2021 is a year of reaching new milestones and setting higher standards for T1. The company, together with the whole team, has grown exponentially within the year by saying yes to bigger opportunities and reaching new heights. New members have joined, new locations have been covered, and new project completions were launched last year which made 2021 a truly monumental year for T1.
In 2021, T1 has officially rebranded as T1 Project Services – a company that offers a wider array of construction, fit-out, and contractor services for local or multinational businesses in all sectors including corporate, commercial, hospitality, and industrial.
New key members of the team have also joined in 2021. T1 welcomed Head of Design and Build Aracle Lao, Head of Pre-Construction Gabriela Merino, and Head of Industrial Projects Steve Date who have joined the team. Meanwhile, Bien Bullicer, Harold Aledia, and Dovie Ancheta were awarded promotions and were named General Manager, Head of Engineering, and Head of Construction Management, respectively.
Mapping T1 across the Philippines: Project Locations & Completions in 2021
The previous year has also been a great opportunity for T1 to expand its footprint across the country. While its headquarters is located in Metro Manila, the company has strengthened its presence in regional areas, including Cebu, Iloilo, and Siargao. Project completions and launches were also a big part of a successful year for T1, with various hospitality and commercial projects in Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna, and Bohol.
T1 would like to express our sincerest gratitude to our partners and clients who have finished the year strongly with us. In 2022, we are aiming to be even bigger and better, offering a wider range of services and serving more businesses in the Philippines to help them achieve their goals.
1. Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality
Automation is getting a jumpstart as more firms adopt and see the usefulness of Virtual Reality. This technology aids architects and construction teams in improving design and detecting errors, enabling them to correct these aspects instantaneously.
Apart from modeling, it also allows for more creativity as it enables the production of more interactive designs. VR or AR models can also allow for gesture interfacing that allows a user to control or manipulate a model through simple hand gestures or facial recognition.
2. 3D printing
3D printing is utilized for easier prefabrication offsite and onsite that presents increased labor and material cost benefits. This also significantly lessens construction wastes and is not dependent on the shifting construction workers.
In other countries, 3D printed residential neighborhoods and buildings are being built. Dubai is now home to the world’s largest 3D-printed building, just 3 years after it successfully built the largest 3D-printed office building in the country.
3. Robotics
The World Economic Forum reported that 2020 is going to be the year of robotics in the construction sector. This can massively substitute minute roles in the construction force such as bricklayers to provide better construction times and deliver improved quality of builds.
4. Sustainability
Reducing environmental impacts through sustainability has been a trend that is slowly making its way to construction. Several efforts are being made to optimize energy efficiency to drive for low carbon emissions.
More construction firms are sourcing for materials with better thermal performance and insulation. A new innovation to generate and store energy is the focus when it comes to concrete roof development. There are also firms that are moving to transform construction waste and reuse it as building materials.
5. Modular Design
Prefabricated solutions are starting to pick up some traction in the industry. As the capacity to build offsite increases, many developers are looking to create inside factories and just assemble their buildings on site.
As modular begins to prove more beneficial and efficient, the promise of faster onsite assembly is now made possible. Architects are also given more room to be creative as they strive to produce a higher quality of designs when it comes to building structures.
6. Exoskeleton
Capitalizing on superhuman strength is also the future of construction. As a sector largely dependent on manual labor, the exoskeleton technology will help normal workers do more.
BIM system allows the creation and management of information for a construction project. This maps out the project through a highly intelligent 3D model that is widely adopted by architects, engineers, and other professionals.
This helps stakeholders efficiently plan, design, construct and manage infrastructure. Other technologies such as Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality can be integrated into the system, which will make it more useful in the future.
An office fit-out can unlock many possibilities for your business. By doing so, operations can run more efficiently, employers can boost the morale of their employees, and significantly contribute to the increase of your company’s profitability.
Professional commercial fit-outs can be overwhelming for many. The process involves a lot of logistics, time, effort, and research to ensure that everything will run smoothly and will not result in wasted expenses and costs.
