accurately build the amenities expected in theaters.
Dressing rooms, seating plans, and stage measurements are but
a few of the features CASAS+ had to be precise in creating. Most
importantly, however, was the backstage—the beating heart of the
theater. Too small or too cramped a space invites many different
hazards, but Arch. Casas is assured he and his teams did their
homework. “We studied where others [theaters] failed and others
succeeded.”

story continued next page

74

The chairs at the lobby seem inspired by the

peaks and dips of an audio wavelength.
July - September 2017
Cover Story

Act 2 – The Corridor

Enter BGC and one thing that will stick to your mind is its freeing
walkability. Pedestrians are treated with respect and not as hindrances.
Art installations are interactive and functional. The air is fresh despite it
being deep in the ventricles of the metropolis. These are not unintended.
As the newest addition to Bonifacio Global City, CASAS+ also faced
the challenge and privilege of designing the building according to the
philosophy of the BGC masterplan. “There is a visual corridor that
stretches from High Street going south to the 32nd Avenue.” All of the
projects developed in this corridor—offices, storefronts—should follow
a modern, high-class aesthetic, living in harmony with greenery and
open spaces. “This line of sight culminates at the Maybank Performing
Arts Center,” Arch. Casas beams. The Maybank Performing Arts
Theater, sitting in a pool of rolling, manicured greenery—celebrates the
BGC philosophy.

Gazing at this little theater on the prairie, you’re struck by how

dramatic it is. It is a space that tells a story, and Arch. Casas is kind
enough to tell us that story, “The most difficult thing about the project
was conceiving the theme. What is the story you can tell with the
building? In creating the Theater, we drew from the past of Bonifacio
Global City. Before, it was called Fort Bonifacio. We started drawing
from the city’s history as a military headquarters.” This war-torn page
from Philippine history inspired CASAS+ to tell a story of ruin and
revival, of destruction and reconstruction: The Shard.

The Shard is the hidden story of the Maybank Performing Arts

Theater. Impelled by this aesthetic keystone, Arch. Casas and his
firm took the sides of the box, shattered them, and realigned them
on the façade. “It’s a box, deconstructed. The outside looks intricate
and complex, but once you enter—it is a simple and timeless piece of
architecture.” In a way, this design decision recants the history of post-
WWII Philippines’ revival from the ashes of war. As a nation, we have
been battered and broken, but inside, we shall endure. In a way.

The upfront aspect of the black box allows for a variety of

purposes. It can be used for dance rehearsals, office Christmas parties,
wedding receptions, ballrooms, art galleries. Arch. Casas is further
excited by the possibilities it poses for more experimental theater
experiences, “The beauty and uniqueness of the Theater is that it can
open to the outside, which has never been done before. It can open
up to the park.” Arch. Casas imagines a park-going experience where
pedestrians can just casually stop and admire a theatrical performance
through the glass.

story continued next page

76

This decorative fixture features wrought-iron figures.

