Metro Manila Projects on the Rise

Infrastructure Projects

• SM City North EDSA Complex

Map between SM City North EDSA and TriNoMa Mall

Since its inception in 1985, construction of the original Car Park Plaza in February 1988 and the second Annex Building in 1989, SM City North EDSA Complex’s edifice are composed of the City Center, Interior Zone including the Car Park Plaza, The Annex, The Block, the Sky Garden, the Northlink, the former Warehouse Club building including the open parking lot situated east of The Block and The Grass Residences. The latter is interconnected by a series of footbridges linked to different sides of the main mall structure.

• City Center (Main Building)

The City Center viewed from the neighboring Trinoma mall

Opened on November 25, 1985, the original building consisted of only three floors. Its original structure has evolved through the years. A fourth floor has recently been added to keep up with demand. The newly renovated city center has spherical skylights. As the hub of the retail complex, the City Center has an extensive variety of retail establishments, including the mall's main anchors: The SM Store (formerly SM Department Store) and the SM Supermarket. It is also the hub of leisure anchors such as SM Foodcourt, an entertainment center, and a newly modernized cineplex that incorporate the country's second IMAX Theater. The main dining establishments of the City Center are situated on the second level, where they break through the frontage in a sequence of linear casements which overlook the Sky Garden.

• Interior Zone (Annex 1)

The Car Park Plaza or Annex 1 was the first additional building, built in February 1988. The original structure was a four-level parking lot. In the 2000s, two additional levels were constructed to accommodate more vehicles and to integrate the newly constructed The Block. The Car Park Plaza features the first outlet of the Cyberzone (which was later moved to The Annex building) and an additional 8,000 parking slots. The building is connected to the main mall with a footbridge located at the second floor. Today, the former Car Park and Cyberzone has been transformed into a lifestyle center, named the Interior Zone, which opened in July 2009 and planned by Architects EAT from Australia, the 300 meter long lifestyle center is a one-stop shop for affable living furniture, houseware, decor, upholstery, wallpaper, tiles and lighting fixtures. The retail area consisting two diverse zones gives the area a distinctive look and open designed spaces.

• The Annex (Annex 2)

The Annex

The original Annex building was built in July 1989 (formerly The SM City Annex), consisting of three floors, as an expansion to the City Center. It featured close to 200 shops and restaurants; aside from four additional movie houses it also catered a bingo hall, an amusement center and a bowling alley. The lower ground floor (or basement) also served as the former administration office of SM City North EDSA along with a few beauty clinics and a junior anchor, Hardware Workshop. A footbridge was constructed at the left side of the City Center to have easy access to the mall. On February 20, 2002, the four movie houses was closed and on February 8, 2007, the whole annex was closed and demolished as part of SM City North EDSA Complex's redevelopment plan.[9] In December 2008 it reopened with high-end retails stores, specialty restaurants, a Cyberzone, a game arcade and a new bowling center. The 90,000 square meter annex building created a cutting edge mix of shopping and entertainment. Like The Block, the Annex has an exterior with undulating aqua marine ribbon consisting of perforated metal panels that give the facade a floating veil-like appearance that create a lighter feel. The Annex has clean and modern interiors centered on a curvilinear atrium, which stretches its length. In June 2009, SM City North EDSA reopened its bowling center located at the lower ground floor.[10]

• The Block (Annex 3)

The Block

The Block was opened in July 28, 2006, this upscale 76,405 square meter mall has five levels of high-end retail shops and specialty restaurants, four high-quality digital cinemas, and a 10,000 square meter SM Hypermarket on the ground level. The Block's architectural design is centered on a large oval countryard, which has become a premiere location for events and products launches. This is crisscrossed by multiple bridges on several levels and is lit through large circular skylights that bring natural daylight through the space. Bridge connections integrated The Block with the existing mall and carpark areas.

• The North Link (Annex 4)

The North Link is a six-story building located between the City Center and Interior Zone, construction started in September 2009. This mixed-use structure was envisioned to accommodate different types of tenants with business process outsourcing and private offices along with retail stores. Originally opened in July 2010, it also houses the SCMC Administration Office. An open deck at the topmost part of the building is provided for private functions for the mall. As part of the concept of inter-connectivity and accessibility, North Link is linked by a bridgeway to different parts of the complex. The use of curtain walls gives the feeling of openness to its users through the introduction of natural lighting and open planning. The structure was completed in a period of five months, from foundation to water tightness. This was achieved through a mix of old and new technologies, the use of utilized wall system allowed for the simultaneous installation of exterior walls and window panels while the floors were being completed.

