LEO C. CASISON, UAP Partner

Introduction

Leo was exposed to Art at his early age. His grandfather was a painter, an intimate friend of Fernando Amorsolo. His father was in the construction business. His career jumpstarted early when he won the design competition during his 4th year architecture studies at the University of Santo Tomas in 1981. He was later recommended by his professor to the firm, Engracio L. Marinao & Associates (ELMA). He was a working student and was able to handle several projects with ELMA. The effort and competence earned him to become later, a Junior Associate. In 1984, he joined Skidmore Owings and Merill (SOM) for seven years. While in this firm he met Medi A. Nasrabadi, a similarly young architect of SOM. In 1989, Medi eventually decided to put up a design consultancy firm and invited Leo to become also a founding director of Interior Exterior Design Consultants Inc. (IEDC). A few years past, a design firm, Pimentel Rodriguez Simbulan & Partners was formed wherein he was also a founding partner. In the much later year of 2004, he worked solely on his architectural design studio until the last quarter of the year 2006. Due to a strong clamor for revitalized design techniques and functional innovations, he decided to team up with Luis P. Santiago and put up Casison N Santiago Inc. (CNSI). In his extensive and integrated professional practice, he crossed paths with Leo P. Pariñas. It was here that Leo started collaborating on a number of projects with LPPA Design Group.

Leo’s more than 36 years of experience in designing and construction shall give a mileage in the field of architecture. His design background is diverse to include planning, interior fitouts, graphics, landscape, institutions, corporate offices, multi and single residential housing, commercial structures, hotel and other mixed-use development. His experience working with several foreign consultants and travels to the Western Hemisphere and Asian Continent have afforded him to be well versed in foreign-based design and construction methodology. He attended the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Arcasia & United Architects of the Philippines conventions seeking updates in technical information.

Education

University of Santo Tomas
College of Architecture and Fine Arts 1982

Experience

  • Asian Development Bank Headquarters: A 9-storey sprawling office in collaboration with SOM located in the heart of Ortigas Center, Pasig City
  • Ayala Life – FGU Center: A 32-storey office headquarters and condominium building located along the gateway of Ayala Avenue, Makati City
  • Citibank Tower: A 33-storey office headquarters for the bank and its subsidiaries located in the Salcedo Village Makati Business District
  • Citibank Tower: A 25-storey office located in the Eastwood City, Quezon City
  • City Garden Grand Hotel: A 32-storey hotel on a 700 square-meter lot area in Makati City
  • Discovery Primea: A 47-storey hotel designed by the legendary Japanese architect, Kenzo Tange located along the apartment ridge of the Ayala Avenue, Makati City
  • Trump Tower Manila: A 59-storry high-end residential condominium located at Century City, Makati
  • Milano Residence: A 53-storey Versace inspired concept design, a residential condominium located at Century City, Makati
  • Centuria Medical Makati: A 28-storey medical building located at Century City, Makati
  • Century City Mall: A 5-storey commercial mall located at Century City, Makati
  • Asia Century Center: A 21-storey BPO office located at BGC
  • One Roxas Triangle Tower: A 52-storey luxury condominium located within the heart of Makati Business District adjacent to Mandarin Hotel
  • Equitable Tower: A 30-storey office headquarters located in Makati City. The design is a 3 step-up massing which is resting on a podium level
  • Eton Parkview Greenbelt: A 35-storey residential condominium building, with a spectacular view of verdant Washington Sycip Park and Legazpi Park and has spacious and stylish loft units
  • Four Seasons Salcedo Tower: A 37-storey residential building located in Makati City. Each floor has only three units allowing each unit better natural light and ventilation
  • Paragon Plaza: A 43-storey mixed-use building with an imposing 30-meter high steel tower antennae. It is located in Makati City
  • Renaissance 1000: A 30-storey twin tower residential condominiums structure with an office podium from ground to seventh floor complete with amenities suited for medium-scale residential living
  • Renaissance 2000: A 30-storey step-up tower located in Pasig City, looks huge in massing but has two internal huge lightwell or courtyard to give better ventilation and natural lighting for each unit
  • Renaissance 3000: A 30-storey residential condominium situated inside Renaissance Center which is located in Pasig City
  • Bramante Piazza: An amenities podium for the Renaissance Center, Pasig City where the seven towers of residential condominium are interconnected with the huge landscaped Bramante Piazza
  • Capitol Plaza: A 34-storey residential condominium building situated in near the Quezon City Hall and Sulo Hotel
  • Sun Plaza: A 21-storey office building situated in an odd spear-shaped lot located in Mandaluyong City
  • The Podium: A 5-storey commercial retail development which will act as the podium for the Phase-1 SM – KS office tower located at San Miguel Avenue, Mandaluyong City
  • West Tower: A 22-storey residential structure situated on a major road in Makati City. The deck allows the best view of the Makati skyline and the stretch of the South Superhighway
  • Wise Center: An 11-storey office building located in Makati City and was designed with horizontal and vertical grids which gives primarily reflective glass effect to the façade
  • Amvel Mansions: An 8-storey low-rise residential condominium complex situated near the international airport in Parañaque City
  • Ayala FGU: A 20-storey office building located at the Madrigal Business Park, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
  • Wynsum Tower: A 30-storey office building located at the Ortigas Center
  • Park City Central: A mixed-use project compromising of a 12-stoery office, a 34-storey serviced apartments and a 34-storey hotel building which is located in Cebu City
  • Ayala GSIS Masterplan: A mixed-use development complex consisting of commercial, retail, hotel, office, residential and parking facilities located in Quezon City