One way to ensure your office fit-out will run and be done smoothly is by engaging with professional commercial contractors. Here are some advantages that you can expect:
Expert Project Management
While the idea of DIY-ing an office fit-out may be exciting, the risks can outweigh the benefits most of the time. Managing individual contractors and workers can not only be tiring but also be too much to handle, especially if you are not used to being on top of similar projects.
Hiring professional fit-out contractors is like having an organizer to find the best deals and ensure that everything is right on schedule and accounted for, even when you are away. Professional fit-out contractors will take care of all the details needed to suit your preferences and make sure that you get the office space you like and need in the end.
Technical Expertise
A commercial fit-out is not similar to redecorating your room or your home. A lot of technical aspects including electricity and plumbing should also be taken into consideration. Professionals with expert industry knowledge can make sure your office design is done properly, without taking from your design ideas and company branding. Professional fit-out companies demonstrate strong technical skills and offer a wider perspective in helping you from construction to interior design.
Professional Recommendations
Taking your business’ vision and reflecting it into your workplace design and interior is only among the important considerations for a corporate fit-out. Professional fit-out contractors also prioritize your budget, time frame, and expansion plans when renovating your office space. Professionals can balance your priorities and devise the best solution for your workplace and recommend the best move to help you achieve it through space development.
Right on Schedule
One of the challenges of office fit-outs is time. Most of the time, companies who do it on their own end up not following their schedule and meet delays instead. Professional contractors ensure that everything is according to plan and is right on schedule.
Value for Money
Acquiring the help of professional contractors in doing your office fit-out will give you the best value for your investment. More than excellent service, professionals have access to trusted vendors and suppliers of high-quality materials and furniture to be used and featured in your office.
T1 Project Services is one of the leading professional contractors in the Philippines, dealing with commercial, corporate, industrial, and hospitality projects. Discover what we can do for your business today!
As a seasoned engineer in the industry, Ara is excited to lead a team of skilled architects and engineers as the new head of T1’s Design and Build department. Focusing on corporate and commercial fit outs, Ara is looking forward to working with a team of like-minded and passionate people.
Joining T1 has been a very positive experience so far for Ara. Guided by her vision and goal to complete and deliver projects through a more design driven, economical and sustainable approach, she and her team want to add value for their clients by promoting T1’s capabilities and standards.
“T1’s ‘goal of conceptualizing tailor-fitted projects to our client’s specific requirement’ is exciting and inspiring for me. I want to lead the team well and raise more awareness about the company’s standards, the expertise of each team member, and the quality of service we consistently deliver,” she expressed. “I joined T1 because I can see myself growing with great mentors guiding me, impressive team members, and a company vision that is inspiring in the industry.”
With her impressive resume, skills, and knowledge acquired through her years of delivering projects, Ara shared that her values and ideals are aligned with the company. “I always strive to find the best solutions for my clients. Having been in the construction industry for 11 years, I know the ins and outs of each stage – whether it be project management, design, quantity surveying, or construction. I know what goes into making projects a success for our clients.”
Ara shared that the knowledge and experience she has gathered through the years are what helped her relate to her teammates and bring out the best in them.
“My leadership style is focused in bringing out the strengths and adapting to the weaknesses of my team members. As a leader, I want to mentor them so that one day they too can be leaders in their field.”
“The team has given me a very warm welcome. Working with them and seeing the passion that they have for what they do tells me our team wants to “get the job done and done well!”
Discovering new frontiers is not unknown territory to Gabriela Merino. After completing her studies in Spain, she brought her architectural expertise to Southeast Asia in search of exciting projects and opportunities.
“I love traveling and I enjoy working and living in multicultural environments and facing new challenges every day,” she shared.
Gabriela made her way around the world by collecting inspiration from different cultures and creating her professional portfolio. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and already greatly experienced in high-end Hospitality, Residential, and large-scale Retail projects, Gabriela is now widening her skillset to Commercial, Corporate and Industrial requirements also.
