INTRODUCTION and BACKGROUND: THE ENTERTAINMENT CITY

The Landmark BillIn June, PAGCOR experienced its most significant event for 2007 the passage of the Republic Act 9487 otherwise known as the PAGCOR Bill. Signed into law by no less than the President, this important piece of legislation grants the state run gaming firm a 25-Year extension to its franchise, renewable for another 25 years.This in itself is a breakthrough for the country as it signifies the growing recognition of the government of the benefits of a legalized gaming industry.With this, PAGCOR can now go full gear with the implementation of its multi-billion dollar tourism development project, the Bagong Nayong Philippino- Manila Bay Integrated CityPeople have been hearing about the entertainment city project envisioned by Genuino as early as 2001. However, its implementation was hampered by pending expiration of the PAGCOR franchise. But thanks to the timely approval of RA 9487, this ambitious dream is now fast becoming a reality. The Bagong Nayon Pilipino-Manila Bay integrated City will initially cover about 85 hectares of reclaimed land in Bay City area and will be developed in various stages over the next 10 years.It will be a fully integrated tourism zone featuring a wide array of international grade facilities amenities such as posh luxury hotels, convention stores, state of the art theaters, sports stadiums, restaurants, shopping centers, cultural complexes and museums, amusement parks and an Observation Tower that will be among the tallest structures of its kind in the world.Meanwhile, the second and third phases of the project include the development of other tourism hubs in the country such as Clark in Pampanga and Cebu in the Visayas.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURETwo foreign casino firms seek license from PagcorBy Jenniffer B. AustriaManila StandardState-owned gaming firm Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is finalizing the issuance of gaming licenses to two foreign operators that have expressed plans to put up casinos within the 800-hectare Pagcor City in Pasay City.The first phase involves the construction of a hotel casino, a theme park and a casino. Projects under the phase one will be completed over the next two years.The second phase involves the establishment of residential condominiums, resort and additional hotels and casinos while the third state covers the construction of service hospitals, retirement village and wellness center.With the completion of Pagcor City, Genuino expects tourist arrival in the country to reach 10 million over five years. Some one million jobs will also be created from the development of the project.Pagcor City will help the Philippines catch up with Macau, Asias casino capital, and Singapore, which recently allowed the two casinos.Pagcor in 2006 registered an income of P25 billion from casino operations, almost up 10 percent from P23 billion in 2005.

Miracle in the makinghttp://www.businessmirror.com.phThe international gaming industry must be abuzz with news about the new Las Vegas-style entertainment city that is expected to start rising on the Philippine horizon before the third quarter of this year. Whats amazing is that the government expects the construction of this ambitious project to be almost entirely bankrolled by the biggest gaming investors of the world.It expects to see this big project through not only without any cash outlay on its part but also without issuing any sovereign-loan guarantee on behalf of any project proponent.We are talking, of course, of the $10-billion Entertainment City that will be built initially on 40 hectares of reclaimed land along the Manila Bay. Bets are being placed that when completed in less than three years, this city would be more fabulous, and therefore more attractive, than the other state-run projects in Macau or Singapore.Officially named the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Integrated City, the projectthe biggest ever to be undertaken under the aegis of the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor)is designed to triple the national governments income from Pagcor operations to $1.5 billion annually.The Philippines, he added, has other added attractions compared with the other gaming meccas. Macau can offer only its casinos, but the Philippines has much morefirst-class beaches and golf courses, plus other exotic tourist adventures.Another condition listed in Pagcors terms of reference provides that locators in the entertainment city must hire 95 percent of their manpower requirements from the local labor force, and that their salaries be paid in United States dollars. This is intended to slow down the exodus of local workers, Pagcor spokesman Dodie King explained.Under the terms of reference, each investors mandate is not merely to establish a hotel-casino but a destination that will attract not just gaming enthusiasts but also business tourists and leisure travelersthe concept must be unique [in architectural design]key components must include theaters, exhibition halls, museums, housing for casino employees and other tourist amenities.Genuino, who has an outstanding marketing background, is confident the Philippines is already succeeding in selling this concept to the world, which he says is the wave of the future.Construction should start before the third quarter of this year, he adds.

