The Lopez-led developer has tapped internationally acclaimed architect Carlos Ott to help craft the masterplan for the 17.5-hectare estate, underscoring the importance of what has become Rockwell’s biggest acquisition to date.
Rockwell acquired the property for P21.6 billion in late 2025 and sees the former Ayala-developed estate as a major growth platform in southern Metro Manila.
“We engaged Carlos Ott, the world-renowned architect and planner that we used for the Proscenium,” Rockwell Land chair and CEO Nestor Padilla told shareholders last June 2.
The Uruguayan-Canadian architect rose to global prominence after winning the design competition for the landmark Opéra Bastille, beating hundreds of entries from around the world. In the Philippines, he is also known for designing the luxury Proscenium at Rockwell development in Makati.
Bringing back the charm
Padilla said Ott is working with local architect Jun Rodriguez on a long-term blueprint that will guide the property’s evolution over the next five to ten years.
The first phase will focus on fixing parking, traffic circulation and optimizing the tenant mix before larger redevelopment projects begin.
“But more importantly, we will bring back the old charm of the town, as the locals like to call ATC,” Padilla said.
“Over the next five to ten years, our vision is to transform the town to become a suburban lifestyle center," he added.
New chapter begins
Rockwell said signs of the transformation are already visible through changes in the mall’s retail offerings.
New tenants such as Zara, Stradivarius, Bershka and Pull&Bear have started to reshape the property’s positioning as it targets a new generation of shoppers and residents.
“ATC has long held a special place within the Alabang community, and we are approaching its next chapter with both excitement, but especially respect for what it already means to so many people,” Rockwell Land president Valerie Soliven said.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
