Arup and Henning Larsen Architects have signed a joint venture (JV) contract to deliver the detailed architectural and engineering design of the Icone Tower, a new iconic skyscraper in the heart of Manila that will pay tribute to the Filipino soldier. It is located in Bonifacio Global City, a business district developed from former army camp, Fort Bonifacio.
The tower is envisioned as an edifice that honours and recognises the service of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) – the biggest stakeholder of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), client of the Arup-Henning Larsen for the Icone Tower.
At 275 m tall, the 40-storey structure will host areas dedicated to the Filipino troops, public plaza that promote engagement, exhibition and conference spaces, a rooftop observatory, dining facilities and a new corporate office for the BCDA.
As a structure that promotes humanity, it is designed to set an example of how a tall building should give back to a city and its people with the ambition of revitalising an entire urban area.
The project will be designed out of Henning Larsen’s Hong Kong office led by design director Claude Bøjer Godefroy and managing director Elva Tang, with Arup providing total engineering services from Hong Kong and Manila offices led by director YL Cheng.
“We are proud and excited to sign the contract for this iconic project. In a few years, we will stand by the foot of this tower that celebrates the people of the Philippines. It is envisioned to be a symbol of humanity and the Filipino culture. The Icone Tower is about giving back to the city with generous public spaces. It sets a shining example of what contemporary Filipino architecture can be while defining a new standard for sustainability in this challenging climate,” said Claus Bøjer Godefroy, partner and design director at Henning Larsen’s office in Hong Kong.
One of the tower’s most distinctive features is a large public plaza at the tower base - used for activities and social gatherings, an important part of the Filipino culture - with a canopy of trees designed in alignment with local climate to provide both shade, shelter and the ambiance of a Filipino tropical forest.
“We are delighted to design engineer this landmark building which perfectly reflects our vision for tall buildings – a vertical mini-community that respect and respond to the wider local community. As the structural, MEP, facade and fire engineers, we will not only help realise the distinctive diagrid structure with highly recognisable facades, but also make sure that all MEP systems and services in the development are seamlessly integrated to best serve the occupants and local community as well,” said YL Cheng, director of Arup in Hong Kong.
The Icone Tower is expected to be completed by end of 2021.
