Cathy Saldana
Cathy Saldaña is the President of PDP + Architecture - based in Manila, Philippines. She also leads a team on design outsourcing, working collaboratively with many designers globally.
A prominent female leader, she is known for Hospitality Design, Retail Mixed Use, High Rises, Industrial Facilities and is a pioneer in Sustainable Island Development. Her projects have won in International Property Awards, Asia Pacific Real Estate Awards, a finalist at the World Architecture Festival and locally at the Philippine Property Guru Awards.
She was most recently featured in 2025 in the book "100 Women Architects in Practice", the only Filipina, as published by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Most significant for her is that her company, pdp+Architecture and pdp Architects, has been named among the Top 10 Architecture Firms in the Philippines by BCI Building Construction Index Asia for the last two years.
She is an International Associate of the American Institute of Architects and sits on the International Board as 2026 President for AIA Southeast Asia, a past Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and twice the President of EAROPH East Asian Regional Organization for Planning and Human Settlements. She is a Fellow of the United Architects of the Philippines.
She recently was awarded 2025 Best Mentor among the Asia Pacific Judges for the 2025 Asia Young Designers Awards students competition in Japan. She is also on the jury for the 2026 ASDA Awards Asia Pacific and other local, design competitions. She is a popular mentor to young Architecture professionals and students, has published papers, regularly speaks in international conferences on Sustainable Island Design, and is currently involved in various learning events for the AIA Southeast Asia.
A prominent female leader, she is known for Hospitality Design, Retail Mixed Use, High Rises, Industrial Facilities and is a pioneer in Sustainable Island Development. Her projects have won in International Property Awards, Asia Pacific Real Estate Awards, a finalist at the World Architecture Festival and locally at the Philippine Property Guru Awards.
She was most recently featured in 2025 in the book "100 Women Architects in Practice", the only Filipina, as published by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Most significant for her is that her company, pdp+Architecture and pdp Architects, has been named among the Top 10 Architecture Firms in the Philippines by BCI Building Construction Index Asia for the last two years.
She is an International Associate of the American Institute of Architects and sits on the International Board as 2026 President for AIA Southeast Asia, a past Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and twice the President of EAROPH East Asian Regional Organization for Planning and Human Settlements. She is a Fellow of the United Architects of the Philippines.
She recently was awarded 2025 Best Mentor among the Asia Pacific Judges for the 2025 Asia Young Designers Awards students competition in Japan. She is also on the jury for the 2026 ASDA Awards Asia Pacific and other local, design competitions. She is a popular mentor to young Architecture professionals and students, has published papers, regularly speaks in international conferences on Sustainable Island Design, and is currently involved in various learning events for the AIA Southeast Asia.