Manila is one of the busiest cities in the world. The jungle that Manila is, Filipinos nowadays tend to neglect its worth and heritage. Manila stood tall in par with well known countries in the past. It was considered to Paris of Asia during the American Colonial Period. It is amazing to see how it was in its heyday. Its momentum is enhanced by the surroundings. Beautiful buildings, nowadays, we just tend to look down on it. With the vast population increasing and increasing, people can no longer support themselves and their families. All kinds of problems affected how we lived and treat the environment. People are too busy worrying about everything except Manila itself. Many just think of it as a grim city or just a city, for it’s not.
Inside the busy streets of Pablo Ocampo is a Mammoth structure. Completely out of place inside Manila’s residential district & Redefining Manila’s modern Skyline. Approaching the building, you would see how the pavement is shaped into something very unusual for a place like this. Back then, it was the Classical Roman federalist buildings that stood out. The Manila City Hall, Post-Office Building as well as Universities like Mapua and Lyceum. Don’t get me wrong, I love those buildings. They have created Manila’s identity from the ground up. But these buildings are merely ignored by people nowadays. Their worth is not appreciated anymore and that is quite disappointing. Soaring high among the grounds is the SDA Building, The newest addition to Ed Calama’s outstanding line of work. This building is a new extension of the De La Salle Philippines long line of campuses in Manila. Peeping through the busy Manila streets, this Modern Mid-rise building is yet to be discovered by passersby since it is situated deep into the narrow streets.
It was around Many 2010 when I first got to see the building in person. Back then, I wasn’t really appreciative of anything yet because, I knew nothing about it or Architecture. There was surely something about it at first sight that anyone who might lay eyes on it can feel. The subtlety it brings to the eyes with such complicated forms gathers attention everywhere you go around the complex. One of the most memorable experiences a structure could give is the approach itself, and this building does that perfectly. Some people may hate it as much as they can, but of course not everyone is an Architect, so not everyone can appreciate it.
One of the most noticeable part of the building is the massive cantilevered structure rising above ground with such elegance. The folding language of the steel structural elements adds such character to it that it continues almost at every part of the building. The Concrete slabs greet you on your way to the Lobby as it peels away from the pavement and creates these elegant forms on the ground. Curtain walls surround the building like garment that adds drama and sets it apart from any structures in the area. Entering the building, the Cathedral height ceiling is majestic and gives you that relaxing feeling. The Spacious lobby is unlike any other. Other schools merely include a lobby. I’ve been to many universities in Manila, and their “Lobby” was just kind of a waiting area whereas SDA’s Lobby is much more than that. Walls are Snow White and Striking red details and signs pierce through ones view. You can notice the plain concrete slab floors that are perfectly raw and refined. The Lobby is meant to be a place only for Entering, Exiting and waiting, but for CSB Students, it’s more than just that. Sometime in my freshmen year, I was in the 2nd floor when I saw someone dancing on the Lobby. Dance Majors performed a beautiful ballet number that was sort of a flash mob that everyone enjoyed. The Plainness of the place allows students to create the experience inside it. It can be a gallery if they want it to or an open stage or even a venue for concerts. It is really not enough that you go only into the Lobby; there are 14 floors of the SDA Building which the students use full time. Degree programs allow for a stunning, state of the art school with everything they need and will need inside. It is not like any other school in the Metro. Its futuristic appearance also translates into the Courses offered as well as the Students, Faculty and Facilities offered. There are a number of reasons why this school is said to be innovative and different in a good way.
The school’s Vision is about Dynamic and innovative learning. Some Courses offered can only be found in SDA like Animation, Game Design and Prototypes of much typical courses like Music Production, Technical Theater and Production Design. Somewhat the school acts as an art lovers haven for creativity and everything in the building’s interiors can be associated with the students. The SDA Building is my home from Monday to Friday for at least 5 hours a day. Staying inside is no Stressful or Tense matter. There is a certain environment that the building has that sort of gears you up for the day ahead. Each floor are an embodiment of the individual courses offered by the school. Floors are absolutely different from each other both physically and emotionally. The first 4 floors are more of the Administrative and Office spaces. Going to the 5th floor is a completely different story. It houses the Theater, Prop house and Classrooms for the Industrial Design students. The Large and open curtain walls allow light and natural air to come in. The Classrooms/Studios are well equipped with tools and Machines that students use for their Studio work. Not Only that, The SDA’s wide corridors allows students to use them as exhibition spaces if needed. The SDA Building is indeed not a typical school. There are many different things that set it apart from others. Aside from Architecture, The school also houses the most prominent Professors and teaching modules that allow for a more effective learning strategy. It is nice to encounter new teaching strategies so that students could learn and have fun at the same time.
The 6th floor is the territory of the Music Production, Dance, and Photography students. The spacious interiors allow everyone to play music wherever they want. Indeed it is multi-purpose. The Corridor may transform into a Walkway, Dance floor, Music room, Art Studio or a Photo booth whenever or wherever in the SDA Building. It’s like the room of requirement, in Harry Potter. It’s almost magic how it can actually transform into so many forms without actually transforming.
Now, we all know that Libraries are just plain boring and irrelevant nowadays. SDA’s spacious Library is not boring at all. This is where technology and bookworms meet. The huge collection of books provides students with ample sources of information with just one click form the computer. Students can also access books form their household by the use of internet. I’ve never seen such Library with up to date book titles for the student to enjoy. Design students frequently visit the library to draw and make “Plates” because of the Quiet environment. Aside from the Library, The Architecture program owns the 7th floor that has the Drafting tables for Drafting and Modelling. It’s amazing how student population have grown in the past few years. CSB Design Students are now getting attention on the local university scene. The Library Commons over students a place to study, rest and mingle. The 8th floor is also home for the Fashion Design students. One of the most talked about Courses in SDA that is unlike any other. The Fashion industry have been progressing along with the SDA’s top Fashion Icons. I even know quite a few who aren’t FD students. Indeed, Art is a huge part of an SDA students life no matter what course you are enrolled in.
Multi Media Arts has been gaining attention in the field of Arts. SDA has one of the best in the country from what I’ve seen so far. Not only MMA Students, but every student in SDA embody the creative and innovative perspective of the school. Animation & Gaming Design has territory over the 10th floor. Equipped with the most Hi-tech Mac computers and Software, The SDA 10th floor will surely be a computer junky’s heaven. The Cafeteria is housed on the 12th floor. The “Promise Land” as my Classmates would call it. There you could see a jungle of students with their own worlds. It is a place that turn dining into a creative experience as well.
So you see, Manila isn’t that bad of a jungle anyway. In the heart of it lies this Crystal. I believe this is only the start. The SDA Building as well as everything that represents it would create a ripple effect that will revolutionize Manila in a way. Who Knows? Maybe Optimus would come and transform Manila.