At night, it casts giant silhouettes on the building walls.
July - September 2017
Cover Story
Act 3 – The Link
An architecture firm won’t get far in the business
without the business and goodwill of its clients, and
CASAS+ARCHITECTS understands the value of service very
well. Part of their corporate profile is the tireless dedication
to an excellent quality of service and the exceeding of client
expectations. CASAS+ knows the value of good client
relations, and they’ve brought this spirit of encouragement
and collaboration to overcome friction and difficulties in the
Maybank Performing Arts Theater project. “I’m very thankful
to the BAFI for giving us a lot of freedom. To come up with an
idea that everyone agrees on is a victorious moment.”
Usually, friction arises from miscommunication and
misalignment—especially in the realm of budgeting. Despite
the Theater being a landmark project, there was still the
constraint to stay within the budget. Arch. Casas explains his
thought process in smoothing out those burrs, “Work with
them and help them understand your design intent. The Mind
Museum was a success, and we wanted to create something
that will be either an equal or better.” Once the client fully
understands your approach, they will be more receptive to
your ideas.
Another common source of conflict between architect
and client is artistic direction. Arch. Casas attests that the
best way to deal with these is to treat the planning stage as a
conversation. “Clients these days are more well-traveled, more
sophisticated, and they know what they want. So architects
like us—we have to listen. Even if we try to match their
experiences, we have to respect their mission and vision.”
Take all of these into consideration and client-firm relations
and collaboration will not just go smoothly, but could even be
a lot of fun. “Our collaborators were very young, energetic,
and progressive. And they were so appreciative of us and us
of them.”
Act 4 – The Future
CASAS+ is proud of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, not
just as a finished project, but also as a wealth of great experiences.
Much like theater, it had stress and drama and friendships and
a rousing third act. “We felt so fulfilled because the clients were
very happy,” Arch. Casas mused. “The most memorable part for
me is seeing the first actual performance during the opening. I
felt so happy once I saw how it worked. How I wish I could see
more shows in the future.”
The project may be completed, but CASAS+ARCHITECTS
hustles on. Currently, they’re looking into constructing a general
hospital in Tondo. “Once you’ve gone there and seen the
situation, you can’t help but act.” During a time where general
hospitals in the Philippines are in dire need of renovations and
updates, the expertise of CASAS+ is very much welcome. To
echo their corporate profile once more: more than ethics and
morals, Arch. Casas and CASAS+ aims to create an impact in
individual lives, communities, and cities in the projects they
embark on.
CASAS+ARCHITECTS knows the importance of a five-
year plan. Long-term goals cease to be pipe dreams when you’re
laying down the plumbing a section at a time. “My first priority
is our country,” Arch. Casas says. He calculates the growth of
Philippine architecture to shift southward once the country’s
been fully integrated into the ASEAN. Once they’ve established
their centerpoint in Cebu, Arch. Casas promises they will bring
the same level of dedication and professionalism. “We deliver.
Once they bring us there, we’ll do the usual. Our clients have
brought us to China, Thailand, and we’ll go where our services
our needed.” Arch. Casas believes that architecture, first and
foremost, is a service-oriented profession, and he seems serious
when he touches upon the recent struggles of our brothers in
Mindanao, “There is an opportunity to rebuild. I can see that.”
story continued next page
78

The Maybank Performing Arts Theater has enjoyed and

will enjoy artistic performances in the years to come.
July - September 2017
Cover Story

Arch. Casas trusts that even further into the future, the firm is very
good hands. “I am blessed with having a 150-man office with a very
young and very talented force. I get people who are better than me.”
Despite the tilt of the workforce towards the younger crowd, Arch.
Carmelo T. Casas insists he is still in the game. Armed with his pencil,
work-table, and a wealth of experience, Arch. Casas’s amiable attitude
towards his clients and peers becomes a model to strive for. During
the development of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, he was an
ever-present key player. “You lead by example. I was there for them
and with them. I had to be there on the frontline.” No matter what
may happen to their firm and wherever they may find themselves, for
CASAS+ARCHITECTS and Arch. Carmelo T. Casas, the show must
go on. D+C
82

Trends
+ Stories

JCB’s 40th As JCB prepares to mark the 40th anniversary of

Loadall production later this year, D+C takes a tour
of the UK production line for a detailed look at the

Anniversary manufacturing processes that make the company’s

telescopic handler the biggest selling in the world.

