May_1966 — Page 57

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RAMON MAGSAYSAY CENTRE

HE tallest building yet planned in the Manila Bay area is a 14-storey structure, scheduled for completion by mid-1967 and known as the Ramon Magsaysay Centre. It will become the permanent home of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Founda- tion and will provide a means of income for perpetuating the founda- tion's awards programme.

The site chosen for the project is ideally located to serve its two-fold purpose. It is bound to the west by Roxas Boulevard and Manila Bay, to the north by Plaza Militar and to the east by M. H. del Pilar Street. Set on a rectangular lot. measuring 3,038 sq. meters, the proposed build- ing has been sited to best dramatize its dominant tower, and a memorial character is projected both in the design and in the use of materials.

Rising to 220 ft.. the 14-storey Tower is supported by 12 heavy columns and a central core. It is set off by a low surrounding structure encompassing a paved and elevated plaza. Public access is from Roxas Blvd, and Militar St.

Open Courtyard

A wide flight of steps off Militar Street, leading to a land-scaped open courtyard, sets the memorial tone for the main entrance to the centre. Το the left and front of the elevated plaza a low structure houses the Foundation offices, the Magsaysay Memorabilia, and the Asian Library. To the right, the landscaped plaza flows into the main floor of the office tower, where a central trunk contains four high-speed gearless elevators.

Stairs from the main floor lead down into a parking basement. storage areas and a restaurant. The basement is designed to accommodate 83 cars.

Being entirely free of columns, the upper floors will provide rentable office space which may be flexibly used. A concrete roof deck takes the mechanical and electrical equip- ment and water storage tanks.

The entire structure and the ex- terior walls and fascia of the low structure will be clad in light tuscan travertine. Permanodic bronze- colored aluminum will frame large expanses of anti-glare glass panels,

The structural design of the centre is the first of its kind in the Philip- pines. Floor loads are transmitted through peripheral columns to a structural floor then down to 12

Far East Architect & Builder May, 1966

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RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD FOUNDATION owners

A. J. LUZ ASSOCIATES

FRANCISCO CACHO & CO.

PIETRO BELLUSCHI

ALFRED A. YEE & ASSOCIATES

FERRIS & HAMIG

SASAKI, DAWSON, DE MAY ASSOCIATES

large columns and the central core. all of which rest on prestressed con- crete piles.

Air Conditioned

The building will be completely air conditioned, including the basement cafeteria. Ventilation of the base ment and the kitchen will be handled by a vertical air shaft terminating at the tower. The elevators will be completely automatic with group controls to handle peak traffic loads as well as normal and slack loads.

The sanitary engineering design of the centre calls for deep well water to

architects and engineers

general contractors

consulting architect

structural engineers

mechanical-electrical-sanitary engineers

landscape artists

supply toilets and fire fighting needs. To meet the flexibility of electrical connections required of an office building, the structure will feature the use of underfloor ducts and fittings. The

power distribution centre has been SO located as to minimize secondary power distribution and thereby cut costs on the electrical in- stallation for the entire project.

Paved with natural stone and tra- vertine the open courtyard will fea- ture a water fountain set off by a large wood screen behind. The cen- tre will be illuminated at night by both tungsten and gas discharge lamps of varied colours and intensity.

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