Metrobank Center

Metrobank Center is a mixed-use supertall skyscraper in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, in Metro Manila, Philippines. The tower was formerly called Federal Land Tower and is also known as Metrobank Financial Tower. With a pinnacle height of 318 metres, or 1,043 feet, it is identified as the tallest building and structure in the Philippines, exceeding the height of the former national record holder, PBCom Tower, by 59 metres. The building forms part of Federal Land's Grand Central Park development, a larger mixed-use project combining commercial, hospitality, residential, and public-facing amenities. It was developed by Bonifacio Landmark Realty and Development Corporation, a joint venture between Federal Land, Inc., the real-estate subsidiary of Metrobank Group, and ORIX Corporation. The tower is located on 35th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in the northern section of Bonifacio Global City, close to Uptown Mall and Bonifacio High Street. Metrobank Center rises 66 storeys. Its pinnacle height is approximately 318 metres, while the roof height is approximately 259.1 metres. The tower is connected through a common podium to Grand Hyatt Residences, a 45-storey condominium tower. The wider complex also includes Grand Hyatt Residence South Tower, which has 50 storeys. This relationship gives the development a unified mixed-use identity centered on the Metrobank Center tower and the Grand Hyatt hospitality and residential facilities. The Grand Hyatt Manila is the building's principal hospitality component and occupies the upper 25 floors. The hotel contains 461 guest rooms, three named restaurants—The Grand Kitchen, No. 8 China House, and The Peak—and approximately 2,281 square metres of meeting and event space. These facilities make the tower not only an office and architectural landmark but also a destination for lodging, dining, events, and high-end urban hospitality. The building's architectural firms were Wong & Ouyang and Casas + Architects Inc. Ove Arup & Partners provided wind, structural, and seismic engineering. Arup designed a damp outrigger system intended to improve resistance to wind and seismic forces, with concrete outrigger walls installed on two mechanical floors. The project was announced publicly as an intended new national height record during the development of Grand Central Park. Groundbreaking took place in March 2011, construction continued through the 2010s, and the hotel opened on January 23, 2018. Metrobank Center is therefore best understood as a real-estate and built-environment landmark rather than as a standalone hotel brand. Grand Hyatt Manila is a major tenant and operating component, but the authoritative subject is the entire tower and its role within the Grand Central Park complex.

Metrobank Center originated as a Federal Land proposal for a landmark tower within the Grand Central Park mixed-use development in Bonifacio Global City. In September 2008, Taguig Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga announced plans for a 66-story skyscraper that would exceed PBCom Tower, then regarded as the tallest building in the Philippines. The planned project was initially referred to as Federal Land Tower. Federal Land formally unveiled the project in March 2011. Construction began after a groundbreaking ceremony on March 24, 2011, with completion initially projected for 2014. The development was undertaken by Bonifacio Landmark Realty and Development Corporation, a joint venture of Federal Land, Inc.—the real-estate arm of Metrobank Group—and ORIX Corporation. The tower became the principal high-rise element of Grand Central Park. It was designed as part of a connected complex rather than as an isolated office building. A common podium links it with Grand Hyatt Residences, a 45-storey condominium tower, while Grand Hyatt Residence South Tower provides a second residential component with 50 storeys. The arrangement combines commercial and hospitality uses in the main tower with residential uses in the adjoining development. Wong & Ouyang and Casas + Architects Inc. were responsible for the architecture. Ove Arup & Partners handled wind, structural, and seismic engineering. Arup's design included a damp outrigger system intended to help the tower withstand wind and earthquake forces. Concrete outrigger walls were placed on two mechanical floors. The resulting structure reaches approximately 318 metres at its pinnacle, while its roof is approximately 259.1 metres high. During construction, a fire was reported in August 2017. The incident was reported as causing no injuries. In September of the same year, a marker was unveiled in the hotel's lobby by George Ty of Federal Land and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The hotel component subsequently opened on January 23, 2018 under the Grand Hyatt brand. Grand Hyatt Manila occupies the top 25 floors of Metrobank Center. It has 461 guest rooms, three major restaurants—The Grand Kitchen, No. 8 China House, and The Peak—and 2,281 square metres of meeting and event rooms. These facilities give the tower a substantial hospitality function in addition to its role as a national architectural landmark. The completed Metrobank Center is recognized as the tallest building and structure in the Philippines, surpassing PBCom Tower by 59 metres. Although the Grand Hyatt Manila is the most visible consumer-facing operation associated with the tower, the authoritative subject is the broader Metrobank Center development: a 66-storey mixed-use skyscraper developed within Grand Central Park and connected to the Grand Hyatt residential towers.

