BPI breaks ground for its state-of-the-art, sustainable head office

(From L to R) BPI executive vice president and chief operating officer Mon Jocson, executive vice president and head of corporate banking John-C Syquia, Ayala Corp. director Bong Consing, BPI president and chief executive officer TG Limcaoco, Ayala Corp. and BPI chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay-Campos, Ayala Corp. president and chief executive and Ayala Land Inc. chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land president and chief executive Bobby Dy, Ayala Land vice president and AyalaLand Offices head Carol Mills and Makati Development Corp. president Dan Abando.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) held its groundbreaking ceremony last March 15, 2022 for a new 45-storey Headquarters that features an iconic, timeless and sustainable office tower and a generous forum and civic space, reflective of the Bank’s vision of building a better Philippines.

The building, which is estimated to cost P13.6 billion, will house BPI’s headquarters and main branch. It will be a mixed-use property with retail spaces, event venues, landscaped spaces, and seven basement parking levels.

“Today, we broke ground and officially launched the redevelopment of our new headquarters, and at the same time, symbolically laid the groundwork for our future plans toward building a better Philippines,” said BPI President and CEO Jose Teodoro “TG” Limcaoco.

“We are transforming our headquarters into a bigger, better, more sustainable, and inclusive building as we pursue bold moves to become the undisputed banking leader that is responsible and sustainable at the same time,” Limcaoco added.

A perspective render of the new BPI HQ.

An estimated 1,800 new jobs are expected to be generated directly from the construction project.

Aside from TG Limcaoco, other top executives from BPI, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land Inc., and the local government attended the event. They included Ayala Corporation (AC) and BPI Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, AC President and CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, BPI Board Member Cezar “Bong” Consing, BPI Chief Operating Officer Ramon “Mon” Jocson, BPI EVP and Head of Corporate Banking Juan Carlos Syquia, Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) President and CEO Bernard Vincent “Bobby” Dy, ALI Vice President and Ayala Land Offices Head Carol Mills, Makati Development Corporation President and CEO Dan Abando, and Makati Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay.

As part of BPI’s sustainability agenda, EDGE, LEED, and WELL certifications by the world’s leading institutions for authenticating sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings will be sought for the new headquarters.

Located at the heart of the Makati Central Business District at the corners of Ayala Avenue, Paseo de Roxas, and Dela Rosa, the masterplan maximizes land efficiency while providing a generous civic space that seamlessly connects to Makati’s underground and elevated walkways.

The plan was conceptualized by global design firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), in collaboration with the architect-of-record, Aidea Philippines Inc. It will have a land area of 5,599 square meters, a gross floor area of around 89,000 square meters, and a gross leasable area of around 60,000 square meters.

Construction of the headquarters complex is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2029, while the opening of the building is expected in 2030.

(From L to R) Members of the AyalaLand Offices (ALO) and Makati Development Corporation (MDC) project team: Diane Soto, Jun Vito, Anna Co-Salientes, Carol Mills, Richard Yap, Gail Samaniego, Jane Licu, Froilan Lakip, Jerald Pili, Florence Martirez-Cruz, Louis Fernandez, Bianca Catolico.

ALI CEO and president Bobby O. Dy and BPI CEO and president TG Limcaoco pose with renders of the new building.