Aligning with the world ArchTechCon 2025 pushes Philippine design forward

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu is strengthening its position as a regional center for architectural and design innovation, as the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) – Datu Lapu-Lapu Chapter advances its efforts to transform ArchTechCon into a national platform for globally competitive design talent and international collaboration.

Now in its third year, ArchTechCon 2025, held from July 25 to 27, 2025 at Ayala Central Bloc in Cebu I.T. Park, focuses on the integration of architecture, digital technology, and sustainable development.

Themed “Future/Form: Rethinking Workspaces in Design,” the event aims to align Philippine design practices with global trends and technological innovation.

“What began as a response to the disruption caused by the pandemic has evolved into a long-term strategy,” said Architect Buddy Lim Ong, President of UAP Datu Lapu-Lapu and Chair of ARCHTECHCON 2025.

“We aim to position Cebu as a creative and technical hub in the global design economy,” he said.

The convention originated as a national directive from UAP headquarters in 2023 to explore the role of emerging technologies in post-pandemic architectural practice. With just two months of preparation, the Datu Lapu-Lapu Chapter launched its first event, shifting the narrative from traditional construction materials to software, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and data-driven design systems.

Ong noted that COVID-19 served as a turning point for the profession, with digital transformation accelerating across client meetings, project planning, and construction coordination.

“Architects, clients, and contractors were suddenly operating in virtual environments. That shift was irreversible,” he said.

In its first iteration, discussions around artificial intelligence (AI) were met with caution.

By 2025, AI tools are widely embedded in local practice, supporting tasks from parametric modelling to environmental simulation and design optimization.

According to Ong, Cebu’s architectural sector is increasingly gaining attention from global firms.

“We’re currently in talks with practices in Japan, the U.S., and across Asia looking to establish satellite offices or local partnerships,” Ong said.

“Cebu is being recognized not only for design creativity, but for its fluency in applying new tools,” he added.

Remote collaboration, once a barrier, has become the norm. “Clients from Siargao to Singapore are now conducting real-time consultations with Cebu-based firms,” Ong said, highlighting how digital infrastructure has expanded the geographic reach of local architects.

The event has also strengthened institutional partnerships, particularly with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Design Center of the Philippines, which have supported ArchTechCon since its inception.

These collaborations aim to bridge creative industries with public-sector opportunities, especially in infrastructure and placemaking.

ArchTechCon’s growth reflects the broader expansion of the country’s creative economy.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), creative industries contributed P1.72 trillion to GDP (gross domestic product) in 2022, marking a 12.1 percent year-on-year increase. Architecture and design ranked among the top-performing sectors, alongside digital media and software development.

A 2024 report by the Design Center of the Philippines noted that the integration of technology, design, and sustainability will be a key growth engine for Southeast Asia, citing cities like Cebu as prime candidates for regional leadership.

The UAP Datu Lapu-Lapu Chapter—one of over 900 UAP chapters nationwide—has around 300 active members, many of whom are educators.

Ong emphasized the critical role of the academe in sustaining the profession’s evolution.

“If education doesn’t keep pace, practice stagnates,” Ong said, adding that ArchTechCon is not just about showcasing tools. “It’s about transforming mindsets—from drafting tables to data-driven design thinking.”

Architecture education is also seeing a surge. According to Ong, enrolment in Cebu architecture programs has doubled or tripled over the past decade, driven by urban growth, digital visibility, and rising aspirations in the field.

The ArchTechCon model is now being adopted by other UAP chapters, including in Metro Manila and regional centers.

While this signals growing momentum nationwide, Ong believes that Cebu retains a strategic advantage due to its institutional networks and active engagement with planners, developers, and policymakers.

“We’re not working in silos. We’re engaging the wider development ecosystem to build innovation that’s globally relevant but locally grounded,” he added.

ArchTechCon 2025 featured a mix of CPD-accredited seminars, 3D printing workshops, and interdisciplinary design talks. Notable speakers included: Ar. Arts Serrano (One Zero Design) on adaptive reuse and community-led buildings; Charles Barrete (Field Ready) on mobile makerspaces; Bien Alvarez, Philippine delegate to the Venice Biennale 2023, on cross-disciplinary collaboration; Ej Angeles and Idr. Isa Pulvinar (Mold Makati) on maker culture; Ar. Jonathan Cruz (Obra Majoralia) on cultural architecture in local communities; and

Mona Alcudia-Ong (Studio Unosinotra) on youth and digital innovation in urban planning.

A highlight of the event was the WikiHouse Pavilion, a modular, digitally fabricated structure anchoring the “Build A City” 3D printing exhibit. The installation showcased scalable and sustainable prototypes for urban development, reinforcing the event’s emphasis on practical innovation.

As the Philippines accelerates its investment in design, technology, and creative services, platforms like ArchTechCon are emerging as key vehicles for shaping a modern, innovation-driven economy.

“The question is no longer whether architecture should embrace technology,” Ong said.

“It’s how the Philippines can lead through it.”