• Sky Garden

The Sky Garden is a long, elevated curvilinear park, which offers much needed green space, not only for the mall, but also for the city as a whole. Opened in May 2009, it shielded all from the busy EDSA intersection, and serves as a living, organic link between the diverse components of the mall — The Block, the City Center and The Annex. This elevated garden softens the hard urban environment with lush land and waterscapes, while its organic form complements the new wavy exterior of the mall. Canopied walkways meander amid undulating lawns, ponds and trees, while tunnels with shops are sculpted out of the earth, giving visitors a new dimension to the traditional park experience. This roof garden has about 55 species of plants, grass and trees that grow on a special type of soil that offers a lightweight effect on the structure. It has a special type of drainage system that allows it to conserve water. The Sky Garden's water features include two bubblers, a simulated river flowing at the center, and waterfalls at the end of the second floor, which was as a monumental screen onto which promotional montages can be projected, giving the park an added presence at the street level. One of the Sky Garden's attractions is the Sky Dome,[13] which became a premiere entertainment destination for its events.

• Warehouse

The Warehouse building situated on a two-hectare lot within the SM City North EDSA Complex, houses the former Super Sale Club. Sometime in 2008, it was leased to one of its junior anchor, the Ace Hardware that later moved to The Annex. Today, Kotse Network leases a portion of the Warehouse building. Part of the building was converted into a parking lot for its valet service. Meanwhile, expansion plans for the former Super Sale Club warehouse would potentially add another 30,000 to 50,000 square meters of gross floor area and will include a new retail, commercial and business-process outsourcing module.[1]

• The Grass Residences

Another area for development inside the SM City North EDSA Complex is the 5-hectare Grass Residences. A five-tower residential-condominium building encompasses the complex, where an old military camp used to stand.[16]

• SM Cyber West Avenue

The SM Cyber West Avenue is a 15-level structure that covers more than 42,000 sqm of GFA, and around 22,700 sqm of GLA for office space. The building will be linked via bridgeways to the SM North EDSA Mall as well as nearby MRT stations. It is ideal for a single major office locator, targeted primarily for a business process outsourcing or BPO company. It will rise on a highly visible 2,910 sq m. property at the corner of the main EDSA thoroughfare and West Avenue. The remaining leasable area mostly found in the ground and second levels will feature a Save More supermarket and other support retail and commercial establishments.

• SM Megamall

• SM Bay City

SM Bay City Masterplan

“Promoting Philippine tourism is the most important job this country has. It is through tourism that we can compete in the global marketplace,” said Henry Sy Sr.

The words of the Sy family patriarch are more than just words of wisdom… they are a guiding vision. And such a vision is breathing life into SM Investments Corporation’s (SMIC) latest project — the Mall of Asia Complex.

The Mall of Asia Complex is envisioned to be the country’s premier business and tourism district, situated in the coast of Manila Bay. The 60-hectare mixed-use development will integrate technologically advanced infrastructure with office, retail, institutional, residential and leisure components. The project is expected to boost the country’s tourism industry and redefine Manila’s place among the new and exciting urban centers of Asia.

At the center of this emerging business district lies the SM Mall of Asia. The 386,000-square meter shopping complex showcases a variety of stores and live entertainment venues, al fresco dining spaces, and interaction areas for the culture and the arts. Tagged as the largest mall in the Philippines, the SM Mall of Asia offers the ultimate shopping experience with the country’s first IMAX theater, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, and an upcoming aquarium.

Just a few steps away from the SM Mall of Asia are the SM Corporate offices, which consist of six sprawling one-storey buildings. These offices presently house the corporate offices of the SM Group with a daily population of 3,000 personnel and around 1,500 suppliers, clients and applicants.

On the southern portion of the complex lies the Shrine of Jesus Church, which has been a favored venue for weddings and other Catholic ceremonies.

Connecting via a pedestrian bridge from the north side of the SM Mall of Asia is the OneE-com Center. The center is a 10-storey contemporary building designed for e-commerce, contact centers, BPO companies, and specialized office uses. Among the tenants of the OneE-com Center is the 16th club of Fitness First Philippines, Inc, which will occupy the building’s first and second floors.

