Three students in their fourth-year level from the College of Architecture were awarded a bronze prize for their innovative transportation hub design in the 2020 Architects Regional Council Asia (Arcasia) Students’ Architectural Design Competition. Competing against students from 21 other countries, the UST team won bronze on January 6, 2020.
Aiming to address Metro Manila’s transportation crisis amid the pandemic, team leader Timothy James Arambulo, and teammates Thomas Benjamin Intal, and Michelle Anne Tanieca proposed their project, “Bayanihan: The Filipino Spirit of Unity Working Together to Achieve a Common Noble Purpose.” In addition to reviving the Pasig River as a transportation hub and installing a hyperloop infrastructure conducive to biking, there are disinfection zones and non-contact ticketing systems that can reduce the risk of disease transmission while re-connecting the cities in Metro Manila. Biking bridges atop the Pasig River made of polyethylene plastic pontoons are also featured
The team was under the supervision of UST Center for Conservation of Cultural Property and Environment in the Tropics research associate Ar. Caryn Paredes-Santillan, Ph.D., and environmental planner Ar. Ruth Marie I. Equipaje, both faculty members of the College of Architecture.
Bangladesh and Indonesia tied with Philippines for bronze, while a team from Vietnam won silver, and the team from Indonesia won gold. Led by ARCASIA Committee on Architectural Education Chairman Ar. Gyanendra Singh Shekhawat, the Panel of Jurors included Ar. Nela De Zoysa, Prof. Pechladdha Pechpakdee, Ar. So Ching, Ar. Adrianta Aziz, and Ts. Idris Taib.
