Arch. Carmelo T. Casas, UAP, PIA, USGBC, CTBUH, REGISTERED ASEAN ARCHITECT

FOUNDER AND CEO

Arch. Carmelo Casas’ international career started when he joined Eric Cumine Associates in August 1978 as assistant architect where he got involved in Harbour City projects. In 1980 he moved to Palmer and Turner (HK) as Design Architect where he got involved in major landmark projects in HongKong, Singapore, and Indonesia. By 1985, he joined Architects Hawaii Far East (AHFE) as Project Architect for various hotel projects in China, such as Furama Hotel in Dalian, and the Behai Hotel in Behai, China. He became an Associate shortly after and became the youngest partner of the firm in 1987.

He co-founded Recio+Casas (HK) Ltd. in Hong Kong in October 1988. Arch. Casas was responsible for major design projects in Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China. Together with Arch. Jose Pedro Recio, they set up a branch office in the Philippines in 1990 to spearhead their involvement as Design Consultant of the Pacific Plaza project, a pioneering high-rise luxury residential development in Ayala Aveñue, Makati, having Arch. Casas as Principal Designer. In 1992, Arch. Casas established Recio+Casas Ltd. in Thailand to participate as Design Consultant for various hotel, office, and residential projects, namely the Thailand Stock Exchange Building, The First Pacific Building, Phuket Yacht Club,and the Queen’s Park Casa by Land & House.

In August 1996, after 18 years in Hong Kong, Arch. Casas decided to return to the Philippines to lead the development of Pacific Plaza Towers in Fort Bonifacio, joining forces with his partner who came back 4 years earlier. The project, completed in 2000, served as a landmark design statement for Metro Pacific Corporation, original developers of the Fort Bonifacio Global City. From then on, the firm grew as a result of a wide range of clients who sought their expertise in high rise residential and office building design as well as master planning. The firm received the Prestigious Firm of the Year Award in 1997.

After two decades of diversified architectural projects, the firm formerly known as Recio+Casas decided to recreate itself with the fresh identity that is Casas+Architects, subsequently incorporated in June 2013 to constitute Casas + Architects, Inc. The firm is a consistent awardee of BCI Asia Top 10 Architectural Firm of the Philippines from 2006 to 2014. Arch. Casas recently received the award from the Professional Regulation Commission 2015 as the Outstanding Professional of the Year.

Arch. Casas is responsible for the design of major local projects such as the Bellagio Towers, Pacific Plaza Towers, St. Francis Towers, Grand Hyatt Hotel and Residences, The Icon, The Infinity Residential Towers, Resorts World Entertainment and Commercial Complex, Eastwood Mixed use development, One Shangri-la Place Towers and Solaire Resort and Casino Hotel to name a few.