Torre Lorenzo Development Corp. is expanding its residential portfolio around major universities, betting on a persistent shortage of purpose-built student housing despite sustained demand from renters and property investors.
Marcial Pallera, officer-in-charge of the Brokers Network at Torre Lorenzo, said the developer is rolling out additional projects near universities after seeing strong demand for student-oriented residential developments.
“With all the developments, we saw that the universities are really in demand. We are undersupplied, actually,” Pallera told members of the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. during its general membership meeting.
Among the company’s latest projects is Vertica, a 42-storey residential development in Manila’s University Belt, placing it near several major schools, including the University of the East, Centro Escolar University, Far Eastern University, and University of Santo Tomas.
Vertica will rise on a 1,465-square-meter property and offer 721 residential units, mostly studios, catering to students while also targeting investors seeking rental income.
Torre Lorenzo has also launched Quinta, its fifth development near De La Salle University. The 42-storey project will occupy a 2,584-square-meter property and feature 1,574 units.
For the developer, the appeal is straightforward. Universities provide a large and recurring pool of potential tenants, with new batches of students entering campuses every year and creating a relatively steady rental market for nearby housing.
“We have a good market. We have a student market,” Pallera said, noting that buyers can generate rental income while holding their units as long-term property investments.
The strategy extends beyond Metro Manila. Torre Lorenzo is preparing another development in San Fernando, Pampanga, with a project briefing scheduled for September.
The company’s expansion reflects growing interest among developers in university-adjacent properties, where location remains the biggest selling point and student demand provides a dependable foundation for residential projects.
