Sunday, March 16, 2008 True-blue Jesuit school By Arch’t. Karl A.E.F. Cabilao, UAP
LAST year, a school’s extended construction period caused delay in the opening of classes for its students.
The large volume of traffic introduced to a quiet portion of Mandaue City created a stir among government leaders, parents and nearby residents. Yet, it all dissolved when people laid their eyes on another creative product of architecture.
The almost year-old Sacred Heart School (SHS) Jesuits reflects the Jesuit value of “community among men,” according to its architect, Omar Maxwell Espina. Being a product of the Jesuit school himself, he found it easy to integrate into the design the “good moral compass” of Jesuit education inculcated upon him during his student days.
The building mirrors the quality of Jesuit ideals: directness, clarity and transparency. The corridors give the person clear direction to the various destinations. He need not go long, circuitous routes to reach the different spaces, thanks to numerous entrance or exit ways and drop-offs for those with vehicles.
It employs the important principle of defensible space. Defensible space allows for natural surveillance linking the area’s physical characteristics and residents’ ability to see what’s happening around the immediate vicinity. Here, one can have clear views of the different points in the building. As one walks through the corridors, the distance still allows one to recognize people from the farthest point of the hallway.
Intimacy is lined up in these pathways and answers the need for belongingness in an edifice, which has been tagged as a student’s “second home.”
The architect did not rely much on monumental symbolisms but allowed the spaces to speak for themselves. The message of simplicity and clarity is as evident as the predominantly white exteriors.
The clientele called for different levels of student population: the grade school and the high school. So buildings were organized in squares with maximum consideration for noise control and future expansion. The huge lobby, which is something novel for the school building, allows large gatherings and embodies the Jesuit’s “openness” and being a “man for others.”
The building stands in a huge expanse, so there’s more room for additions. In fact, there are allotted spaces for a gymnasium and a chapel. Spaces like these contribute to the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of the students.
Reflecting the character of a building is always a welcome challenge for architects. It is among the essential components of a structure that appeals to the community.