JCB Loadalls await des-

patch to customers
From the first Loadall in 1977 JCB built its
200,000th telehandler in 2016 and this year celebrates
four decades of this iconic machine. There are now
more than 30 Loadall models, though the number of
engine, transmission, boom and cab options results in
over 1,000 machine configaurations being built at the
heart of JCB’s Rocester facility.
Over 35,000 tonnes of steel a year goes into the
construction of chassis, stabiliser legs and booms.
Sheet steel is fed into two main production
lines, one for booms and one for chassis, with a side
production area for stabiliser legs. The steel is cut
using computer-controlled laser and CNC plasma
cutting machines.
A 650-tonne press is used to form the box
section of the boom, which is tack welded with initial
fitting of bushes, while chassis sides are drilled and
tapped with all necessary holes. It takes 45 minutes to
make two chassis sides, with a further 7-12 minutes of
drilling and tapping.
July - September 2017
Trends+ Stories
JCB Loadalls in the
Customer Focus Centre
All chassis and boom structures are tack welded
by hand. Up to 70% of the chassis and boom weld
is then carried out by robot welders, with manual
operators completing the difficult to access welds. An
incredible 14,509,818m of welding wire is used in the
Loadall facility annually.
A twin boring machine completes a final bore
of the boom mounting points, to ensure that the two
holes are perfectly aligned. Two £1.2m computer-
controlled machining centres drill, tap and finish the
boom sections ready for assembly.
The start of the production
process with the unloading of
steeel plates
Booms, chassis and stabilisers are all fed
through a two-hour paint process, starting with a shot
blast to remove contamination and prepare the steel
for painting.
All components are painted before assembly to
ensure a high-quality finish. JCB gets through 73,000
litres of primer and 50,000 litres of gloss each year
painting Loadalls.
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Welding a cross member
to the chassis side plate
Finished components are baked at 90-120C
to provide a robust, protective covering for the
machine. While yellow is the most popular colour,
customers can also order Loadalls in their own
livery.
There are 300 staff in manufacturing and
more than 460 work in Loadall assembly. Sub-
assembly sections sit to either side of the main
assembly lines, preparing wiring harnesses,
engines and transmissions, cabs and axle
assemblies. These feed into the main lines as
required, ensuring that production moves swiftly
through the process.
JCB axles are fitted with wheels and attached
to the chassis. Hydraulic valve blocks, rams and
cylinders from the hydraulic component division
within the Rocester site go on next.
Engines from JCB Power Systems are
attached to transmissions from JCB Transmissions,
with exhausts and other ancillaries added on the
sub-assembly lines.
There are around 3,000 components in a JCB
Loadall and with up to 1,000 configurations, every
build is strictly coordinated. With 35 build stages,
it takes around eight hours to fully assemble a
Loadall.
An axle awaits fitment—the
last stage before transfer to the
main assembly line
Loadall cabs arrive fully finished and these
are installed along with the machine’s cooling pack.
Three inspection points ensure that every machine
meets with JCB’s exacting quality standards.
Oils and fluids are added and the engine
started. Every Loadall goes on to a rolling road and
the engine and transmission are put through 13
minutes of speed tests, to calibrate the driveline.
Once warmed through, the Loadalls enter
a UVXPOSE booth that uses ultra-violet light to
check the integrity of hydraulic componentry. The
initial fluids contain a tracing additive that is easily
visible under UV light.
An external test facility follows, where 10
operators carry intensive operational testing. This
includes warm-up, steering tests and weight
tests. Attachments that have been ordered are also
installed and tested.
The machines then enter a second UVXPOSE
dark room for checking as part of an additional
quality sign-off, before heading to the pre-delivery
inspection centre.
In August 2016, JCB opened the Loadall
Customer Focus Centre. Every machine comes
from pre-deli very inspection (PDI) to the CFC,
where it is checked over again. Decals are attached
and customisation completed, with the addition of
toolboxes, lighting and other optional equipment.
The real innovation in the CFC is the
Command Centre. Every Loadall model has JCB’s
LiveLink telematics system feeding information into
the Command Centre. Data is also imported from
JCB’s tech web service centre and from customer
calls.
A team collates all available information from
Loadalls all over the world.
If a concern is identified, the team initiates
an enquiry into the cause and if it relates to
manufacturing, this can be fed back to the factory
speedily.
Afterwards, the Command Centre then tracks
the next wave of machines to be produced, to ensure
quality is maintained to the highest standards.
The system greatly improves the speed of
feedback from the field, which would traditionally
have taken weeks to get back to manufacturing. D+C
88

Trends
+ Stories words + images
Estan Cabigas

Intermat
ASEAN opens
in Thailand
Looming cranes and towering structures
in various stages of construction dotting
Bangkok’s skyline was a fitting backdrop
as INTERMAT ASEAN opens in Thailand’s
bustling capital metropolis with D+C
magazine covering the event.

The inaugural Intermat ASEAN 2017

at Impact Bangkok with more than
300 exhibitors from 18 countries in
20,000 square meters of exhibition
space
The inaugural edition of INTERMAT ASEAN featured more than 300 exhibitors from
18 countries presented their latest machinery and equipment to 4,700 visitors from 43
countries. A total of 10,000 square meters of indoor exhibition area, and another 10,000
square meters of outdoor exhibition and demonstration area was available. More than
520 square meters was dedicated for these Thai government departments: Department
of Highways (DOH), Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT),
Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), and the Royal Irrigation Department (RID).
July - September 2017
Trends+ Stories
Intermat ASEAN 2017 opens in Bangkok, Thailand with
co-organizers Comexposium headed by Isabelle Alfano,
Construction Business Unit Director Comexposium Group
and Impact Exhibtion
Setting sights on ASEAN
Banking on the regional economic integration
agenda of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and the formation of the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) in 2015, INTERMAT ASEAN
hopes to play a major part in the region that offers
unlimited trade and investment opportunities in
the building and construction sectors for the entire
region within the ten member countries: Philippines,
Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei,
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. ASEAN has
a combined population of 623 million and a combined
GDP of $2.8 trillion.
With the exhibition in Bangkok, Intermat
ASEAN recognizes Thailand’s fast growth and with
its strong construction challenges and opportunities.
As a strategic location, it will enable it to spread
around the ASEAN countries.
More than just an exhibit
Intermat ASEAN was not just an exhibit but was
also a platform for companies to access the trade,
networking and knowledge opportunities. There was
an outdoor demonstration area that allowed brands
to showcase their latest equipment and machinery
and enabling attendees to test drive and experience
machinery in real life settings. A series of programs
were also organized in the INTERMAT ASEAN
Conference 2017 where local and international
speakers talked about leading and upcoming building
and construction trends. At the Exhibitor Presentation
Theater, attendees were also given the opportunity to
experience exhibitor products and services in a series
of demonstrations and workshops.
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90

Intermat is a major construction and

infrastructure show, the third largest in the world
since 1988 and happening every three years in Paris,
France. For the first time, Intermat ASEAN opened
its doors for three days, from 8-10 June 2017 at Impact
Exhibition and Convention Centre in Muang Thong
Thani, Bangkok. It was organized by S.E. INTERMAT,
a joint subsidiary of COMEXPOSIUM and French
trade organisations from the construction industry
(CISMA and SEIMAT), The COMEXPOSIUM Group,
one of the world’s leading event organisers with
IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd., the
leading exhibition organizer in Thailand.

INTERMAT ASEAN is supported by the

Department of Highways (DOH); Department of
Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT);
Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT); Royal
Irrigation Department (RID) Thai Contractors
Association under H.M. the King’s Patronage
(TCA); ASEAN Construction Federation (ACF);
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB);
Construction Institute of Thailand, Department of
Rural Roads; International Facilities Management
Association; Philippines Contractors Association;
Penang Master Builders & Building Materials
Dealers Association; Thai Machinery Association; The
Malaysia Heavy Construction Equipment Owners’
Association; The National Metal and Materials
Technology Center; The Singapore Institute of
Building Limited; Vietnam Association for Building
Materials; and Vietnam Concrete Association. D+C
July - September 2017
Trends+ Stories

From heavy equipment to specialized construction tools,

Intermat ASEAN 2017 showcased the latest trends and
technologies in the Construction and Infrastructure industries
94

Industry
News 1

Architects, contractors,
AkzoNobel adds
interior designers, and
other trade professionals
can now look to Dulux for
‘world-class’ color to
one-stop solutions to all
their coatings needs
CONEX 2017