Also opened last November at the Mall of Asia Complex was the SMX Convention Center — a world-class venue consisting of open exhibition areas, multi-functional halls and flexible meeting rooms with modern exposition amenities for major conference and trade exhibits. The three-storey, 46,000-square meter building with basement and parking, features second level commercial shops and a pedestrian bridgeway leading to the SM Mall of Asia. The SMX Convention Center is envisioned to be the country’s premier destination for both local and international trade and cultural events.

For those looking for the finest boardwalk experience, the Mall of Asia Complex offers The Esplanade. The 1.5-kilometer strip of fully-landscaped open-space will be allocated to house retail and entertainment establishments and can accommodate up to 800 guests (banquet set-up). The entire stretch of the promenade will have jogging paths, bike trails, playing courts, and outdoor restaurants.

Another major development project at the Mall of Asia Complex is the SM Mall of Asia Arena, a sprawling indoor facility for big-time sports and entertainment events that can seat over 16,000 spectators. This expansive arena is expected to be the venue of choice of major gigs of well-known international artists in the music and entertainment industries.

In addition, the Mall of Asia Complex inaugurated the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center last October 10, 2007 — the first of its kind themed-park devoted solely to science and technology. A partnership between SM Prime Holdings and US-based Leisure Entertainment Consultancy, the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center features a digital planetarium and a wide range of technology and science-themed presentations and exhibits.

Likewise in the pipeline are the construction of the SM Ferry, which will feature a modern ferry terminal to service guests and tourists who wish to travel to Cavite City and Bataan, or to SMIC’s planned eco-tourism development estate, the Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas; the SM Land Showroom will showcase the resort and residential features of the Hamilo estate; and a leisure strip area set to soft-open by next month where people can converge and unwind after a hard day’s work and look forward to fresh and hip themed-happenings every month with their choice drinks and spirits. The Mall of Asia Complex will also give rise to real property investments such as hotels, upscale offices and full-serviced apartments.

SMIC just recently forged a memorandum of agreement with the Microtel Inns and Suites hotel group to put up a 150-room hotel strategically located near the SMX Convention Center and the Mall of Asia. Also in the pipeline is the Radisson Hotel set to rise in October 2017.

These are but a glimpse of the many exciting things that the Mall of Asia Complex has to offer. As the country’s property sector continues to recover, SMIC is strategically positioned for the resurgence. Macroeconomic fundamentals indicate the readiness of the Mall of Asia Complex for a new well-planned and modern business and tourist destination.

• SM Mall of Asia Arena

Philippines’ latest international caliber indoor arena. With a full house capacity of 20,000, the SM Mall of Asia Arena is 5,000 more than the current benchmark in sports and concert venues, the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Set to open on May, 2012, the SM MOA Arena is set to become the new home of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
The MOA Arena in Pasay City features world-class standards of operations and premium facilities—considering that it even plans to invite teams of the National Basketball Association to hold its games here—including seats that feature cup holders and those that could be retracted.
The MOA Arena also offers 40-room corporate suites that could accommodate 20 persons (each room has its own mini-bar, couches, restroom and viewing area).

It is connected to a 2,000-capacity car park.

• Regent and Radisson MOA Complex

Sy said there are plans for a second Radisson property at the SM Mall of Asia in Bay City, Pasay City, Manila.

A 84,422 sq.m., 16-storey 5- Star Hotel, SM Bay City Hotel is a two-hotels-in-one concept situated at the heart of the Mall of Asia Complex. It is a combined scheme for the Regent and Radisson hotels and to be managed and operated by international hotel operator, Carlson.

• SM Sea Residence

Sea Residences is a modern tropical-inspired mid-rise condominium located right at the heart of the Mall of Asia Complex.

Sea Residences is a bold new concept in condo living as it allows its residents to experience year round “staycation” where you live in a resort like splendor, right in your home at the city. Set against a backdrop of the awe-inspiring sunset of the Manila Bay or the stunning Makati skyline.
This 16-level, 6-tower condominium development, houses well-appointed units where you can achieve urban work-life-balance with ease. Within the community lies a tropical alcove flanked by greeneries and swimming pools.
Come and experience resort living within the city at Sea Residences.