PAGCOR's Bagong Nayon Pilipino Entertainment CityTo The PointEmil JuradoAnother project under the Arroyo administrationPagcors Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City Manila in Bay City, the 120-hectare Roxas Boulevard reclamationwill be up in two years or so. It is Pagcors answer to the $98 billion global gaming and entertainment industry in Asia, now being monopolized by Macau, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. To get a slice of the pie is more than the dream of Pagcors chairman and chief executive Ephraim Genuino, who conceptualized the project.The project, whose terms of reference have already been finalized after Asian, American and European gaming and entertainment giants showed keen interest, could cost from $10 billion to $15 billion.More than a venue for world-class gaming and entertainment, Genuinos brainchild will have theme parks, luxury hotels, residential villages, convention and sports centers, shopping malls, golf course, a hospital district, state-of-the-art theaters, race tracks, gaming centers, waste management facility, marina and a boardwalk, a cultural center and of course, the Bagong Nayong Pilipino for tourists.This is a project I can support because gaming and entertainment is now the name of the game in fueling tourism. This has been observed in Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand. I still believe that tourism is the countrys engine of growth.Pagcor now is the third biggest revenue-generating state-owned entity. With this project, Pagcor could well be the biggest income generator for government.Pagcor sets $1-B ante for gaming complexBY RUBY ANNE M. RUBIO, Senior ReporterBusiness WorldINVESTORS EYEING a priority government project aimed at positioning the country as an Asian gaming haven need to pony up at least $1 billion to participate.Recently issued terms of reference (ToR) for the Bagong Nayong Pilipino Manila Bay Integrated City formerly called Entertainment City Manila state that firms wishing to apply for licenses to run integrated casino-entertainment complexes must submit proposals with a minimum project cost of $1 billion, consisting of both equity and debt.The initial phase of the project involves approximately 40 hectares of reclaimed land along Manila Bay in Paraaque. Other locations in the vicinity could also qualify with Pagcor approval.Prospective license applicants, in submitting their concepts, must detail the companys profile (highlighting its experience in casino development and operation); consularized company registration, articles of incorporation and bylaws; accomplished directors and officers personal history statements; organizational set-up; financial profile including audited financial statements for the last three years of operation; and bank certification on the availability of adequate credit facilities.The business plan must address the following Pagcor objectives: boost tourism/increase influx of tourists, generate jobs, and create economic impact. The proponents must indicate the projected number of tourists, number of jobs to be created and sourced in the Philippines, and earnings for government, aside from indirect benefits and advantages.Local hiring should be 95% for the whole hotel entertainment complex, and salaries should be in US dollars.The business plan must also include long-term development and expansion programs, target foreign markets and marketing plan, and the positioning of complex in the region as compared to Singapore or Macau and other countries."The general concept is the creation of a destination that will attract not just gaming enthusiasts but also business tourists and leisure travelers as well; the concept must be unique," the Pagcor said."Key components must include the establishment of tourism facilities such as theaters, exhibition halls, museums, and other tourism-oriented facilities. The concept must also include staff house/s for the casino employees."Foreign gaming firms have had discussions with Pagcor regarding the proposed Entertainment City. Among those said to have visited were Malaysias Genting International, which is building a $3.4-billion integrated casino resort in Singapores Sentosa island, US-based Wynn Resorts Ltd., and Storm International BV.

From tourism and foreign investment to job creation and MICE industries, PAGCOR's Entertainment City is set to stimulate economic growthThe positive financial results that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) currently enjoys are set to continue rising, thanks to a mega-project the state-run gaming agency is currently developing.Dubbed the Entertainment City Manila (ECM), the project is taking shape in a three-square-mile lot of land along the reclaimed portion of Manila Bays Boulevard area. Ultimately, it is set to take the tourism sector in the Philippines to a whole new level, thanks to the Entertainment Citys wide offering of activities for all ages.The project intends to capture the imagination not only of Filipinos but foreign tourists as well. The plan is for national artists to be represented, for local cuisine to be available, and for Entertainment City to stand out in Asia for its uniqueness and its embrace of local culture.Entertainment City Master Plan

