NEW MARCOS STADIUM IN ILOCOS NORTE RECOGNIZED IN 2023’S ARCHITIZER A+ AWARD

May 13, 2023 Headlines

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte

The newly rehabilitated Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) Memorial Stadium of Ilocos Norte was feted “Special Mention Nominee” of the Architizer A+ Awards 2023, the world’s largest and most democratic architectural awards program which honors the year’s best buildings and spaces from
around the world. According to its website, “Architizer’s Special Mention honorees are regarded as a worldwide industry leader for architecture and design.

This award gives validation to superior work and well-deserved recognition to the people behind such architectural masterpieces. Among the thousands of projects that are submitted, less
than 5% are chosen as Special Mention honorees. Thus, recipients of this award are considered as one of the few that truly stands out.” With a design team headed by Architect William Ti, an internationally awarded urban planner, the motif of the Marcos Stadium’s exterior walls pays homage to the famous Ilokano “abel” handwoven cloth.

The “binakol” or whirlwind pattern rendered in a supersized scale, is immediately identified by its
uniform interconnecting geometric design. With its current features and aesthetics, the stadium was able to catch the attention of the international awarding body Architizer A+ Award. The rehabilitation of the FEM Memorial Stadium is part of the “Big 3” master plan for Metro Ilocos by the former Governor, and now Senator Imee R. Marcos. This is along with the renovation of the Dap-ayan Commercial Building and the Provincial Capitol Building.

The new stadium has a seating capacity of more than 12,000 and after its inauguration, will serve as Ilocos region’s largest public space. Its most notable feature is its open southern end, which
includes an outdoor amphitheater and sloping lawn that leads to Rizal Park. This enables it to function not just as a sports and events site, but also as a park extension and a daily attraction for both students and citizens. With Ilocos Norte’s thriving tourism industry, the Provincial Government also boosts the development of its sports tourism program by hosting sports events, such as the Philippine Kiteboarding Competition, Tri-Ilocos Norte Competition, and Dragonboat
Festival Race.

The grand opening of FEM Memorial Stadium is expected to realize Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc’s desire to make Ilocos Norte the sports tourism capital of Northern Luzon by hosting
large-scale sporting events such as national and international sports competition, the IN information office said.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN