The emergence of brutalist architecture in the Philippines during the mid to late 20th century marked the country’s engagement with international architectural movements. Architects in the Philippines, exposed to international publications and architectural discourse, would have been aware of and influenced by the rise of brutalism in Europe and other parts of the world. However, the […]
PICC Sets a New Standard for Philippine Heritage Preservation
As it nears its landmark 50th anniversary, the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) firmly secures its place as an architectural titan. A designated National Cultural Treasure (NCT) designed by National Artist Leandro V. Locsin and completed in 1976, this Brutalist icon recently experienced a monumental act of stewardship: a surgically precise overhaul executed in a remarkably short span of just six months.
A renewal driven by the urgent mandate of hosting the upcoming ASEAN Summit, the monumental renovation also secures the complex’s readiness for its 50th anniversary in 2026. Far from a simple cosmetic upgrade, the project is a powerful statement of commitment—a delicate balance that preserves the integrity of Locsin’s vision while integrating innovations required for global competitiveness.
Under the stewardship of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the PICC reasserts its leadership in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions industry (MICE). A core challenge of the renovation was achieving MICE global standards within a protected heritage structure. The building’s nervous system now enjoys upgrades like high-speed Wi-Fi, automated doors, responsive, efficient lighting, and even an increased number of electrical outlets.
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Critically, wayfinding and room-naming conventions were revamped and aligned with MICE global standards, streamlining navigation across the 12-hectare complex. And to maintain aesthetic continuity, the rhythmic chevron pattern, which defines the concrete walkways connecting the major buildings, was carefully referenced and echoed in new elements, such as the double doors of the Delegation Lounge.
Interventions, Sensory Restoration, and Temporal Continuity
The PICC’s recent transformation is a rare achievement in heritage management. The six-month timeline—a notable contrast to the years-long rehabilitation of the National Theater—was achieved through intense focus and a profound understanding of the building’s original intent. The project was a collaborative effort involving material artisans, government agencies, and the guiding hand of Leandro V. Locsin Partners (LVLP).
As LVLP Design Consultant Leandro “Andy” Locsin Jr. notes, the PICC’s longevity is a tribute to the diligence of its long-term stewards. The renovation built upon this history, and as PICC General Manager Atty. Nicolette Ann P. Cruz shared, the guiding philosophy was to “marry our duty to innovate, modernize, and update with our responsibility to preserve.”
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Focusing on the scale and texture of the Brutalist aesthetic, the renovation prioritized the sensory experience of Locsin’s original material palette. The Delegation Building, utilizing Locsin’s signature “floating volume”, remains the complex’s visual anchor. It stands above the front lawn, slated to be restored to the minimalist vision of National Artist I.P. Santos. But the real precision is evident inside the Main Lobby.
Artisans laser-cleaned the complex’s raw concrete walls—a non-invasive technique essential for preserving the tactile honesty of the Brutalist material. They also rebuffed the marble floors and flawlessly matched new tiles to the original. A new layer of metallic powder coats the ceiling, and the iconic cluster of 3,068 droplights were restored to their full brilliance, underscoring the massive scale and dedication of the project.
To improve circulation for high-security events, the design made the entrance more spacious. Simultaneously, the newly refurbished Delegation Lounge now provides enhanced privacy and comfort for VVIP guests. Here, craftspeople reupholstered the original furniture from its former salmon color to a more neutral and modern palette, perfectly complementing the newly installed hardwood flooring. On the upper floors, new layouts and features for conference rooms and office spaces harmonize with the PICC’s overarching architectural character.
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Between the Delegation Building and the Plenary and Reception Halls, the main courtyard highlights the renovation’s curatorial intent. Transformed into a permanent open-air gallery, the space now showcases 20 APEC sculptures—originally scattered across the front lawn—anchored by National Artist Arturo Luz’s Anito. The shift in purpose demanded aesthetic neutrality, leading to a deliberate design choice: the team restored the flooring to its original pebble wash finish.
This action prioritized the clean, monumental plinth over the previous “fiery colored flooring”, ensuring the architectural setting serves the cultural exhibits. Furthermore, the subtle addition of the improved water features and an outdoor 30-speaker audio system balances the space’s solemnity with functional capability.
The Secretariat, Plenary, and Reception Halls
The Secretariat Building upholds the integrity of Locsin’s original design, which utilized distinctive wooden lattice walls to filter light and facilitate airflow. The renovation preserved these historic screens while seamlessly integrating them with 21st-century tools. Meeting rooms now feature updated audio systems and LED screens, enabling full support for sophisticated hybrid and multi-session conventions.
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The Plenary Hall and Reception Hall represent the complex’s ceremonial and functional apex, both designed to accommodate thousands of guests. The renovation treated these spaces with an eye toward both grand acoustics and aesthetic refinement. Both now feature large LED screens and enhanced audio systems.
In the Plenary Hall, emphasis was placed on restoring the dignity of the iconic auditorium. Refurbished wooden elements such as the wall panels, ceilings, and doors complement the improved acoustics and state-of-the-art lighting. Seating now carries the mark of renewal, fitted with new brass numbers. This comprehensive upgrade ensures that every conference, performance, or summit delivers maximum audiovisual impact.
Conversely, the Reception Hall, which functions as the primary venue for banquets and celebrations, retains its timeless elegance. Its signature and newly-polished globule chandeliers provide dramatic illumination, highlighting the refreshed fabric walls and refinished woodwork. Artisans carefully restored the ornamented ceilings, ensuring the hall retains the specific grandeur that has characterized Philippine social and political milestones for five decades.
Locsin’s Mastery of Mass and Space
The PICC’s completion in 1976 for the IMF-World Bank annual meeting was a powerful statement of national intent, positioning the structure as a symbol of confidence for a developing nation. Locsin’s design defined a generation of Filipino modernism, rooted in core architectural and cultural principles.
The PICC embodies Locsin’s most significant contributions to architecture, particularly his synthesis of Western Brutalism and tropical sensibility. Andy Locsin Jr. highlights this as the source of the PICC’s dramatic power.
“When you walk into the building,” he notes, “you’re compressed by that overhang, by the cantilever. You feel that you’re being squeezed, and the moment you walk through the door, suddenly, the space just explodes into the lobby. This modulation of compression and explosion is an architectural approach that brings incredible drama to a space.” This sequence heightens the experience of the soaring, multi-story interiors.
The PICC’s most dramatic sculptural move are Locsin’s floating volumes. Deep cantilevers and deeply recessed foundations visually detach the colossal structure from the ground. Defying the material’s inherent heaviness, the sheer concrete masses appear to hover, dematerializing the ground floor and transforming the building into a dynamic, levitating form. This creates a powerful optical illusion—a feat of “structural acrobatics” that gives the building its immediate, memorable presence.
The National Artist adapted the style to the tropics by introducing warmth through native wood paneling and the rich texture of pebble wash, preventing the monolithic scale from becoming cold and firmly grounding the architecture in Filipino materiality.
He also treated functional connections as abstract sculpture. The upper bridgeway connecting the Delegation Building to the Plenary Hall, for example, is a testament to this principle. It is a linear, unadorned concrete structure that showcases precision in its geometry, framing views and accentuating the horizontal lines of the complex. It is a functional path, yet it stands as a piece of abstract geometry against the sky.
Locsin Jr. also provides a vital framework for assessing the PICC’s value. Good design, he notes, speaks to utility and aesthetics with a universal appeal. Cultural significance, on the other hand, is not agnostic to context; it is derived from the work having meaning “only to the specific culture and society that spawned it.” The PICC’s genius lies in that it “marries aspects of the two qualities,” retaining universal utility as a world-class MICE venue, while continuing to have deep cultural meaning as a repository of valued memory for the nation.
Under the guardianship of the BSP, the PICC’s cultural function is as paramount as its commercial one. The PICC is not merely a government edifice; it is a living museum, housing over a hundred artworks from the BSP’s collection.
The National Cultural Treasures
The PICC complex itself was declared a National Cultural Treasure (NCT) in 2022. This status is shared by four other permanently installed artworks that define the PICC’s interiors, reflecting the architectural era’s ambition to integrate art into public life.
Pagdiriwang by National Artist Jose T. Joya (Delegation Upper Lobby) is a monumental painting, spanning approximately 5 meters by 8 meters. It is widely regarded as one of the country’s largest abstract works. Joya, a master of Abstract Expressionism and gestural painting, conceived Pagdiriwang (meaning “celebration”) in situ in 1976. The work is characterized by spontaneous, bold strokes and a vibrant, intuitive application of paint, often taking inspiration from festive Filipino folk traditions. Its scale and kinetic energy perfectly capture the optimistic spirit of the era in which the PICC was built.
As the colossal concrete sculpture that anchors the courtyard, Anito exemplifies Luz’s commitment to sublime austerity and reduction of form. Referencing the ancient Filipino term for ancestral spirits or household deities, the sculpture is a totemic structure, stacking geometric blocks and interlocking curved forms into a minimalist totem. Its stark, simple lines adhere to the Modernist principle of “less is more,” giving the work a powerful, serene presence against the backdrop of the Brutalist concrete.
Located on the wall near the grand staircase linking the Plenary and Reception Halls, Luz’s Grid is a large-scale steel sculpture that further demonstrates his linear mastery. The work utilizes a precise, geometric framework—a core element of Luz’s aesthetic—to create an elegant composition. The lines function as both an ordering element and a system, transforming a massive wall into a sophisticated, dynamic plane that complements the symmetry of the surrounding architecture.
National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva, known as the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture” and the youngest recipient of the National Artist award, blurred the lines between sculpture and functional art with his carved wooden benches and seating distributed throughout the PICC. These functional masterpieces, crafted from resilient Philippine hardwood like molave, display the sculptor’s versatility and commitment to creating art that is both aesthetically powerful and durable enough to encourage conversation and community interaction among guests.
Commitment to Accessibility and Conservation
Beyond preservation, the BSP is focused on enhancing public engagement. Efforts are underway to adopt stringent museum-grade standards for curation and conservation to ensure the longevity of the PICC’s artistic bounty. Furthermore, the PICC is actively working to enhance public accessibility to this NCT through initiatives like guided tours, inclusive events, and fora. The ultimate goal is to connect the historical significance of the building with the patriotic appreciation of the public, ensuring that the legacy of Locsin’s magnum opus endures.
The PICC, now fully functional and technologically empowered, stands as a triumph of preservation and planning, ready to serve as a timeless, dynamic, and enduring symbol of Filipino excellence.
Photographed by Ed Simon.
Read more: Brutalist Architecture in the Philippines: A Comprehensive Analysis
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