LASTING TREASURE

A brutalist masterpiece, the Philippine International Convention Center has undergone a breathtaking renovation as it approaches its golden anniversary, ensuring this space of the people's treasured memories endures

- Franz Sorilla IV

More than just a refurbishment, it has been a meticulous act of conservation and a stunning modern upgrade. The goal was not merely to update a building that is nearing its 50th anniversary, but to safeguard the genius and artistry of the original vision that birthed it for generations to come.

Designed by the late National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) is defined by its raw concrete and natural-material character, like its contemporaries within the CCP complex in Pasay City.

It exhibits a stern character for its era-defining materiality and design, and has been the foremost venue for summits, conventions, and commencement ceremonies of many institutions. Its current general manager, Atty Nicolette Ann Cruz, shares her fond memory of PICC being the venue for a milestone in her life—her oath-taking ceremony as a newly inducted lawyer some two decades ago.

In leading the charge on PICC’s five-month-long renovation and restoration, Cruz shares that the challenge her team faced was to seamlessly integrate the building's distinctive architectural language with the need to install modern technological advancements. The involvement of Andy Locsin, son of the creative mind behind the iconic structure, and their family’s firm was critical in guaranteeing the preservation of the complex’s artistic and engineering integrity.