February_1967 — Page 12

PRESTRESSED CONCRETE IN THE PHILIPPINES

by Juan M. Garcia

RESTRESSED concrete as

a con-

P struction medium is firmly es-

tablished in the Philippines and its development there is comparable with the rest of the world.

During a relatively short span of three years since its introduction in the Philippines, its use has grown con- siderably. Its advantages, both in economy and versatility, particularly under difficult conditions, have been fully recognized by Filipino engineers and architects.

Unlimited quantities of good local concrete aggregates, the comparative- ly low cost of high strength steel strands for prestressing. combined with the shortage of steel and a dwindling supply of timber, makes prestressed concrete economically at- tractive for practically all types of

structures.

But these economic factors, while of great initial value in the continuous growth of prestressed concrete, are secondary in importance to the struc- tural and architectural properties which make it possible to construct more efficient, effective and attractive structures.

Prestressed concrete is being wide- ly applied to structural framings for buildings, wharves, piers, bridges and other structures. During the first few months, its application was limited to floor systems, using shallow U-beams, double tees and small I-beams with filler blocks.

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Philippine Plant at Mandaluyong, Rizal, the University of the East Research Cen-

S

Rosario Bridge over Marikina River, Rizal

30

+

PEALSTATS

WESCO

$7306INTA

Fil-Hispano administration building under construction

ter at Quezon City, the Karilagan Hotel at Ermita, Manila, and the Philippine Banking Corporation at Port Area, Manila were among the first buildings to use this type of pre- stressed concrete floor system.

Later, its application extended to

floor framing of multi-storey build- ings. Nearing completion is the new 12-storey 1010 A. Mabini Building in Manila. It is the first multi-storey prestressed concrete framed building in the Philippines.

Another building scheduled for completion shortly is the 19-storey Ramon Magsaysay Centre. This will be one of the tallest prestressed con- crete framed buildings in the Far East and only six storeys lower than the Ilikai Building in Honolulu, at one time the tallest prestressed con- crete framed building in the world.

Both the Mabini and Magsaysay Buildings were designed and super- vised by A. J. Luz Associates, Inc.. Manila. Others of this type are the 12-storey San Carlos apartment build- ing and the six-storey 707 T. Kalaw Building.

Prestressed concrete floor systems on prestressed concrete beams sup- ported by pre-cast concrete columns have been successfully utilised in the construction of the new Don Bosco Boys Centre at Pasong Tamo, Makati, the new administration building of the Fil-Hispano Tile Factory at Valenzuela, Bulacan and the new Republic Cement Co. Building at Norzagaray, Bulacan. Economy in

Far East Architect & Builder February, 1967