‘New’ FEM Stadium recognized by Architizer A+ Award 2023’s Special Mention Nominee

The newly-rehabilitated Ferdinand E. Marcos (FEM) Memorial Stadium of Ilocos Norte was chosen as “Special Mention Nominee” of the Architizer A+ Awards 2023. 

The Architizer A+ Award is the world’s largest and most democratic architectural awards program which honors the year’s best buildings and spaces from around the globe.

According to their website, “Architizer’s Special Mention honorees are regarded as a worldwide industry leader for architecture and design. This award gives validation to superior work and well-deserved recognition to the people behind such architectural masterpiece. Among the thousands of projects that are submitted, less than 5% are chosen as Special Mention honorees. Thus, recipients of this award are considered as one of the few that truly stands out.”

With a design team headed by Architect William Ti, an internationally awarded urban planner, the motif of its exterior walls pays homage to the famous Ilokano “abel” handwoven cloth. The "binakol" or whirlwind pattern rendered in a supersized scale, is immediately identified by its uniform interconnecting geometric design.

With its current features and aesthetics, the stadium was able to catch the attention of the international awarding body Architizer A+ Award.

The rehabilitation of the FEM Memorial Stadium is part of the “Big 3” master plan for Metro Ilocos by the former Governor, and now Senator Imee R. Marcos. This is along with the renovation of the Dap-ayan Commercial Building and the Provincial Capitol Building.

The new stadium has a seating capacity of more than 12,000 and after its inauguration, will serve as Ilocos region’s largest public space. Its most notable feature is its open southern end, which includes an outdoor amphitheater and sloping lawn that leads to the Rizal Park. This enables it to function not just as a sports and events site, but also as park extension and a daily attraction for both students and citizens.

With Ilocos Norte’s thriving tourism industry, the Provincial Government also boosts the development of its sports tourism program by hosting sports events, such as the Philippine Kiteboarding Competition, Tri-Ilocos Norte Competition, and Dragonboat Festival Race.

The grand opening of FEM Memorial Stadium is expected to realize Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc’s desire to make Ilocos Norte the sports tourism capital of Northern Luzon by hosting large-scale sporting events such as national and international sports competition.