MANILA, Philippines - From the Manila Hotel until the late 1960s to Rufino Pacific Tower and Petron Megaplaza in the 1990s, Metro Manila’s skyline has been rapidly changing. In fact, in as few as 4 years, 6 new skyscrapers entered top 10 list of tallest buildings in the country between 2013 and last year. With many more structures currently under construction, we expect this list to change again very soon.
But before we wait for the construction of these new properties to be complete, real estate website Lamudi Philippines has made a lowdown of the top 10 list of the Philippines’ tallest completed buildings. Data were sourced from global building information provider Emporis.
10. Petron Megaplaza
Location: Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati
Height: 210 meters
No. of floors: 45
Developed by Megaworld Corp., Petron Megaplaza is an office skyscraper that held the title of the tallest building in the Philippines from 1998 to 2000. Its total height is 210 meters measured from the ground to its architectural spire, while its high-profile tenants include Petron Corporation itself, the international division of Megaworld, and the Embassy of Norway.
9. St. Francis Shangri-La Place
Location: St. Francis Street, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Height: 213 meters
No. of floors: 50
Completed in 2009, St. Francis Shangri-La Place is composed of two buildings both 212.9 meters tall. Located along St. Francis Street on the Mandaluyong side of Ortigas Center and developed by luxury brand Shang Properties, it is considered one of the most luxurious residential condos in Metro Manila. It has a podium that connects both towers, five levels of basement parking, and a direct connection to the MRT-3 Shaw Station. Shopping for residents is a breeze, as the condo has a link bridge to the high-end Shangri-La Plaza Mall.
8. GT International Tower
Location: Ayala Avenue, Makati
Height: 217 meters
No. of floors: 43
Rising 217 meters from the ground up, Federal Land’s GT International Tower is also known as the First Metrobank Tower. Named after its owner George Ty, chairman of the Metrobank Group, GT International has 47 floors comprising office spaces. The building’s 10 uppermost floors resemble a fin, making it stand out among its equally impressive neighbors along Ayala Avenue.
7. BSA Twin Towers
Location: St. Francis Square, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Height: 221 meters
No. of floors: 54
The BSA Twin Towers, located along St. Francis Square in Ortigas Center, are two of the most recognizable towers in Metro Manila. Towering at a height of 221 meters, these twin skyscrapers are colorfully lit at night by the St. Francis Square Group of Companies. They are close to shopping malls, the Asian Development Bank, and the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation. This mixed-use development has commercial and office spaces on its lower floors, and residential condos and serviced apartments on its upper levels.
6. One Shangri-La Place
Location: Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Height: 227 meters
No. of floors: 64
Completed in 2015, One Shangri-La Place is also currently the 15th tallest set of twin towers in the world. Towering at a height of 227 meters, this 64-story luxury residential condo is built atop the newly opened wing of the upscale Shangri-La Plaza Mall. Through this mall, the condo is connected to the Shaw Boulevard Station of MRT. It is also within walking distance of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, the Ortigas Center trading floor of the Philippine Stock Exchange, and the University of Asia and the Pacific.
5. Grand Riviera Suites
Location: Roxas Blvd., Manila
Height: 230 meters
No. of floors: 57
Grand Riviera Suites of Moldex Realty is a 230-meter-tall residential condo building situated along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Said to have been inspired by its view of the famed Manila Bay sunset, this 55-story skyscraper is near Manila’s shopping malls and districts, entertainment and leisure centers, universities, and the city’s historical sites, including Intramuros, Rizal Park, and Paco Park.
4. Shangri-La at The Fort
Location: 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Height: 250 meters
No. of floors: 61
Opened in March 2015, the long-awaited Shangri-La at The Fort is touted as one of Bonifacio Global City’s most recognizable landmarks. Towering at a height of 250 meters, the 67-story tower is home to offices, hotels, and luxury residential condos. Shangri-La at The Fort also hosts Kerry Sports Manila, a modern indoor lifestyle and fitness hub, and the building achieved a Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
3. Discovery Primea
Location: Ayala Avenue, Makati
Height: 250 meters
No. of floors: 68
Part luxury condo, part upscale hotel, Discovery Primea is a 68-story, 250-meter skyscraper situated along Ayala Avenue in Makati developed by JTKC Land, which is the same brand behind the award-winning Discovery Shores in Boracay. Its hotel section is a member of the prestigious Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection. According to its website, its main architect is Pritzer Prize winner Kenzō Tange, whose most notable works include the Tokyo Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Museum.
2. The Gramercy Residences
Location: Century City, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati
Height: 250 meters
No. of floors: 73
The Gramercy Residences is the first tower to be built in the new Century City complex located along Kalayaan Avenue. It is named after the Gramercy, a fenced-in private park in Manhattan, which incidentally is situated in one of New York City’s most prestigious neighborhoods. The Gramercy Residences is a high-end residential condo with 73 floors, towering at a height of 250 meters. Developed by Century Properties, it offers top-notch amenities, such as a club and restaurant on its 72nd floor, gardens, access to the area’s high-end mall, and spectacular views of Metro Manila.
1. Philippine Bank of Communications Tower (PBCom Tower)
Location: Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati
Height: 259 meters
No. of floors: 55
The Philippine Bank of Communications Tower, more commonly known as PBCom Tower, has been the tallest building in the Philippines since 2000. Towering at a height of 259 meters, it serves as the headquarters of the Philippine Bank of Communications, as well as several multinationals including cement-maker Lafarge Holdings and Dutch technology giant Philips. It has been designated by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority as one of two certified information technology (IT) buildings in the country, which affords its IT-related tenants special tax incentives and privileges.
There is a strong possibility that this list will change soon as there are a number of high-rises which are expected to be completed over the next few years. Once these buildings are finished, it is highly likely that PBCom Tower might lose the top spot. Regardless of which building is crowned as the next tallest building in the Philippines, one thing is for sure: given the country’s buoyant real estate market, Metro Manila’s skyline will be unrecognizable in a decade’s time.
Note: This story was originally published in Lamudi's website.
But before we wait for the construction of these new properties to be complete, real estate website Lamudi Philippines has made a lowdown of the top 10 list of the Philippines’ tallest completed buildings. Data were sourced from global building information provider Emporis.
10. Petron Megaplaza
Location: Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati
Height: 210 meters
No. of floors: 45
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| Photo courtesy of Wikipedia |
9. St. Francis Shangri-La Place
Location: St. Francis Street, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Height: 213 meters
No. of floors: 50
 |
| Photo courtesy of lonjaurigue.com |
8. GT International Tower
Location: Ayala Avenue, Makati
Height: 217 meters
No. of floors: 43
 |
| Photo courtesy of Wikipedia |
7. BSA Twin Towers
Location: St. Francis Square, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Height: 221 meters
No. of floors: 54
 |
| Photo courtesy of getmanilahotels.com |
6. One Shangri-La Place
Location: Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Height: 227 meters
No. of floors: 64
 |
| Photo courtesy of SkyscraperCity.com |
5. Grand Riviera Suites
Location: Roxas Blvd., Manila
Height: 230 meters
No. of floors: 57
 |
| Photo courtesy of moldexrealty.ph |
4. Shangri-La at The Fort
Location: 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Height: 250 meters
No. of floors: 61
 |
| Photo courtesy of forurbanwomen.com |
3. Discovery Primea
Location: Ayala Avenue, Makati
Height: 250 meters
No. of floors: 68
 |
| Photo courtesy of Cheryl Tiu/Macy. |
2. The Gramercy Residences
Location: Century City, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati
Height: 250 meters
No. of floors: 73
 |
| Photo courtesy of homesinmakati.com |
1. Philippine Bank of Communications Tower (PBCom Tower)
Location: Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati
Height: 259 meters
No. of floors: 55
 |
| Photo courtesy of Erich Mercado | via SkyscraperCity.com |
There is a strong possibility that this list will change soon as there are a number of high-rises which are expected to be completed over the next few years. Once these buildings are finished, it is highly likely that PBCom Tower might lose the top spot. Regardless of which building is crowned as the next tallest building in the Philippines, one thing is for sure: given the country’s buoyant real estate market, Metro Manila’s skyline will be unrecognizable in a decade’s time.
Note: This story was originally published in Lamudi's website.
