5 Filipino Practices Score at the 2023 WA100 Architecture Rankings

The top performers

London-based architectural magazine BD (Building Design) has revealed its much-anticipated World Architecture (WA)100 ranking for 2023, a rundown of the top 100 practices around the world ordered by the number of “fee-earning architects” employed. This year’s top five firms are dominated by the usual suspects: Gensler (US) retains its top rank, followed by former third placer HDR (US) who now takes the number two spot from Zhubo Design (CN) who dropped out of the list this year. Sweden’s Sweco and Japan’s Nikken Sekkei follow with the latter rising to third and the former progressing from fifth place in 2022 to fourth in 2023. 2023 newcomer AECOM, who did not place in last year’s list, is presently ranked 5^th, with 1,236 architects employed, bringing in an income fee of 380m-389m USD. The firm previously placed third in 2020’s WA100 list.

Philippine performance

The Philippines returns with a commanding presence on the list, one firm stronger than last year’s ranking, and matching 2021’s performance, thanks to the return of WTA Architecture and Design Studio (ranked 96). The firm, led by principal William T. Ti, Jr., last made it to the list in 2021 at 100^th place. Perennial top ranker Aidea, together with Visionarch and GFP Architects all made great strides in this year’s chart. Aidea rose four places from its 44^th place rank last year; Visionarch rises a whopping nine spots, sharing 63^rd place with Belgium’s Jasper Eyers Architects. GFP also makes a six-point leap to 93^rd place for this year’s list. ASYA, another Pinoy fixture on the list, descends 9 spots to 74^th rank, which it shares with Sikka Associates of India.

Here are the Pinoy-ranked practices in this year’s WA100 by order of appearance:

01

Aidea

2023 Rank: 40 2022 Rank: 44

02

Visionarch

2023 Rank: 63 2022 Rank: 72

03

ASYA

2023 Rank: 74 2022 Rank: 63

04

GFP Architects

2023 Rank: 93 2022 Rank: 99

05

WTA Architecture and Design Studio

2023 Rank: 96 2022 Rank: –

ASEAN performance

While the Philippines is the most represented ASEAN nation in this year’s list, Singaporean practice Surbana Jurong is the highest ranked, ASEAN-wise. Surbana Jurong’s 677-strong team landed them in 13^th place in 2023, a rung up from their placement in last year’s list. Other ASEAN practices that made the WA100 list include Vietnam’s Archetype Group at 61^st place and finally Plan Associates from Thailand, who finally broke through the 100 barrier at 99^th place, six places up from 105^th. •

View the complete WA100 2023 list at bdonline.co.uk/wa100-2023-the-big-list/