William Ti
Birth nameWilliam Ti Jr.
Birth placeTondo, Manila, Philippines
OccupationArchitect
Years active2007–present
Known for
  • Founder and Principal Architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio
  • Creator of the Anthology Architecture and Design Festival
Education
Notable works
Awards
  • Archdaily Building of the Year - Sports
  • WAFX Overall Award
  • Ani ng Dangal Award
Websitehttps://www.wtadesignstudio.com/

William Ti is a Filipino architect, urban planner, and advocate of social architecture. He is the founder and principal architect of WTA Architecture and Design Studio, a firm known for its human-centered and sustainable design approach.[1] Ti is also the founder of the Anthology Architecture and Design Festival, a platform that promotes architectural discourse in Southeast Asia.[2][3]

Early life and education

William Ti Jr. was born and raised in Tondo, Manila, where he developed an appreciation for the social and personal scale of urban spaces. His early exposure to city life influenced his architectural philosophy, particularly his focus on how spaces foster interaction and community engagement.[2] As a child, Ti was an avid comic book enthusiast, drawing inspiration from Spider-Man comics to sketch cityscapes and buildings. His love for reading extended to fantasy and fiction novels, fueling his imagination and deepening his interest in design. Ti earned his bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 2002. He later pursued a master's degree in urban design at the National University of Singapore (NUS), which he completed in 2012.[4]

Career

WTA Architecture and Design Studio

In 2007, William Ti founded WTA Architecture and Design Studio, a Manila-based firm specializing in urban planning, architecture, and commercial development. WTA is ranked one of Top 10 Architectural Firms in the Philippines by BCI Asia and World Architecture 100 Firms.[5][6]

The studio is known for social architecture, a philosophy that prioritizes human-centered and sustainable design solutions.[7]

In 2020, Ti expanded WTA's presence by opening an office in Shenzhen, China, aiming to establish a Philippine-based design firm as a major regional and global player.[4]

Anthology Architecture and Design Festival

In 2016, Ti launched the Anthology Architecture and Design Festival, an annual event that gathers architects, designers, and urban planners to discuss contemporary issues in architecture and urbanism. The festival has since become a premier platform for architectural discourse in Southeast Asia.[8][9]

Notable projects

  • Ferdinand E. Marcos Stadium – A 12,000 capacity stadium that pioneers an open stadium park concept.[10]
  • The Book Stop Project – A network of microlibraries that is completely free and open to the public.[11]
  • Pasig River Esplanade – A rehabilitation project of the 26 km Pasig River that runs through the middle of Metro Manila.
  • BSP Security Plant Complex – Award-winning bank office building design.[12]
  • Horizon Manila – A large-scale urban reclamation project aimed at redefining Manila's waterfront.[13]
  • Emergency Quarantine Facilities (EQF) – A rapid-response COVID-19 facility that gained international recognition.[14]

Awards and recognition

  • Archdaily Building of the Year (2025) – Ferdinand E. Marcos Stadium - Sports Category.[15]
  • Outstanding Professional of the Year Award (2023) – Awarded by the Philippine Regulation Commission - Architecture category[16]
  • Ani ng Dangal Award (2022/2023) – An annual award given by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts to honor Filipino artists and talent.[17]
  • Silver A’ Design Award (2022) – Architecture, Building, and Structure Design Category.[18]
  • B1M Construction Story of the Year (2021) – For Emergency Quarantine Facilities.[19]
  • WAFX Award (2021) – Overall Winner for the Horizon Manila project.[20]
  • Architizer A+ Award (2017) – The Bookstop Project - Jury and People's Choice Award - Institutional - Libraries.[21]

References

  1. ^ Abaya, Maria Rebecca (2022-02-13). "William Ti On the Direction of Philippine Modern Architecture for 2022". bluprint-onemega.com. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  2. ^ "William Ti Jr is the award-winning designer of the BSP Security Plant Complex Bank Office Building Design.". competition.adesignaward.com. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Awards received by William Jr Ti". competition. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  4. ^ "William T. Ti, Jr.". apea.asia. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  5. ^ shalini@bciasia.com (2024-10-15). "BCIAA Top 10 Architects in Philippines 2024". BCI Central. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  6. ^ "William Ti On Building Legacy Not Just Beautiful Architecture". WTA Design Studio. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  7. ^ "Award-winning Architectural Design Firm | Luxury Residences, Condominium Towers, Skyscrapers Philippines". www.filbuild.com. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  8. ^ "WAFX Winner_Horizon Manila by William Ti, Jr. copia | ARCHIVIBE". ARCHIVIBE architecture and design news. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  9. ^ "William Ti Jr. Profile Page". World Architecture Community. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  10. ^ "Ferdinand E. Marcos Stadium / WTA Architecture and Design Studio". ArchDaily. 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  11. ^ "Book Stop Project Intramuros | Intramuros Administration". 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  12. ^ Competition, A' Design Award &. "Bsp Security Plant Complex Bank Office Building Design by William Ti Jr". A' Design Award. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  13. ^ Tanco, Jodie (2021-05-23). "Horizon Manila changes the face of Manila, literally". CHiNOY TV 菲華電視台. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  14. ^ "WTA Design 60 Emergency Quarantine Facilities to Fight COVID-19". ArchDaily. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  15. ^ "Building of the Year 2025". Building of the Year 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  16. ^ "2023 Outstanding Professionals of the Year Awardees | Professional Regulation Commission". www.prc.gov.ph. Archived February 20, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  17. ^ Iglesia, Joy (2025-03-06). "Ani ng Dangal 2025 Awardees: PH's pride". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  18. ^ Torres, Judith (2021-12-07). "And the Winner is WTA!". Kanto - Creative Corners. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  19. ^ Ong, Catherine D. (2021-11-20). "The B1M Construction Story of the Year Awardee is from the Philippines". bluprint-onemega.com. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  20. ^ "The vision of Architect William Ti". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  21. ^ "2017 Typology Winners - Architizer A+Awards". winners.architizer.com. Retrieved 2025-03-17.