Taking the Big Step
Gabriela later joined T1 Project Management after finding its diverse project portfolio and variety of services offered as a new learning opportunity and a challenge. She liked that the individuals she works with get to take on different roles and they all learn through their collaboration.
“I am inspired by the leadership of the company formed by a group of talented entrepreneurs that are full of motivation and knowledge,” she added when asked about the company’s leaders. While Gabriela loved their passion for always seeking new ways to develop themselves and their business, she finds greater satisfaction in the sense of belongingness from being surrounded by a supportive and encouraging team.
Pre-Construction as the bigger challenge
Now stepping into the role of being the T1 Project Management Head of Pre-Construction, she wanted to put much emphasis on its crucial role in the industry. “Pre-Construction is the time to thoroughly assess and plan to identify and mitigate risks associated with constructing a project.” Gabriela stated. “They say you finish a project the way you start it, so we want to start each and every project well.”
Programme and Budget are the two most important areas in the Pre-Construction planning stage. Gabriela noted that planning the timeline and pining down the cost of each project component should be accurately addressed for successful project delivery.
Gabriela’s overarching vision is to keep the team growing and to build on each other’s strengths. Gabriela wants to ensure that the team “reaches its full potential by providing a complete range of premium project management services and innovative solutions to our valued clients.”
This article was published on: June 2nd, 2021 Tags: banking, Client Spotlight, collaboration, digital, finance, groundbreaking, innovation, launch, partnership, project management, quantity surveying, T1, UnionBank
The UnionBank of the Philippines strengthens its position as a leader in technology and banking in the country. Inspired by their commitment to bringing excellence and honing talent, the Aboitiz-led company has successfully inaugurated The UnionBank Innovation Campus, the first in the Philippines. Designed to be the organization’s bedrock for the creation and incubation of solutions for banking, financial technology, and other industries, the one-hectare facility held its digital groundbreaking ceremony last May 26, Wednesday. “We’re excited for the campus because it’s a dream come true for the entire organization and it’s also a testament to the commitment of management and the board of directors to innovation as a major strategic thrust,” UnionBank president Edwin Bautista said during the virtual groundbreaking ceremony. “This is also consistent with the Aboitiz group’s focus on innovation as a pillar for growth moving forward,” he added. T1 was tapped to collaborate and partner with UnionBank as the official project management and quantity surveying firm. With the shared vision of pushing forward development, sustainability, and innovation, the Philippines’ leading project services company was successful in delivering excellent results in time for the groundbreaking ceremony. According to UnionBank, this innovation campus is expected to be completed by the middle or third quarter of next year. It will also operate as a hub for blockchain, artificial intelligence and other new technologies that will revolutionize the Filipino’s way of life. “Working with UnionBank was a pleasure and a boost for T1. “We are very proud to be a part of this milestone. T1 aims to collaborate with companies who stand for positive change and innovation in development in all sectors, not just construction. Working with UnionBank is inspiring,” Ivan Deinla, Senior Project Manager expressed.
Bautista added that this innovation campus is a testament and affirmation for the Filipinos who are going through a hard time because of the pandemic. He expressed that companies like UnionBank continue to invest and vet for a brighter future for the Philippines. Despite the current lockdown restrictions, Bautista said the bank was starting to build the campus for the future when it would be safe again to interact with more people in the new normal.
While every project has its unique aspects, many functions and requirements remain consistent and are made by default. Managing a project brings the need to identify which activities are to be subjected to certain standards to ensure quality work and to provide uniformity. The demand for foresight is perhaps one of the most important aspects of project management to minimize mistakes and the waste of resources.
However, there can still be a lot of circumstances where things could go wrong. While pitfalls are common in construction, there are ways and risk mitigating strategies to avoid them:
If You Can’t Explain It, The Team Won’t Understand It
A key component to a successful project is starting the project well. Though it may sound like a lot of hard work in the beginning, defining the goal of the project and being clear with the requirements reduces confusion, limits the probability of redesign, and create a launch platform around which your project team can gather. In T1, we create a Design Brief that covers all aspects of a project. This is done in collaboration with the client’s team, taking consideration their specific requirements. Having a Design Brief is a great starting point for a great working experience and a smooth sailing project management.
