My Serendra at Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig near Makati ** UNOFFICIAL TEST SITE

One Serendra, one of Ayala Land’s most anticipated developments under its high-end business unit Ayala Land Premier (ALP), held its ceremonial top-off last Jan. 17, 2006, marking the completion of the first phase of the development, which is a sprawling garden residential condominium in Bonifacio Global City.

ALP celebrated the occasion with Ayala Land’s various heads in attendance, along with representatives of ALP’s partners, members of its technical project team and other invited guests such as Taguig vice mayor lawyer George Elias.

The top-off rites mark the completion of One Serendra Section A’s structural and concrete works, effectively signaling the project’s halfway completion. From here, Ayala Land Premier will concentrate on the finishing and electromechanical works in time for the section’s scheduled turnover in the first quarter of 2007.

ALI’s assistant vice president for Ayala Land Premier Residential Buildings Kate Ilagan considers the top-off an important milestone as it assures Ayala Land Premier clients that they are on schedule and will be able to meet their turnover deadline. “It’s very important for us to deliver what we promised our buyers, both in terms of schedule and quality. Prompt delivery is one of the legacies of Ayala Land,” she says.

Representatives of One Serendra’s architects, L.V. Locsin Partners and BF & Partners, were also on hand to commend the significance of the event. “We consider this top-off an accomplishment. Mixing medium-rise condominiums with a lush garden background is a very innovative design idea from Ayala Land, and getting this far is certainly a milestone,” enthuses architect Ted Narciso, partner-in-charge of Design from GF & partners. “Serendra is using a trendsetting approach to condominium design and we’re very proud to be part of it.”

During the event, Ayala Land Premier also formally recognized its partners for achieving two million safe man-hours on the construction site last Dec. 27, 2005. Project manager Design Coordinates, Inc. and contractor EEI Corporation each received commendations noting the high standards of safety for their workers.

“We consider this very important because it means that no mishaps occurred or that none of our workers got hurt,” says EEI President Robert Castillo. “We care about our people and we make sure that they’re safe.” He likewise expressed satisfaction that One Serendra is now nearing completion.

Ilagan shared that subsequent ceremonies for the project will include top-offs for other phases of One Serendra, as well as official turnover rites in 2007. Around this time next year, unit owners will be invited over to check their units – or to “punch list,” in the industry terms of the construction business – before they move into their new homes.

One Serendra is Ayala Land Premier’s development in Serendra, a distinctive, sprawling garden condominium complex spanning all of 12 hectares located at Bonifacio Global City, the Philippines’ newest center of culture and trade.