We need to go back to the Filipino roots, says Jeannie Javellosa, the culture expert and brand engineer assigned to handle the rebranding of PAGCOR and its Casino Filipino. We need a total Filipino experience of what gaming and entertainment is all about. We need to make it not just a casino, but a total leisure and entertainment complex where people can bring their families.This is right in line with the vision that PAGCOR chairman and CEO Cristino L. Naguiat, Jr. has for Entertainment City and all its Casino Filipino branches. We are in talks with world-class designers who can help create a modern Filipino brand and architectural designs for our casinos that tourists would really want to see. In Macau, the casinos have a Western look, but we want to have our own, unique Casino Filipino look here.Entertainment City Manila will be a fully integrated entertainment and tourism resort, in which the actual casinos will only account for less than 8% of the total developed area. There will also be entertainment options for children, theaters, stadiums, and facilities for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions).With such a wide assortment of activities and facilities, PAGCOR hopes to influence visitors to extend their stay. Right now, some foreign tourists come here to play for two to three days. But if we are able to create other recreation activities for the whole family, these tourists will have good reason to stay longer in the Philippines, explains the chairman.Entertainment City is being built over a 10-year period, yet the first phase of one concept specifically, the aforementioned casino is already complete. Built by a major investor in Entertainment City (formed by the partnership between Malaysia-based Star Cruises and local company Travellers International), Resorts World Manila is located near Terminal 3 of Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and is the first complex in the country to combine lodging brands (Marriott, Maxims and Remington) together with the Philippines largest casino and a four-level mall. Resorts World Manila also features numerous dining establishments, concerts and acrobatic shows, and a 1,500-seat performing arts theatre.The total cost of developing the project is expected to amount to some $5 billion, a figure that will bring with it 80,000 direct jobs and about 400,000 indirect jobs. The Entertainment City Manila project, particularly its casino gaming component, will also generate a tremendous amount of revenue that will, according to PAGCORs charter, fill in government coffers for use in carrying out its numerous social development projects.Meanwhile, tourists from all over Asia and the world will soon enjoy the Philippines newest and largest entertainment venue and all of its world-class facilities characterized by the Filipino flavor and hospitality.

PAGCOR TOWERThePagcor Tower(Tagalog:Tore ng PAGCOR) was a proposal for a 665m (2,182ft) tallobservation towernearManila BayinManila,Philippines. The tower was meant to be constructed as the landmark of the now openedPagcor City(or Entertainment City Manila), an integrated leisure area with hotels, shopping malls, convention centers and casinos. If built, it would be one of the world'stallesttowers in the world, beatingJapan'sTokyo Skytree

NEWSPAPER DOCUMENTS ON THE ENTERTAINMENT CITY

STATUS OF THE PROJECT: THE ENTERTAINMENT CITYEntertainment CityMANILA(also known as Bagong Nayong Pilipino Entertainment City) or previouslyPagcor Cityis Asia's Las Vegas-like gaming and entertainment complex that PAGCOR proposed to offer on 8km of land on the reclamation area of Manila Bay, Philippines. It lies the western side of Roxas Boulevard and south of SM Corporate District (SM Mall of Asia), part of Paraaque City. Investments to the project can reach up to $15 billion, which is scaled down from the more recent $20 billion budget announcement that had been previously announced in 2007. All investments will come from private companies. The project is officially named as the "Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Entertainment City", and has been called several other names by the press. The most common name being referenced is "Entertainment City Philippines". The site has been declared a PEZA approved economic zone.Entertainment City Philippines will be one of the most important tourism gateways into the Philippines. Upon full completion, it will accommodate up to a million tourists annually who will enjoy over one million square meters of hotels, shopping, gaming and entertainment.Hotels and CasinosFour Integrated Resort projects have been qualified to date in accordance with the Terms of Reference and are set to begin construction by phases. Solaire Manila - Opening in 2013. City Of Dreams Manila (Belle Grande Manila Bay) - an SM Investments Corporation project. Expected completion in 2014. Resorts World Bayshore - Genting Hong Kong and AGI's second integrated resort complex in Manila. Manila Bay Resorts - a Universal Entertainment Corporation project.SOLAIRE RESORT & CASINO(formerly known asSolaire Manila) is a resort andcasinoin theEntertainment City, a massive complex built along theBay Cityarea ofParaaque City,Philippinesby way of a proclamation for tourism by H.E. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The complex, which includes a five-star hotel with 488 rooms, is the first of 4 casino resorts to open in the area, and was opened on March 16, 2013, and is currently the tallest hotel in theManila Bayarea outside theCity of Manilaa distinction previously held bySofitelPhilippine Plaza.