Get your Ducks in a Row (Perform Due Diligence)
It might surprise you to learn that many projects start well in the beginning, but only to be stalled by the discovery of land ownership issues or zoning problems, or boundary issues, or access issues. We recommend clients to invest in performing a Due Diligence per project to know the scope and limitations, as well as prepare for all the needed documents prior to construction.
Get a reputable geodetic engineer and survey correctly. Make sure you have a trusted engineer with the surveyors to ensure that they cover everything, especially the hard-to-reach areas. Measure surveys against your Title. Check your title certificate: Verify who owns the land; Are they the same entity that is conducting the project? Will this be a signatory issue later? Get a reputable topographic survey and geotechnical survey and make sure all of these are done properly. Make sure survey points tie back to a formal survey reference point and make sure future surveys use the same point of reference. In essence, the Due Diligence should verify that your project can deliver what you need it to deliver without inhibitors. In case there are, due diligence allows you the chance to take necessary measures before it’s too late.
Resource Your Project
When we think about project delivery, we often think about what can be delivered in house and what needs to done external to the organization. In our experience, we often find clients relying on the staff who are very able but perhaps don’t necessarily have the exact skill set required. This is because of various reasons; maybe they have been employed for a different purpose, or there was a mismatch when it comes to expectations of the job.
T1 recommends taking a frank look at your team and deciding whether they can fulfil roles and satisfy the requirements while also carrying out their existing duties. The cost of overburdening or misassigning your in-house team is only likely to appear somewhere around the mid-point of construction. By this time, you may be hearing about cost overruns and delays and wondering why you didn’t bring in a professional team in the first place.
Set your Budget & Program
Set your project budget early and make sure your team understands what the budget is for. Consultants design to price brackets: they know what to put in to meet the rough order of cost. Give them guidance to avoid redesigning but don’t give them all your budget. Keep a bit back for inevitable overruns.
Prepare Your Contracts
If possible, use a standard form of contract for all engagements. A supplier provided contract will be written to protect the supplier, whether that is an engineer, a contractor, or even the project manager. Try to avoid using a different form of agreement with each supplier as it will become very difficult to manage in the long run.
Make Coordination a Priority
If you aren’t using a BIM, then coordination can be a major issue. Consider how the design is released and know if the architect and engineer are releasing their design on the same day, it probably isn’t coordinated and may cause design lapses in the project.
Anyone can Start a Project but not Everyone can Finish it
It seems obvious, but finishing a project isn’t really straightforward. Start thinking about what a finished project means to you and your team. Make sure this is discussed with your team early, to ensure expectations are aligned.
Learn more about how you can manage a construction project better. Contact Lana Kier at lana.kier@kmcmaggroup.com or call us at 0917-860-6400 for a consultation.
Luz Arceo is one of T1’s most trusted project managers. She has been successfully delivering construction projects for over 23 years with various projects throughout the Philippine archipelago.
The new normal workplace is constantly evolving. This is why upgrading or revamping your office becomes pivotal in your business adapting to the changing times. Before designing a space, it is important to determine the overall goal, purpose assigned to respective areas, and the occupants’ workflow. Whether it is a renovation, relocation or downsizing, maximizing your space will help make your business operations more efficient and keep workers productive.
Here are some important considerations to remember:
Migrate to a virtual/remote workspace.
One thing this pandemic has taught us is the importance of virtual databases and digital communication platforms. Initiatives pre-pandemic on going paperless and being open to having employees working remotely greatly helped some companies in adapting to on-and-off lockdowns and office restrictions.
Converting paper files to computer file formats and uploading them all to the Cloud. Using web-based programs such as GSuite or Office 365 allow all employees ease of access to company files as well as collaborate on one file together without needing to be physically in the same space.
