For architecture student Jessica A. Recto Jr., great ideas don’t just come from inspiration—they need the right environment to thrive.
Her thesis project, “I.Co – A Study and Coworking Complex in Bacolod City,” stems from a familiar struggle: the search for a space to think, work, rest, and connect. As a student, Jessica often found herself jumping between cafes, libraries, and fast-food chains—none quite meeting the mark. Some lacked sockets, others Wi-Fi, and most weren’t designed for hours of focused work.
“I kept thinking—what if there was a place that made working and studying feel effortless, even enjoyable?” she recalls.
This question evolved into a design: a place where comfort meets productivity, where technology meets wellness, and where people from all walks of life—students, freelancers, creatives, remote workers—could gather, grow, and get things done.
Born from Need, Built with Intention
Jessica’s idea isn’t just architectural—it’s deeply personal. She observed a growing urban need in Bacolod: the lack of affordable, accessible, and flexible coworking spaces that support both individual focus and communal collaboration.
Most existing coworking hubs cater to a niche audience—often out of reach for students and early-career professionals. And so, Jessica envisioned I.Co, a complex that works as hard as its users do.
Design for the Modern Mind
Post-pandemic realities have redefined what people need from a workspace. Jessica’s design answers this with a mix of productivity, wellness, and tech-readiness.
Key features include:
Biophilic elements such as green walls and indoor plants to ease mental fatigue
Ergonomic seating and posture-supportive desks for long hours of focus
Sleeping pods for power naps and recharge time
High-speed Wi-Fi with dedicated bandwidth per zone
Water features and open walkways to promote calm, movement, and mindfulness
Break zones and cafes for socializing and mental resets
Quiet study areas, collaboration lounges, and conference rooms for all types of users
“It’s not just about desks and Wi-Fi,” Jessica explains. “It’s about creating an environment that encourages flow—the kind of space that adapts to your rhythm.”
More Than a Building, a Campus of Connection
I.Co’s layout is intuitively walkable, guiding users through different work rhythms—deep focus, collaborative ideation, creative brainstorming, and even downtime. Essential amenities such as a bookstore, convenience store, food court, and retail pods support everyday needs, allowing users to stay longer and work better without disruption.
Every design choice, from natural lighting to sound control, was made with well-being in mind.
A New Kind of Hub for Bacolod
With I.Co, Jessica isn’t just designing a building—she’s crafting a movement. One that invites the city to reimagine learning and working as shared, flexible, and inspiring experiences.
“I.Co stands for ‘Ideas’ and ‘Coworking’, but it’s also about identity,” she says. “A space where you don’t just work—you belong. Where your ideas are seen, and your efforts flow.”
In a city where talent is abundant and ambition runs deep, Jessica Recto’s I.Co offers something Bacolod has long deserved: a space designed not just to accommodate people—but to uplift them.
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