• 2018

  Grand Hyatt Manila opens

  [1]Metrobank Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The hotel opened on January 23, establishing the tower's major hospitality operation.

• 2017

  Construction fire reported

  [1]Metrobank Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A fire occurred during construction in August; no injuries were reported.

• 2017

  Hotel marker unveiled

  [1]Metrobank Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A marker was unveiled in the hotel's lobby in September by George Ty and Rodrigo Duterte.

• 2011

  Formal unveiling and groundbreaking

  [1]Metrobank Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Federal Land formally unveiled the project, and groundbreaking took place on March 24, 2011.

• 2008

  Height-record proposal announced

  [1]Metrobank Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Plans were announced for a 66-story Federal Land tower intended to surpass PBCom Tower as the tallest building in the Philippines.

A landmark mixed-use tower combining a national-height architectural statement with luxury hospitality, dining, event facilities, and adjacent residential development in Bonifacio Global City.

• Supertall mixed-use skyscraper

  Metrobank Center mixed-use tower

  The 66-storey main tower of Grand Central Park reaches a pinnacle height of 318 metres and combines hospitality, dining, event, and commercial functions. Its design incorporates structural and seismic engineering measures developed by Ove Arup & Partners, including a damp outrigger system and concrete outrigger walls on mechanical floors.

• Luxury hotel · 2018

  Grand Hyatt Manila

  The tower's major hospitality tenant occupies the upper 25 floors and contains 461 guest rooms. Its named dining venues include The Grand Kitchen, No. 8 China House, and The Peak. The hotel also provides approximately 2,281 square metres of meeting and event rooms.

• Residential condominium

  Grand Hyatt Residences

  A 45-storey residential tower connected to Metrobank Center through a common podium as part of the Grand Central Park complex.

• Residential condominium

  Grand Hyatt Residence South Tower

  The second residential tower associated with the development, rising 50 storeys within the broader Grand Central Park complex.

• 2018

  Launch of the Grand Hyatt Manila hospitality componentProduct launch

  Background

  The completed tower was designed to include a substantial luxury-hospitality operation in addition to other mixed-use functions.

  Action taken

  Grand Hyatt Manila opened on January 23, 2018, with guest rooms, restaurants, and meeting and event facilities.

  Aftermath

  The hotel became a major tenant and public-facing component of Metrobank Center.

  Source

• 2011

  Groundbreaking for the Grand Central Park towerStrategy

  Background

  The project was formally unveiled after several years of planning and was intended to anchor Federal Land's Grand Central Park development.

  Action taken

  Bonifacio Landmark Realty and Development Corporation held the groundbreaking ceremony on March 24, 2011.

  Aftermath

  Construction of the future Metrobank Center proceeded as a mixed-use skyscraper with connected residential and hotel components.

  Source

• 2008

  Pursuit of a national height landmarkStrategy

  Background

  Federal Land proposed a 66-storey tower within Grand Central Park at a height intended to exceed the Philippines' then-tallest building, PBCom Tower.

  Action taken

  The development proceeded as a major mixed-use tower, later reaching a planned pinnacle height of 318 metres.

  Aftermath

  Metrobank Center became recognized as the tallest building and structure in the Philippines.

  Source

1. 1Metrobank Centeren.wikipedia.org