Official page of the City Architect Department - Local Government of Quezon City
5th Floor, Civic Center D (BRO) Building, Quezon City Hall Cmpd.
The City Architect Department (CArD) started out as the Special Design Group (SDG), a consultancy team formed in 2003 under the leadership of then Quezon City Mayor and now Honorable Congressman Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr., with Ar. Virgilio “Bong” S. Regala, Jr. as its head. It was created to address the needs of the city for well-conceptualized urban projects, which were based on sound and a
cceptable architectural principles and it basically handled the design of the city’s institutional and housing projects. From ‘TOOTHPICK to ROCKETSHIP’ was Ar. Regala’s favorite way of describing the work of an architect, being the creator of living spaces and more as the prime professional of the built environment. Recognizing the vital role of the architect in the planning of a fast-growing and developing city, through Ar. Regala’s exemplary work as SDG head, QC Ordinance No. SP-2316, S-2014 was introduced and sponsored by Hon. Councilor Roderick M. Paulate. The Quezon City Architect Department was promulgated by DBM in 2015, making it the very first architect department in a local government unit in the Philippines. From the year of its creation, CArD was headed by Ar. Regala, earning him the title as the first LGU City Architect Department head until his retirement in February of 2019. He was succeeded by Ar. Lucille H. Chua who currently heads the department. Quezon City is considered one of the most competitive cities in the Philippines in terms of urbanization, with more than its fair share of government offices, educational institutions, commercial establishments, hospitals and tourism hubs including the Quezon City Hall, which is considered to be one of the largest city hall complexes in the Philippines (in terms of land area and number of structures). To date, from SDG to CArD, the office has produced designs for more than a thousand vertical government projects such as schools, offices, police outposts, housing projects and other institutional structures. It shall continue to pursue its commitment to create notable QC government projects, guided by the legacy of former President Manuel L. Quezon, by designing infrastructure that are reflective of the city’s growth: progressive, dynamic and steadfast.