Solaire Resort & Casino is the first development to break ground in PAGCOR's Entertainment City, a massive integrated resort envisioned by former PAGCOR Chairman Ephraim Genuino by the Manila Bay. The 120-hectare (300-acre) reclaimed area has been designated as aspecial economic zoneby thePhilippine Economic Zone Authority.[2]The resort is run by Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Incorporated, a subsidiary of Sureste Properties, Inc. (formerly Bloombury Investments Holdings Inc), headed byEnrique K. Razn, Jr., chairman of the Manila-based company, International Container Terminal Services Incorporated.

CITY OF DREAM is unlike anything you have experienced before. Envision a world of exhilarating gaming spaces, world-class dining experiences, plush accommodations, and awesome play. Find your own place in this integrated urban resort. A new era of entertainment is about to begin in Manila.

HotelsCity of Dreams Manila sets a new standard in hospitality in the Philippines with three hotel brands and six hotel towers set to open later this year: Crown Towers, Nobu, and Hyatt.

Luxurious hotel brand Crown Towers adds Manila to its current two locations and will feature approximately 260 rooms.With 321 rooms, the trendsetting boutique Nobu Hotel will deliver a thrilling, celebrity-inspired and 'fun-luxury' experience fused with the utmost quality to visitors to City of Dreams Manila.

Stay in the lap of luxury at the award-winning Hyatt, the brand that rings true to its promise that there is nothing between you and a delightful stay. Hyatt City of Dreams Manila comprises of two towers and 365 rooms.

RESORTS WORLD MANILAis a casino resort, located inNewport City, opposite theNinoy Aquino International Airport(NAIA) Terminal 3, inPasay,Metro Manila,Philippines. The resort is ajoint venturebetween Alliance Global Group andGenting Hong Kong. The project, occupying part of aformer military campnear Manilas airport, has three hotels with 1,574 rooms, a 30,000 square meter (323,000 square feet) casino and a 30,000 square meter shopping mall.[1]A soft launch of the resort took place on 28 August 2009.[2]Resorts World Manila is the sister resort toResorts World Genting,MalaysiaandResorts World Sentosa,Singapore. From 2009 to 2013, It was the only casino resort in Metro Manila until the opening ofSolaire Resort & CasinoinEntertainment City,Paranaque Cityon March 16, 2013 followed byCity of Dreams Manilaon December 14, 2014 in Coastal Road, Paranaque City.

RESEARCH ON CONVENTION CENTERS

Aconvention center is a large building that is designed to hold aconvention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees. Very large venues, suitable for majortrade shows, are sometimes known asexhibition centres. Convention centers typically have at least oneauditoriumand may also containconcert halls,lecture halls,meeting rooms, andconference rooms. Some largeresort areahotelsinclude a convention center.

SPACE REQUIREMENT AND FUNCTIONSSite access should provide for an arrival zone along one face of the building that is for shuttle buses, taxis and limousines to drop off their passengers. The arrival zone configuration must accommodate the turning radius and loading for coach buses. This open air space is the rain-protected outdoor entrance to the building and should clearly establish a visual demarcation line between pedestrians and vehicles. This separation may be composed of features such as color-banded accent pavement, bollards or planters that provide for free flow of pedestrians while restricting vehicular access. There should be no traditional curb or wheel stops that could be tripping hazards at this transition from exterior to interior space Off-site, directional signage to the parking area should be provided on the major approaches to the property to separate attendees whose first stop is the parking area. On site, traffic flow should allow convenient access to parking for those private vehicles unloading passengers at the door.

Registration and Prefunction Large-scale registration should occur either just inside the arrival zone or in the prefunction space outside of the exhibit hall. The depth of the prefunction space should allow for registration nodes to be set up in lobby vestibules or in a widened concourse so as not to interfere with lateral circulation. There should be space available to leave a small number of registration booths set up outside the exhibit area for the entire event and to use the remaining lobby area for prefunction activities.

Exhibition Space This flexible space is intended to be the heart of the convention center. The physical layout of this space should meet the basic requirements of an exhibit hall and the overall room should be divisible into roughly equal size compartments. The surfaces of the perimeter walls and structural columns should be durable and slightly unfriendly to human touch up to eight or nine feet above the floor. This will enhance the ability of those surfaces to require low maintenance. The basic layout of the hall follows a 30-foot by 30-foot grid derived from a 10-foot by 10-foot booth, the building block of the convention and trade show industry. The booth-aisle-booth module may be arranged along either axis depending on the particular events organization or preference for flow. It is generally a good idea to have the capability to locate booths so that they can back-up to the perimeter walls. This is not possible however, at required points of access and egress, and un-necessary access points should be avoided. Entrances into supporting spaces should have doors into connecting service areas and not from inside the exhibit hall, especially if it can be anticipated that access may be required during an ongoing hall event. Column-free exhibition halls are not mandatory but are perceived as more desirable to meeting planners. When columns are used, their location can sometimes be more critical than spacing. If columns are used, maintain column spacing on a multiple of 30 feet with a 90-foot square minimum. The exhibit hall should be divisible into four or five roughly equal sections using operable walls. The minimum clear height to any obstruction should be 30 feet. The overhead structure should be designed to allow for lighting trusses, projection screens, banners or other convention-related materials to be hung from the ceiling at specific locations.

Meeting Rooms Groups of meeting rooms should be distributed throughout the facility. A mix of sizes is acceptable as long as access and support facilities such as restrooms, telephones and vertical circulation are conveniently located nearby, and visual cues are provided for orienting the user to the overall facility. Event registration can be set up in the concourse and/or at the entrance to individual rooms. Rooms are to be subdivided with movable partitions at 30 feet on center, with the minimum room division a 30 ft. x 60 ft. module using a 30-foot structural grid. Optimal proportions for full-open meeting rooms are 1.5:1 and should not exceed 2:1 in any case. All divisible meeting rooms must have a 16-foot minimum ceiling height to accommodate the use of audiovisual projectors with a speakers platform. Larger meeting rooms should increase the ceiling heights proportionally. Each meeting room will have preprogrammed lighting scenes, access to cable television hook-up, and access to nearby storage areas for stackable seating and tables. Each meeting room should have a tackable surface and picture-hanging rail on at least one permanent wall, but more durable materials should be used for at least the lowest four feet for ware protection and maintenance considerations. The rooms should be carpeted, using a border pattern at the perimeter and a geometric pattern repeat to assist room layout and furniture alignment

Ballroom The ballroom is a large, column free space that should be divisible into at least three sections. Its features include a finished ceiling, a mixture of lighting types including fluorescent, incandescent and specialty lighting for architectural features and special events; and a high quality carpet. Clear height to ceiling obstructions should be 30 feet. The highest level of service in the ballroom will be for banquet functions. At 50,000 square feet, this room should be able to serve 3,000 people comfortably using 72-inch diameter tables. Lectures or similar presentations using theater-style seating could host up to 4,000 people.

The layout is based on a structural grid with a 30-foot wide service corridor across the long dimension of this space. This corridor will be used as a staging area during events. Its 30-foot dimension includes table and chair storage in niches, food service work areas, and food cart staging areas. Maintain 20 feet clear for back of house circulation and exiting. The kitchen should have direct access to the service corridor as well as to dedicated food service elevators. For general sessions or banquet presentations, lighting must have flexible circuiting and dimming controls zoned to the room divisions. The recent industry trend has been to use the ballroom for more theatrical presentations, resulting in an increased need for rigging capacity and electrical power for stage production lighting and sound systems. Each room division should have support for head table locations. Typically, these will occur once in each individual room break and at either of two walls when the room is used in the full-open condition.

