DMCI Homes' U.P. Chapel Restoration Efforts Win Top Award

DMCI Homes’ restoration project on the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, or more popularly known as the U.P. Chapel in U.P. Diliman Quezon City was adjudged as the overall winner in the 1st Philippines Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards held last Sunday, April 25, 2021.

Organized by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Philippines Chapter and the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), the Philippines Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards aims to recognize outstanding projects that inspire excellence throughout the global concrete design and construction community.

Apart from the overall award, DMCI Homes’ U.P. Chapel restoration project also bagged the top prize in the Repair & Construction Category. The awardees were honored in an online ceremony attended by the biggest players in the Philippine construction industry as well as leaders of leading engineering and architectural organizations in the country.

“It is always a great honor for us to be recognized by our esteemed peers in the industry more so for our work on one of the legacy projects of our beloved founder, Engr. David M. Consunji,” DMCI Homes President Alfredo Austria said. 

ACI Philippines Chapter President Engr. Froilan Martillano said DMCI Homes U.P. Chapel restoration project and all the other winners from the Philippine Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards will be representing the country in the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards slated later this year.

“The ACI Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards were created to honor the visions of the most creative projects in the concrete industry while providing a platform to recognize concrete innovations technology and excellence across the globe,” Martillano said in his speech during the awarding ceremony.

Completed in 1955, the U.P. Chapel was designed by national artist for architecture Leandro Locsin and structural engineer Alfredo L. Juinio and built by Engr. David M. Consunji, acknowledged as the grandfather of construction in the Philippines and the founder of the DMCI Group of Companies.

DMCI Homes began the rehabilitation of the chapel in June 2020 by facilitating the following repair works: repair of masonry cracks, de-clogging of downspouts and drains, installation of new electrical fixtures and exterior repainting on the chapel’s iconic dome and roof as well as its walls, columns, eaves, under slabs, ceilings, and railings.

The chapel’s inner dome was also repainted in February and was completed in time for the observance of Holy Week in April.

Due to its unique and timeless design, the U.P. Chapel is considered an important architectural landmark as it is the first circular chapel in the country with the altar in its center for a more personal and engaging community worship experience.

The U.P. Chapel is the first structure in the country to feature a remarkable thin-shell concrete dome, conceptualized and designed by Engr. Juinio and made possible through Engr. Consunji’s innovation in the mixing and delivery of concrete. It is also the only structure in the country to feature the works of five national artists.