• SM Shell Residence

Shell Residences is a 2.1-hectare exclusive residential complex, found at the heart of the burgeoning Mall of Asia Complex in the Bay City area.
Imagine, the luxury of living next to one of the Asia's biggest malls.
Where endless shopping, gastronomical delights and world-class entertainment abound.
A portal that lets you shift from work to play in no time that transports you everyday from the hustle and bustle of a city to a vacation spot.
Now, imagine the beauty of finding a lasting getaway-where the meeting of the sun and the bay is an everyday indulgence.
Shell Residences. Welcome home.

• SM Shore Residence

Take pleasure in the warmth of summer that is always in season at Shore Residences, the latest offering from SMDC. Here, life is a sunny day at the beach.

The four towers that comprise Shore Residences are spread on a total of 3.3 hectares at a prime property in Pasay City. Each building soars 19 storeys high, affording residents impressive views of the soulful Manila Bay and its surrounding cityscape.

Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of beachside living in the city only at Shore Residences.

• Ayala Center Makati Redevelopment

Ayala Center Redevelopment

The P28.5-billion redevelopment of Ayala Land Inc.’s “crown jewel,” Ayala Center, has taken shape with the debut of two upscale hotels, two new office buildings and a revitalized Glorietta shopping center before the year ends.
Local property giant ALI is also set to launch this November a new high-end two-tower residential development, Garden Towers, the first skyscraper of which will cost P3 billion to build. The launch of the new residential project under the Ayala Land Premier brand follows the rollout of the three-tower Park Terraces where 1,128 units are now 84-percent sold since the first tower was unveiled in 2010.
By December, the 32-room all-suite Raffles Makati and the 280-room Fairmont Hotel will open their doors to affluent business and leisure travelers-the newest luxury accommodations to be built in the Makati central business district in nearly two decades. They will share a 30-story building with high-end serviced apartment Raffles Residences with 237 units, of which 110 units will be included in ALI’s hotel inventory. Raffles Residences will occupy the 11th to 30th floors, Raffles Makati, the 9th to 10th floors while Fairmont will be at the 3rd to 8th floors.
By April 2013, a third hotel brand-the 348-room mid-budget Holiday Inn and Suites Makati, which will be directly connected to the Glorietta hub-will also open for business.
“This is the most ambitious program Ayala has done,” ALI president Antonino Aquino told a press briefing. “We’re almost complete and about to inaugurate various components.”
Raffles will offer accommodations starting at $350 a night while Fairmont will offer at the $200 to $220 price points. Holiday Inn will offer accommodations for $130 a night.
“As we pursue our growth strategy with the development of other business districts in Metro Manila and across the country, we will continue to enhance Makati so it maintains its place as the premiere destination in the Philippines,” Aquino said. “Makati began the trend of master-planned communities in the Philippines over 50 years ago. It will remain a prime example of sustainable urbanization and the main vehicle for transformation this year is the Ayala Center.”
The Ayala Center makeover is seen boosting ALI’s recurring revenues. In addition to the completion this December of the Glorietta redevelopment, with a gross floor area of 54,000 square meters of retail space, the ambitious redevelopment also includes the addition of two office towers with a gross floor area of 50,000 sqm. The office towers will cater to business process outsourcing firms.
For the Glorietta shopping center, which has 650 existing stores, 214 new stores will be added. The complex will also have a “re-energized” activity center for diverse, round-the-clock events.
This redevelopment plan, the first phase of ALI’s long-term master plan for Ayala Center, covers only a third of the 24-hectare prime property, Aquino said. It is also part of ALI’s P60-billion investment plan for six major districts in Makati for the next five years.
While this phase of the Ayala Center redevelopment focuses on the area closer to Pasay road, ALI reserves the landbank nearer to the Ayala Ave. side for future phases of redevelopment.
On the residential component, the first tower of Park Terraces, which was launched in 2010, will be ready for turnover to residents in 2015; its Point Tower in 2016 and the third tower in 2017.

• Holiday Inn Makati

Holiday Inn & Suites Makati is the first purpose-built Holiday Inn property in the Philippines. It opened on April 1, 2013 as part of the New Glorietta Phase 1 redevelopment. The hotel is built on top of a redeveloped Glorietta Mall in Ayala Center in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. The hotel is managed by InterContinental Hotels Group, the longest operating international chain hotel in the Philippines.