By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY – Megaworld Corp. has completed its state-of-the-art office tower, the first development within its 34-hectare Upper East township.
Ric Rubrico, head of leasing for VisMin at Megaworld Premier Offices, and Harold Geronimo, vice president and head of PR and media affairs, led local media and vloggers on a tour of the new facility on Monday.
No. 1 Upper East Avenue offers 8,740 square meters of office space across four stories. Its design is inspired by Silicon Valley’s campus-style buildings, similar to those in Megaworld’s McKinley Hill and McKinley West townships in Taguig City.
The tower was recently recognized with a Best Office Architectural Design (Highly Commended) award at the 12th Philippines Property Awards by PropertyGuru.
It is Bacolod City’s first office building registered for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
The building features energy-efficient technologies, including LED lighting, dual-flush toilets, and double-glazed windows for heat insulation and natural lighting. It also has a 24/7 100% backup generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Amenities include four elevators, expansive comfort rooms with showers, and a landscaped roof deck with views of the township and nearby mountains.
Security is enhanced with round-the-clock personnel, 24/7 CCTV cameras, metal detectors at entrances, ID-activated swing barriers, and biometric door locks.
No. 1 Upper East Avenue offers over 100 parking spaces on the basement and ground levels, equipped with painted markings and advanced traffic light systems for added safety.
The ground floor will feature a lobby and spaces for a recruitment center, cafes, restaurants, convenience stores, and shops facing a wide plaza.
Three companies are set to move in: a New York-based BPO solutions provider, one of the Philippines’ largest insurance and investment firms, and a leading local distributor of wellness products. This development is expected to create nearly 5,000 jobs for locals.
“We’re excited to introduce No. 1 Upper East Avenue, a landmark that reflects our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” said Roland Tiongson, first vice president and head of Megaworld Premier Offices.
“This is the first of two modern office towers planned for The Upper East township. Megaworld is investing PHP 1.2 billion in these state-of-the-art buildings, which are packed with first-in-Bacolod features and amenities. As we work toward LEED certification, this green building exemplifies our commitment to creating eco-friendly workspaces that will elevate Bacolod’s business landscape,” Tiongson added.
Located along the six-lane Upper East Avenue, No. 1 Upper East Avenue and the upcoming No. 5 Upper East Avenue flank the township’s central park and face the future Upper East Mall and The Kingsford.
The building is within walking distance of McDonald’s Upper East, known as the most beautiful McDonald’s in the Philippines, and the country’s largest Landers Superstore. It is also situated across the Upper East House, Megaworld’s iconic township information center and showroom.
Megaworld is the largest office developer and landlord in the Philippines, with over 80 office towers encompassing more than 1.5 million square meters of office space. The company’s developments house major multinational firms such as JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, Wells Fargo, and FactSet.
Megaworld currently serves over 200 multinational clients across various locations, including McKinley Hill, McKinley West, and Uptown Bonifacio in Taguig City; Eastwood City in Quezon City; Southwoods City in Biñan, Laguna; Iloilo Business Park; The Mactan Newtown in Cebu; and Davao Park District.
The company is expanding its office leasing portfolio in Pampanga, Cavite, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao.
