Successful Green Architect and Young CEO of the Year Awardee credits her education at FEU as one of the key building blocks of her achievement
It all starts with a dream, and then you take the steps – little or big – to turn that to reality. Find something that fuels your passion, keep working on it, and continue improving.
Sometimes, a nudge towards something else can turn out to be the best decision you’ll make. This holds true when Architect Kaydee Velasco, who grew up around his father’s work and engineering projects, decided to take up Architecture at Far Eastern University.
“It was a mix of creativity and numbers, which I both love to explore.” Said Velasco.
FEU equipped her with the knowledge and skills to help her go out of her comfort zone and strive to be the best. After years of excelling in her studies at FEU, she worked for one of the top names in the industry, Palafox Associates. She started out as an assistant designer, but through her grit, she eventually became one of the youngest associate architects at 23 years old. Her experience in the firm made it possible for her to be able to design a mall in a prestigious location in the heart of Daraga, Albay.
That was the beginning of her venture into the professional world, one that would turn out to be filled with developments built with hard work, effort, and long-term partnerships. She founded her own company, KMV Architectural Design Creations. With a premium focus on Sustainability, it has been the vision and goal of the company to incorporate Sustainability into developments to help build well-rounded communities.
“Sustainability is close to my heart since it allows me to give back to what nurtured my talent and skills. We have a responsibility to the environment, creating greener and more sustainable real estate development in terms of planning and implementation. It’s about making sure that the community benefits from the environmental goals set and creates a harmonious design that incorporates proper use of water, sunlight, ventilation, and natural resources. It’s also about cutting down on energy consumption and providing accessible development to the public.” She said. This passion helped made her become one of the 200 Berde-certified architects in the country.
From there, Velasco started other subsidiaries under the Vi Group of Companies, including KMV Asia Development Corporation, one of the top pocket developers that focuses on providing affordable, sustainable developments in key areas within and outside the Metro. The company takes pride in looking for living solutions that would benefit not just its occupants, but also contribute to economic growth. Other subsidiaries are VAPI, V Membership, VI Boutique, and Mrs. V Restobar.
“All of these would not have been possible without the help of a dynamic and driven team.” Said Velasco. “We have the same goals and the heart to get to where we need to be. We fuel each other’s desires to create, develop, and improve what’s around us.” She added.
Providing quality developments is no easy feat. It involves careful and strategic planning, development, and revenue assurance and generation. “What’s important, too, is to always stay true to your purpose. We have been blessed enough to have produced results that benefitted the community, and this only helps us more motivated to do and share more.” She said.
Velasco credits her education at Far Eastern University as one of the key building blocks of her achievement. Through the years, she learned how to prioritize and focus on her dreams and goals without sacrificing living life as to how young people should.
“I hope I inspire the younger generations to have the same grit, passion, and dedication to achieve their dreams, even if it starts out different from what you originally planned. It also helps to have an advocacy, in my case, it’s really Sustainability. Keep at it, and make sure to align your advocacy with the present. See how it will affect the now and how it will help create a better future. Solutions will always be there. It’s up to you to find them, and you know what? Sometimes they’re really simple.”
Architect Kaydee Velasco, through her work, has earned numerous citations and awards, including Young CEO of the Year by the Asia Leaders Awards and Gawad Filipino.
Photo Sources: KMV Asia FB Page