Final design for Ateneo community center unveiled

By Edward C. Lactaoen
Eyes were peeled and expectations were high when Architect Christopher Ong unveiled the final design of the upcoming Ateneo Community Center and Sports Center and Assembly Hall last June 27 at the Ateneo de Davao University’s Finster Auditorium.
The center will rise on the corner of Roxas Avenue and Padre Zamora Street while the Sports Center and Assembly Hall will be located along Jacinto Street.
The two structures will be built beside each other, with the ground floors of each sharing a space in the form of an infinity pool to be placed between the lobbies of each building.
The sports center and assembly hall will house eight levels and include athletic facilities including three basketball courts and locker rooms, with a plan of expansion to include two more courts and a fitness area for dance classes and the like. A stage will also be present at the athletic area, allowing for the space to be used for school functions when necessary. The building will also house the student offices and parking lots will be on two floors with the capacity to accommodate a total of 300 cars. The lobby of the sports center and assembly hall will have space to accommodate large volumes of students for activities and the side of the structure facing Jacinto Street will have commercial spaces for rent.
The community center will possess 12 levels and will be devoted mainly to the faculty and staff of the university. A student library that can accommodate 350 students will be in the second floor of the structure but the 3rd floor up to the 6th will be allotted for the academic staff of the university. The 3rd floor up to the 5th will be faculty areas for the teaching staff and department heads and the 6th floor will house the offices of the Academic Vice-President and the Deputy Academic Vice-President of the university as well as dining areas and faculty rest areas. The 7th and 8th floors will be devoted to outreach and research, respectively. The 9th and 10th floors of the community center will be allotted for sleeping quarters of the university’s guests and the Jesuits, with the guests occupying the 9th floor and the Jesuits occupying the 10th. Solar panels will be placed on the community center’s roof deck to power the lighting of the building and ceiling fans for the ventilation of the entire building. A communications tower will also be present on the building’s roof. Another feature of the community center will be the new Chapel of the university, as the old one is set to be demolished to give way to the new structures.
The new buildings will be made mostly of steel and glass. Ong explained the recyclability and reusability of steel as one of the factors in its usage in the building, and the heavy use of glass as a safety measure as they would help stop the spread of fire in the case of an emergency.
Demolition of the buildings currently taking up the space of the proposed buildings will take place sometime next month. Ong says that he estimates the construction of the two buildings to be completed within 18 to 24 months’ time.

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