Lacson names 5 firms that will compete for new Senate building design

The planned relocation of the Senate from its present leased location in Pasay City to its own building in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig came closer to becoming a reality on Tuesday when Senator Panfilo Lacson announced the five firms that would compete for the design of the new legislative building.

In his speech before the plenary, Lacson, chairman of Senate Accounts Committee, said the five were chosen from 40 firms, composed of 16 local and 24 foreign companies, that registered their interest in the design competition.

The chosen firms were AECOM, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, Henning Larsen Architects, Leeser, and Aidea.

The selection panel was composed of Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senators Gringo Honasan, Ralph Recto, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Nancy Binay, Bases Conversion and Development Authority Chairman Gregorio Garcia, and BCDA President Vivencio Dizon.

Lacson explained that they chose the five firms based on the technical and professional capabilities of key personnel of the companies, the firms’ relevant experiences, the number of operating years, abilities in green building design, identity/uniqueness, relevance, as well as awards and citation won.

The senator said the five finalists had to submit their conceptual designs on May 18, 2018.

Lacson also called on the senators and Senate officials to attend a briefing of the five firms on April 4, 2018.

“This is our opportunity to articulate the vision that we want mirrored in the designs that the five shortlisted firms will be submitting. This is also our chance to communicate to the firms the functions of this chamber and the needs which the designs should address,” he said.

The designs will be evaluated by members of the technical evaluation committee composed of the technical staff from the BCDA, DPWH, and experts from United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Philippine Green Building Council, Philippine Institute of Interior Designers, Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners, and National Commission for Culture and Arts.

The designs will then be presented to the Senate accounts committee and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III on May 28. The winning firm will be announced on the same day.

“The firm with the winning design will have the opportunity to undertake the detailed architectural design of the project upon successful selection of the design and build contractor for the development of the new Senate building,” Lacson added.

The new building must be green, secure, functional, and iconic. The Senate having recently celebrated its first centennial, the design would be "a landmark for the Filipino people, and a design that can take the Senate of the Philippines to the next 100 more years and beyond.”

Lacson said the DPWH would oversee the construction of the new Senate building, and would conduct the public bidding for the Detailed Architectural and Engineering Design and Construction Package.

The construction of the new Senate building would take two years, from January 2019 to December 2020.

“In order to make sure that the new Senate building will be ready come 2021, we will commence the procurement of furniture, fixtures and equipment during the last quarter of 2019. We expect that the supply and installation of the items will be made on the second quarter of 2020,” he said.

Barring any major setback or delay, the Senate would open the Third Regular Session of the 18th Congress in its new building in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City in 2021. — DVM, GMA News