Building sustainable communities: The future of Cities

“At SM Prime (SMPHI), we dream big for our shared future. True prosperity transcends financial success. Our commitment to developing sustainable integrated properties is matched by our efforts to foster vibrant, inclusive communities wherever we build legacy properties that weather the challenges of time and that last for generations. We are developing this living framework together with our knowledge partners. Currently the ambition is to combine our efforts and actionable items under six themes of – transport, energy, water, biodiversity, built form and materials. We believe this will be the future of cities in the Philippines and we are committed to delivering it to our future generations. ” ~Ms. Jessica Bianca Sy, Lead Executive for Design, Innovation and Strategy for SMPHI and SM Development Corporation (SMDC)

The 7th Annual Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference and Student Symposium 2024 (APRU-SCL 2024) Conference on Advancing Sustainable Cities and Communities through Science, Technology, and Innovations is hosted and organized this year by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). (L-R): Dr. Jennifer Marie S. Amparo, Dean, CHE, Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. Chancellor, UPLB, Dr. Thomas Schneider, Chief Executive, APRU, Makati Mayor Hon. Abigail Binay, Ms. Jessica Bianca Sy, SMPHI and SMDC Lead Executive for Design, Innovation and Strategy, Dr. Edgar M. Reyes, Jr., Conference Director, ICHSPD, Assoc. Professor, UPLB, and Dr. Yekang Ko, Director, APRU-SCL, Assoc. Professor, University of Oregon.  

What makes a city thrive is a combination of how developers promote movement, synergy, and prosperity. It is a combination of living life to the fullest with the community at its core. 

At the 7th Annual Conference of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities - Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference and Student Symposium 2024 (APRU-SCL 2024), Sy will be joined by a number of distinguished local and international professors, climate experts, and government officials. 

This year's three-day conference will focus on "Advancing Sustainable Cities and Communities through Science, Technology, and Innovation". 

SM Prime, one of Asia's leading integrated property developers, places a high value on sustainability and disaster resilience in all of its projects. In a climate-vulnerable country like the Philippines, disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience are top priorities, with plans to expand efforts to the city level. 

Rapid city growth raises energy demand, necessitating innovative and efficient renewable energy solutions. SM Prime has partnered with franchisees to systematically manage energy consumption and achieve net-zero emissions.

Sy explains that for future large-scale master planned developments, SM Prime is taking a systems approach to utility infrastructure, including embedding it in urban design guidelines at the precinct or plot level.

Sy takes this clear vision to heart as an essential component of the path forward. 

SM Prime remains committed to its role as an economic growth catalyst, creating innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities that improve the quality of life for millions of people. SM Prime is pursuing the next horizon in integrated property development and moving forward to build sustainable cities of the future. 

The 7th APRU-SCL 2024 is hosted and organized this year by the University of the Philippines Los Baňos, at the SMX Aura Convention Center, from August 6-8, 2024. For more information, email: hspdconf@up.edu.ph or visit the website: dcerp.che.uplb.edu.ph/ichspd.