Central Kitchen The central kitchen is initially expected to be a full-service banquet kitchen that will primarily serve the ballroom. Meals will also be served in the exhibit hall as well as the various meeting rooms. The design capacity for serving salad, a main course, vegetables and dessert shall be a production rate of 3,500 to 4,000 meals per hour. A dedicated dock area shall be provided for kitchen deliveries. A vertical core for service elevators and trash between levels is required nearby, with back-of-house access to all areas on all levels required. A separate building entrance for food service employees is desirable with staff support areas such as a locker alcove and briefing area nearby. An enclosed, air-conditioned garbage room at the dock must be provided. Portable food service carts shall be used to display specialty coffees, pastries and other light food items in prefunction areas.

Client Support Areas A variety of spaces are required to support the clients of the facility, from convention attendees to show management. These include public restrooms, telephone alcoves and a concierge service or information desk. Temporary show offices, dedicated registration storage spaces and central recording rooms will be provided for event management.

Employee Support Staff support areas should be centralized near a dedicated employee entrance and have easy access to the back-of-house service corridors. Once past the building security office, full time staff members will have access to locker areas. Uniforms will be issued to part-time food service staff from an office near the kitchen. Technical support areas include central control and storage rooms for lighting, sound and distributed television systems. Telecommunications and data support shall be located with the switch near the service entrance to the building. Engineering, electrical and maintenance shops should be located on an outside wall of the structure near the dock with easy access to the exhibition floor. This area will house carpentry shop, electrical and radio repair functions, setup and housekeeping crews and other non-technical staff who support the daily operation of the building.

LOCAL CASE STUDY: SMX CONVENTION CENTERThe SMX Convention Center is a 46,647-square meter facility ideal for international exhibitions, large-scale trade events, industry conventions, and corporate and social functions. The building, located in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, Philippines is one of the leading establishments of the Philippine MICE industry.With 4 Exhibition Halls, 5 Function Rooms, and 14 Meeting Rooms, totalling 21,000 sqm of leasable space, the Venue may accommodate a wide array of events from a group as small as 10 to a delegation of 18,000.HALLSFour purpose-built halls can accommodate a wide-range of events from trade shows to heavy machinery and equipment exhibits, from corporate celebrations to major international concerts. Its flexible layout may easily adapt to the individual requirements of each event. The halls have a total floor area of 9,130 sqm. These may be combined depending on the event requirements. With a ceiling clearance of 9 meters and floor load capacity of 250 lbs/sq. ft., the halls are ideal for multi-level booths or modules as well as heavy machinery.FUNCTION ROOMSFive fully-carpeted function rooms on the second floor offer a more plus and luxurious environment for events. These rooms can see anywhere from 200 to 8,200 guests at any given time, which makes it ideal for corporate affairs, graduation ceremonies, product launches and even large-scale social events. Its colourful LED lights, definitely add a touch of class and prestige to any function. The function rooms have a total floor area of 7,100 sqm. These may be combined depending on the event requirements. The ceiling clearance of the Function Rooms is 5.5 meters, while the floor load capacity is 100 pounds per square foot.MEETING ROOMSThe Meeting Rooms are perfect for small-scale corporate and social functions, company board meetings and training seminars. The rooms can be setup according to a functions specific needs, and when combined, they can even accommodate up to 300 attendees. SMX also has a Theater Room for gatherings that will require elevated seating. Meeting Rooms 1 to 10 are on the Second Floor, while Meeting Rooms 11 and 12 are on the North and South side of the Mezzanine, respectively.PRE FUNCTION LOBBIESGround FloorThe Ground Floor Pre-Function Lobby, which spans a total of 900 square meters, is equipped with the buildings Main Information Counter. In addition, there are two other concierge areas fronting Halls 2 and 3 that can be used as event registration areas. There are also VIP and Press Lounges, which are basically waiting areas for guests and media personalities. There is one on each side of the Ground Floor for easy access.Second FloorThe Second Floor Pre-Function Lobby, with a total floor area of 300 square meters, is in itself a good venue for special events. With floor to ceiling glass windows and a special LED lighting feature, the lobby is a beautiful setting for both corporate functions and social gatherings.

FLOOR PLANSBelow are the floor plans of Ground Level, Mezzanine and Second Level:

FOREIGN CASE STUDY: GREATER RICHMOND CONVENTION CENTER

They know that no two events are exactly alike. That is why the Greater Richmond Convention Center is designed to be as flexible as it is attractive. No matter what configuration needs your event requires, we can accommodate you perfectly.

The Grand Ballroomis a vast 30,550 square feet and divisible into three separate rooms. It seats 2,750 people theatre-style, 1,600 banquet-style, or 1,500 classroom style. Outside the ballroom, there is also a large pre-function area for meeting registrations, receptions, or other activities that may need to take place in conjunction with your event.

The Greater Richmond Convention Center houses32 meeting rooms, each equipped with state of the art electronics. In total, there is more than 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, along with a 258 fixed-seat lecture hall to accommodate your needs for a convention of any size.TheExhibit Hall Pavilionis 178,000 square feet of contiguous space, divisible into four halls. Its flexible hall configurations allow up to 1014 (10 x 10) booths and five individual show offices two in Hall A and one office in Halls B, C & D. A large concession stand in each hall, with portable carts, is available upon request.

FLOOR PLANS

PROPOSALDesign Philosophy: Design that gears towards the future and Architecture that is integrated to the Filipino cultureDesign Objectives:1. To employ an integrated approach comprised of master planning, architecture, urban design and interior design to produce whole solutions that embrace natural ecology, landscape, public art and community space as an extension of the facility.2. To design for activation of public space; stimulation of commercial activity; creation of new opportunities for community events and cultural programs; and preservation of natural ecosystems in concert with urban infrastructure.3. To be as flexible as possible, to meet the exact needs of each individual customer. The design must meet the needs of the market and enable the operator to run the building successfully for all types of event.

Design Considerations Filipino Values and Culture Site Access, Configuration and Circulation Accessibility Flexibility Aesthetics Sustainability Natural Ventilation & Lighting Safety and Security Parking AreasDesign ConceptModernizing the Native FilipinoWe need to go back to the Filipino roots. The Entertainment City must exhibit a Filipino experience of what gaming and entertainment is all about. The project intends to capture the imagination not only of Filipinos but foreign tourists as well. The plan is for national artists to be represented, for local cuisine to be available, and for Entertainment City to stand out in Asia for its uniqueness and its embrace of local culture. Therefore, appertaining these statements from the clients, the overall design and configuration of the structures must be Filipino in taste and in architectural style. The Proposed Convention Center that shall be located inside the envisioned Entertainment City shall influence design opportunities to enrich urban vitality in union with the broader social, cultural and economic dynamics of the whole city. It shall be highly functional, impose flexibility of spaces and serve the continually changing needs of convention, conference and tradeshow market. The structure shall also highlight a modernized native Filipino Architecture that will create a unique destination experience for tourists both local and foreign. It shall embody the characteristic of a luxurious, modern structure while still empowering the promotion of Filipino culture through a complex structure.FORM CONCEPTVernacular housesThe overall form of the developments inside the proposed Entertainment City is derived from the Philippine Vernacular Houses. This includes the Torogan, Kankanay, Kalinga, Isneg, Ivatan, Badjao Houses and the Bahay Kubo, modernized and mixed up all together inside the complex. Inspired with this vernacular houses, rises the different developments that shall contain all the full range features of a world class leisure complex. It shall harken us back to the roots of Filipino Architecture and introduce it to the world.

Museum (kankanay)Cultural and convention center (isneg)Sports arena (kalinga)Residential villages (bahay kubo)Theme/ amusement park (badjao)Major hotels (ivatan)Gaming facilities (torogan)

REFERENCES

http://www.bagongnayongpilipino.com/ http://www.unitedworld-usa.com/usatoday/philippines/34pagcor.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entertainment_City http://www.oceanairemanila.com/entertainment-city-manila http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaire_Resort_%26_Casino http://www.cityofdreams.com.ph/hotels http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resorts_World_Manila http://entertainmentcityphilippines.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAGCOR_Tower http://www.smxconventioncenter.com/facilities/floor-plans http://www.richmondcenter.com/planning/floor-plans-specifications/

F A R E A S T E R N U N I V E R S I T YINSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE AND FINE ARTS

RESEARCH ON THE ENTERTAINMENT CITYDESIGN 842: DESIGN FOR COMPLEX STRUCTURES

REYES, SHAIRA E.AR1142

ARCH. ANTONIO DE VERAMARCH 10, 2015