Sheikh Zayed Bridge in

Abu Dhabi Architects, contractors, interior designers, trade Also on display were finish and texture options
professionals and other exhibition guests were treated available for wall decoration solutions within the
to a showcase of Dulux Professional’s portfolio of Dulux Ambiance™ Special Effects Paint portfolio.The
paint and coating solutions for all paintable surfaces products featured were all customizable to match
including interior, exterior, metal, and wood. Global specific requirements, budget, and sustainability
paints, coatings and specialty chemicals producer, targets.
AkzoNobel offers its premium range of Dulux
Professional products at the 43rd United Architects of
the Philippines (UAP) Annual National Convention
and exhibition, CONEX 2017, held at the SMX
Convention Center last April 27-29, 2017.
July - September 2017
Industry News
Credited for the aesthetic brilliance and
enhanced durability of some of the world’s most
iconic structures including Singapore’s Gardens by
the Bay, the Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi, and
the Largo-do-Pelourinho in Brazil, AkzoNobel is
excited to offer the well known paintings and coatings
solutions, technology and sustainable practices to the
Philippine market.
“The Philippines continues to enjoy a boom in
construction across all sectors with infrastructure
improvements across the country. In keeping with
CONEX 2017’s theme of ‘Fast Track to the Future’,
what we at AkzoNobel have put on display are our
paint and coating options that don’t just add color
and vibrance to structures but also add protection and
durability. Our technological expertise has produced
innovations that make buildings better, transportation
AkzoNobel booth in
Conex 2017
more efficient and industrial production run more
smoothly. Architects, contractors, interior designers,
and even environmental planners can now take
advantage of our customizable products and our
world class services to help design, build and deliver
in the same way that we have been working with
our infrastructure partners in other countries,” said
Jeremy Rowe, Managing Director Decorative Paints
Souoth East & South Asia, Middle East.
A front runner in sustainable innovations,
AkzoNobel’s showcase included energy and
resource efficiency technologies such as the Keep
Cool™, Lumitec™, StayClean™, Colourlock™
and Colourguard™ offerings available under the
Dulux Professional line. The Company also offers
water-based alternatives to traditional solvent-based
products.
continued
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96

AkzoNobel creates everyday essentials to make people’s lives more liveable and inspiring. As a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty
chemicals, we supply essential ingredients, essential protection and essential color to industries and consumers worldwide. Backed by a pioneering heritage, our innovative
products and sustainable technologies are designed to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing planet, while making life easier. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the
Netherlands, we have approximately 46,000 people in around 80 countries, while our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International, Interpon
and Eka. Consistently ranked as a leader in sustainability, we are dedicated to energizing cities and communities while creating a protected, colorful world where life is
improved by what we do.

CCTV Bulding in
Beijing China
“Under our sustainability platform, Planet
Possible, our products invite consumers to do more
with less. For example, our paints have high opacity
which means you need less product to fully coat
a surface without compromising aesthetics and
functionality. We also have paints and coatings that
regulate external heat to minimize the need for
additional energy an airconditioning unit would
use,” Jeremy continued.
AkzoNobel’s proprietary Dulux Professional
Services offer a one stop for pre to post construction
solution with a team of trained dedicated specialists
to guide potential business partners through
projects using Dulux Professional products.
The company currently works with two
local distributors who have undergone intensive
specification and color training, enabling them to
provide valuable coatings advice on solutions for
the commercial, education, healthcare, repainting,
residential, and leisure sectors.The Company looks
to collaborate with more construction and design
professionals on design projects that benefit different
sectors.
“We have worked with the best architects and
engineers in different countries across the region
and the world and we are just as excited to work in
partnership with the best in this country, particularly
on projects that help ‘create a brighter, more
colorful future by delivering more value from fewer
resources’,” Mr. Rowe added.
For more information about Dulux
Professional products, visit www.duluxprofessional.
com.sg/pp D+C