Ateneo school to start construction of 12-storey community center

Thursday, January 19, 2012

ATENEO de Davao University (AdDU), one of the city's largest Catholic schools, gears up for the construction of its 12-storey community center, which will be the city's tallest educational tower so far.

Fr. Joel E. Tabora S.J., AdDU president, said Thursday unlike their original plan to construct a new 20-storey building, they now intend to build a separate four-storey sports center and a 12-storey community building.

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Tabora said as soon as the Society of Jesuits in Rome gives its approval to their plan, they will start the construction phase by April this year.

AdDU sets aside P865 million for the entire project which will be beneficial not only to the university students but also to the community.

"We want a project which is less spectacular but more of service," Tabora said, explaining why they pushed for the project.

Based on the original plan of the university, the center will be built on top of the four-storey sports building. But the university revised its original plan.

Tabora said the entire Jesuits society intends to expand the university's physical structure that is geared toward its vision and mission in relation to its responsibility to the community.

Presently, AdDU has already submitted its final working plan and design to the Jesuits society in Rome and they are now waiting for its approval.

On Monday, AdDU has bought the adjacent property owned by the Dacudaos adjacent to the existing main building of the university, but within the same block. The 4.3-hectare newly purchased property will add to the existing 3.5-hectare area of AdDU.

Based on the preview of the new plan of AdDu's newest project as illustrated by Tabora, the first and second floors will be the plaza, which will include study complex for students and lounges, the third to fifth floor will be allocated for faculty rooms, sixth floor as AVP development lounge, seventh floor for research area, eight floor will be set aside for services to the community, ninth floor will be dedicated for the university’s guests, 11th floor for the Jesuits community, and the 12th floor will be intended for archive area.

"We want an area where students can meet and interact with one another aside from other services to students, faculties, and to the community," Tabora added.