Written by: Amy R. Remo
It’s no doubt a bold claim, but one that certainly holds much weight.
Tomas P. Lorenzo, the president and CEO of Torre Lorenzo Development Corp. (TLDC), proudly claimed that even if he were to visit today his first development from over two decades ago, he would still take immense pride in it. He takes confidence in the fact that every project of TLDC, the country’s pioneer in premium university residences, is built with uncompromising quality, innovation, and meticulous craftsmanship.
“I’m not out to build all over the place. I want to be known for quality projects that I’m not ashamed to go back to,” Lorenzo explained in an interview with the Inquirer.
“I want to see a lifetime of good projects,” he further stressed.
Phenomenal success
Such philosophy has since guided TLDC’s expansion and phenomenal success over the last 25 years, helping cement its leadership in this segment.
From the first Torre Lorenzo building along Taft Avenue in Manila, TLDC now has 15 premium university residences and seven leisure developments (four hotels and three serviced residences) across the country. All these projects are consistently maintained to the highest standards even to this day.
According to Lorenzo, their success came from listening to the market, seeing and anticipating what people need, taking ownership of the project, and remaining consistent in their ideals. Seeing that certain things can be made better prompted Lorenzo to pioneer premium university residences in the country.
“Coming back from the US, I saw how students here were living and why they’re complaining about these buildings they’re staying in. And I said, maybe this is a market we can tap. It was, for me, something we could do that nobody else was getting into. And it just worked out because we provided what students needed—which were primarily quality and security. From there, I started to look at other things—where else is there a need? That started my 25-year quest of seeing what people need, shifting to what works and what the market wants,” Lorenzo shared.
“I also like talking to people and hearing their life stories. From there, we work on the market and we plan,” he added.
It was also because of this that Lorenzo recognized a growing demand for leisure developments and residences in the provinces from balikbayans.
This is why, over the last decade, TLDC has ventured outside Metro Manila to create innovative, high-quality projects that cater to this market. Its developments in Batangas and Davao, for example, aim to provide the same level of luxury and meticulous craftsmanship that it is known for, while embracing the unique characteristics and natural beauty of provincial locations.
Embrace and absorb
But it doesn’t stop here. It’s not enough that you simply build a project to cater to a demand.
Lorenzo also stressed the need to own the project—something he has impressively done for all of TLDC’s developments. In doing so, he ensures quality that endures and withstands time.
“When I say, own the project, it means you have to take it to heart. You cannot simply delegate it. Yes, you have a team—like in my case, I have a fantastic team—but you have to understand it for yourself and live it. Whenever I have a new project, I make sure to walk within the vicinity, observe the behavior of the people living in the area, and simulate the lifestyle of the future resident. You have to embrace and absorb everything even if it’s useless information because it might come in handy in the future,” Lorenzo said.
This, he said, is exactly what he and his daughter Monica did for an upcoming TLDC development in Sampaloc, Manila. They walked around the vicinity of their project at noon, as if simulating a student going to class at the nearby university. He even tried to smell the place, noting that much has changed from the previous years he had been in the area.
“When I go around, I see things differently. Most people, when they go down the streets, they may see that it’s dirty, it’s smelly and full of wires. I don’t see it as something negative. I see it as an opportunity to build something premium for the residents,” Lorenzo explained.
“People, I realized, do not leave the place where they work or where they grew up. So if you redevelop that place into something nice, you’ll get these people to still stay there. But again, it also takes a certain ability to see these places and to really do something nice,” he added.
TLDC’s secret
Another “secret” to TLDC’s success, according to Lorenzo, is maintenance—the reason why he can still take pride in his first project, knowing that all TLDC buildings are well maintained.
“I build, maintain and clean. This allows TLDC to ensure that the value of the buildings (appreciate). I have very good property management teams that can replicate that quality and maintenance across all our buildings. For us at TLDC, it’s all about standards, implementation, consistency, innovation,” Lorenzo explained.
For sure, TLDC’s continued focus on quality, innovation, and meticulous craftsmanship, combined with this emphasis on maintenance and property management will serve as the company’s strong foundation as it moves to expand and diversify to provide premium developments that Filipinos deserve.
“My goal is to help improve the lives of Filipinos. I want to help uplift their standards of living, and give them something of quality,” he noted.
“More than just being a top developer, I want to be known as a company that has contributed to the development of the country, and to improving the lives of Filipinos, at whatever age, whether they’re students or whether they’re balikbayans retiring. I want to make sure that we make a difference in their lives,” Lorenzo concluded.
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation.