Cebu entry wins megadome design

CEBU CITY — An entry by a Cebuano architect from Guadalupe was chosen last night over four other finalists as the winning design for the proposed P250 million megadome to be built in Mandaue City.

Calm as he was named winner in ceremonies at the Cebu City Sports Club, Alexius Medalla, 39, described his entry, "Fusion Ring," as an intellectual design that not only focuses on the history of Cebu but also depicts the dynamic aspirations of Cebuanos and their spirit of never giving up until these aspirations are met.

National artist Napoleon Abueva, one of seven judges who voted unanimously to give Medalla the nod, said the compelling reason for the decision was that Medalla’s design fit the P250 million budget of the megadome.

The judges found the other designs too expensive, some even breaching the billion-peso mark. Some also had structural problems while others did not consider parking space requirements.

Medalla manages his own private designing firm, Medalla AG Architects. He earned his bachelors degree in architecture in 1987 from the University of San Carlos and placed ninth in the 1989 licensure examinations.

His winning design earns for him P12.5 million or five percent of the P250 million budget for the proposed megadome. — Freeman News Service