Maximize what you already have.
Save costs and the environment by reusing existing office furniture, material finishes that are still intact, and lighting fixtures. Reupholstering wearing accent chairs and sofas, repainting/re-application of laminate for tables, and even repurposing finishes, can maximize existing items already available in the office.
Get creative with design professionals to help think of ways to make your office look modern while using existing furniture. Having a collaborative session will definitely shell out a fresh look for the space.
Consider open concept layouts with some enclosed multi-purpose rooms.
The open office layout is the latest office design trend for its flexiblility and how easy it is to create double or multi-purpose spaces in offices in this design. The traditional cubicle has been replaced with hot desks/shared desks, personal computers exchanged for portable devices like laptops.
Going virtual eases file-sharing and transfer of information while also allowing for flexible work arrangements. This reduces the need for a designated space for every employee, and allows your business to operate no matter the circumstances.
Prioritize utilities and storage spaces.
Auxiliary spaces, such as, utility rooms, data centers/IT rooms and storage space are often overlooked and is one of the major changes needed in the office. Data centers are essentially the backbones of a workplace as they contain the most critical assets of a company Movable furniture, using operable walls to subdivide large rooms, and breakout spaces for large gatherings are becoming the norm in several newly renovated offices. Open spaces like these allow for essentially smaller offices and could also help adjust to changes in employees’ work shifts if need be.
However, it is important to be mindful of noise levels in this kind of layout as it might impede concentration and productivity. Apart from adding acoustic fixtures on high noise level areas, a hybrid model that pairs open layouts with some enclosed focus rooms and meeting rooms can make your workspace foster high performance and productivity.
An appropriately designed workplace does not happen overnight. It takes collaboration, clearly set out goals, and trusted experts that will ensure that you have a cost-effective, beautiful, and functional space to occupy.
Interested to refresh your space? Contact us Lana Kier at lana.kier@kmcmaggroup.com or call us at 0917-860-6400 for a consultation.
Katrina Sarayba is one of T1’s creative minds. As an assistant design manager, she is at the helm of creating spaces that embody the culture and identity of each client.
Susceptibility to COVID-19 transmission increases as more business and industries resume their operations after the Philippines is placed under more lenient quarantine restrictions. In a recent survey, 90% of respondents who are immunologists, infectious-disease researchers, and virologists believe that the virus will become endemic in the long run.
For the construction industry, this only rationalizes the reality of accepting -a “new normal” by enforcing key measures that will guarantee safety and limit the transmission for smoother operations.
Here is a brief rundown on important measures to be implemented:
Limiting Exposure
Observance of good hygiene plays a big role in controlling viral transmission, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The placement of proper handwashing, sanitizing, and disinfecting stations around the site is required.
Tool sharing should also be limited unless necessary. For tools and equipment that need to be shared, disinfection must be done before and after use. Cleaning and sanitation of common and shared areas should be done regularly to ensure public health safety.
Crowd management must be done efficiently to limit face-to-face interactions. This can be done by communicating remotely via mobile or radio devices. To remove further exposure while commuting or travel, providing barracks to house workers on site is seen as an effective alternative. If the space does not allow this, contractors are encouraged to provide shuttle services to the workers.
Personnel Protection
In line with standards and protocols implemented by the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases), wearing a mask is required in addition to the personal protective equipment that includes fall protection, hard hats, hearing protection, and other necessary gear.
Depending on operational need and hazard assessment, wearing a face shield is an effective layer of protection that workers can opt to wear. Signages must also be stationed around the site to remind of proper hygiene, handwashing, appropriate physical distancing, and other pertinent safety reminders.
Planning Ahead
Preparation is always key in the face of any crisis or challenge. Developing a COVID-19 Exposure plan is a proactive approach in ensuring that clients, managers, and workers are briefed and aware of their roles.
In dealing with the pandemic, having the right information can also save lives. Educating managers and workers to monitor and detect signs and symptoms of COVID-19 will stop outbreaks or a possible transmission.
It is also important to always have a Safety Officer present on the site. The number of safety officers needed at a time depends on the number of workers on the site at any given point.
Lastly, conducting regular health and safety audits on-site can help monitor possible issues and come up with solutions to resolve it. Coordination with local government units is also important as COVID-19 construction guidelines may vary depending on the location of the site.
Beyond the threats of the pandemic, the wellness and safety of workers on-site should be of utmost priority. The professional management and handling of operations will definitely help in assessing the risks and ensuring smoother conduct of projects.For excellent project management services, contact Lana Kier at lana.kier@kmcmaggroup.com or call us at (+63) 2-7971-0238.
This article was published on: February 9th, 2021 Tags: business, commercial contractor, company, contractor, office, Office fit out, office renovation, T1, workplace
Having an office fit out may be overwhelming for many, especially to those who are doing it for the first time. Business owners are often encouraged consider office fit outs as an investment in their company’s growth and success. According to a recent study, 88% of companies believe that office fit outs had a positive impact on employees. Hence, you can say that a successful office fit out can boost the productivity of your employees and improve business. While many people confuse it with renovation, office fit out refers to the process of making an interior space ready for occupation and use. As a common practice in commercial establishments and real estate, the spaces inside a building are left bare for the occupants to be able to modify it according to their needs and requirements. In essence, office fit outs involve taking an empty space and transforming it to a usable office set up depending on a company’s preference and goals. Fit out Inclusions Office fit outs usually include putting up architectural features like different kinds of partitions, window placements, door fittings, plumbing, and ventilation. In contrast to renovation which commonly focuses on the design aspect and revamping the space for aesthetics, fit outs highlight the changes and customization of the space for functionality. Generally, an office fit out takes longer than a simple renovation process. Different Types of Fit Outs: Similar with other improvement projects, there are also two types of fit outs depending on its inclusions. Category A – Functional Category A is the basic fit out and includes all the processes like electrical and mechanical installations. It also covers suspended ceilings, fire systems and alarms, lighting systems, and air conditioning systems. This produces is a basic functional
unit with some utilities such as electrical wirings and plumbing fixtures already in place. This type of fit out also covers internal surface finishes, fitted lights, and blinds. Usually, a Category A fit out will involve installing features such as: Electrical and Data Raised access floors HVAC systems Fire protection systems Toilets Category B – Aesthetic Category B covers the final changes and the modifications to help an office transform into a company’s preferred look and design. This type of fit out involves installing features and other systems that were not covered in Category A fit out. Essentially, Category B fit outs cover the aesthetic design fit out phase where the space is made to be more specific to the business’ branding and style. This phase may involve window treatment, adding furniture, installing the lighting, adding some flooring, partitioning, painting, and branding. Category B fit out highlights the individuality and identity of businesses. Processes in this category should be derived from the company’s culture, work ethics, and team size with the goal of creating a compelling brand image. Category B fit outs also modify the space further by adding and modifying spaces into private workspaces, reception areas, common rooms, pantry, and meeting rooms. Floor finishes, door installations, and adding of furniture is also included in a category B fit out.
Turnkey Office Fit Out A turnkey office fit out sometimes also referred to as a design and build fit out is where the developer or tenant of the workspace makes sure that the current build is ready to be occupied. This involves a full and integrated line of service by a contractor to deliver a space from being bare to fully completed. A turnkey office fit out project involves the contractors from the design conceptualization to construction and finally turning over the space to the client ready for use. Some clients prefer a turnkey office fit out for them to coordinate with a single point person, making the process more concise, efficient, and smoother. This is especially appealing for clients who may not be knowledgeable about the construction process. Need assistance in your first office fit out? Contact us today and let us discuss your options. T1 is one of the leading project services providers in the Philippines. It
specializes in office, hospitality, and commercial projects that deliver nothing but excellent results. Reach out to Lana Kier at lana.kier@kmcmaggroup.com or call us at (+63) 2-7971- 0238.
