WATCH: Senate picks design of new building

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has chosen the winner of the global conceptual design for the Senate's new home at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on accounts, announced on Monday that global architectural firm AECOM won the competition with a mere 0.36-point difference from the second choice.

Five firms—Leeser Architecture, Aidea Inc., AECOM, Henning Larsen Architects and Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects—presented their conceptual designs to the Senate panel.

The five finalists were judged using a comprehensive scoring system—technical score (40 percent), people's choice (5 percent) and executive ranking (55 percent).

"We like to extend our warmest congratulations to AECOM. There is no doubt that your conceptual design for the Senate’s permanent home best represents the honor, dignity, and legacy of this independent institution," Lacson said. — Patricia Lourdes Viray