St. La Salle Hall
Encyclopedia
The St La Salle Hall is an H-shaped four-storey structure built in the neoclassical
style. It faces Taft Avenue
in the district of Malate
in Manila
, Philippines
. The building, designed by Tomás Mapúa
, was built from 1920 to 1924 to serve as the new campus of De La Salle College (now De La Salle University
) due to the lack of space of the previous campus in Paco, Manila
, and to accommodate its increasing student population. It served as the grade school and high school building back when the college was still offering those levels.
Originally built as a three-storey structure, a fourth level was added in the 1990s for the residence of the De La Salle Brothers
. The ground floor houses the College of Business
. Meanwhile, the second floor of the St La Salle Hall houses the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament
, as well as the office of the De La Salle Alumni Association in the south wing.
The structure was severely damaged during the liberation of Manila
in World War II
. Numerous civilians took refuge in the building for protection. Restoration of the building after the war took two years and cost ₱
246,883 (US$5,720). Retrofitting has undergone in the building since January 2011, and is planned to be completed by 2012.
The LaSallian
, the official student newspaper
of the university, identifies it as "DLSU's most historic building." It is the only Philippine structure featured in the book 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die: The World’s Architectural Masterpieces published by Quintessence Editions Ltd.
in 2007.
, a girls' school
located about 200 meters from the new campus. The two schools, one for boys and one for girls, would allow parents to send their children to a single area. Another reason for the selection is its close location to a streetcar station of the Manila Electric Railroad And Light Company
allowing quick transport for the students.
Opposition from constructing the college at the new site came from certain American parties who had financial stakes on the properties that were supposed to be developed under the municipal planning scheme for the area. Another problem, concerning the Bronan Plan, arose regarding the site. According to the plan, Taft Avenue would be further extended, in line with identifying the roads leading from Manila
to Pasay
. If a building were built on the site, it would block the planned extension of Taft Avenue. Acisclus Michael, a La Sallian brother
, appealed directly to Governor General Francis Burton Harrison
, and expressed that a college ought to be constructed in the area. Harrison failed to get the approval of the municipal board, however. The building plan was only pushed through a year later, when the composition of the board changed. In order to get approval, the Brothers themselves took the initiative to donate a piece of the property on the other end of Taft Avenue.
registered architect
and subsequent founder of the Mapúa Institute of Technology
, won the competition against 9 other architects, and was awarded ₱5,000 (US$116).
The cornerstone was laid by Manila Archbishop Michael J. O'Doherty
on March 19, 1920. On the same day, the Paco site was sold under the condition that the school be allowed to continue operation for 18 months before completely moving to the Taft campus. An amount of ₱260,000 (US$6,020) was spent for the first phase of the construction that took half a year. Classes on the new campus formally started on October 3, 1921. On February 22, 1922, only the first floor and half of the second floor were finished while the rest of the building was still uncompleted due to exhaustion of funds. The building was finally completed on December 15, 1924. Meanwhile, the chapel was completed on November 17, 1939, and was dedicated
to St. Joseph.
. Numerous civilians took refuge in the building for protection. It was under shell fire for almost one week. Japanese forces took possession of the building, and transformed it into a headquarters. Sixteen Brothers and 25 other civilians were massacred by Japanese troops inside the school chapel on February 12, 1945.
Reconstruction of the building was made from September 1946 to December 31, 1948 at the cost of ₱246,883 (US$5,710). Permission was received from Archbishop O'Doherty on December 1946 to have the chapel re-dedicated to the Most Blessed Sacrament. The chapel was blessed
a year later.
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style. It faces Taft Avenue
Taft Avenue
Taft Avenue is a major street in Metro Manila. It crosses through two major cities of the metro: Manila and Pasay City.-Direction:Taft Avenue starts from Quirino Avenue in Pasay City, then transversing northeast to EDSA, then north to Antonio Arnaiz Avenue , Gil Puyat Avenue , Pedro Gil , and the...
in the district of Malate
Malate, Manila
Malate is an old district of the city of Manila in Metro Manila, the Philippines. The district is located at the southern end of the city of Manila, bordered by Pasay City to the south, by Manila Bay to the west, by the district of Ermita to the north and by the districts of Paco and San Andres to...
in Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The building, designed by Tomás Mapúa
Tomás Mapúa
Tomás Mapúa is a Filipino Architect. to heading his own construction company was president of the Mapúa Institute of Technology. He died on December 22, 1965. Misericordia Street in Sta...
, was built from 1920 to 1924 to serve as the new campus of De La Salle College (now De La Salle University
De La Salle University
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
) due to the lack of space of the previous campus in Paco, Manila
Paco, Manila
Paco, is a district of Manila, Philippines. It is located south of Pasig River, and San Miguel, west of Santa Ana, southwest of Pandacan, north of Malate, northwest of San Andres, and east of Ermita. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 64,184 people in 13,438 households...
, and to accommodate its increasing student population. It served as the grade school and high school building back when the college was still offering those levels.
Originally built as a three-storey structure, a fourth level was added in the 1990s for the residence of the De La Salle Brothers
De La Salle Brothers in the Philippines
The De La Salle Brothers - Philippine District is part of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the largest congregation of Roman Catholic religious Brothers who are exclusively dedicated to education...
. The ground floor houses the College of Business
De La Salle University College of Business
The College of Business is one of eight undergraduate and graduate schools of De La Salle University . It was established in 1920 as the College of Commerce, when the University began offering a two-year commercial course...
. Meanwhile, the second floor of the St La Salle Hall houses the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament
Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament
The Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament is the main and largest chapel of De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines. It is located on a second floor of the south-most wing of the St. La Salle Hall, the oldest building of the university. The chapel was designed in art deco style by the St...
, as well as the office of the De La Salle Alumni Association in the south wing.
The structure was severely damaged during the liberation of Manila
Battle for the Liberation of Manila
The Battle of Manila, also known as the Liberation of Manila, fought from 3 February to 3 March 1945 by American, Filipino and Japanese forces, was part of the 1945 Philippine campaign...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Numerous civilians took refuge in the building for protection. Restoration of the building after the war took two years and cost ₱
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
246,883 (US$5,720). Retrofitting has undergone in the building since January 2011, and is planned to be completed by 2012.
The LaSallian
The LaSallian
The LaSallian is the official student publication of De La Salle University, under the Student Publications Office. It is the university's English-language newspaper, composed of the University , Menagerie , Sports, Art & Graphics, and Photo sections. It is released every 1st week of every month...
, the official student newspaper
Student newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
of the university, identifies it as "DLSU's most historic building." It is the only Philippine structure featured in the book 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die: The World’s Architectural Masterpieces published by Quintessence Editions Ltd.
Quintessence Editions Ltd.
Quintessence Editions Ltd. is a publishing company based in London which is the originator of the "1001 Before You Die" series. Typically, the titles in this series are intended as reference books. They are illustrated books authored by multiple contributors...
in 2007.
Selection of the site
Due to the lack of space in the campus at Paco, the transfer of De La Salle College to Taft Avenue was decided. The new 30,300-sq m site in Malate, worth ₱55,500 (US$1,270), was acquired through a ₱45,500-loan (US$1,050). The estimated cost of the construction of building in the site was ₱200,000 (US$46,400). The reason for the selection of the site was the close proximity of St. Scholastica's CollegeSt. Scholastica's College
St. Scholastica's College, Manila is a Catholic institution for women established in 1906 and managed by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. It is located in 3.66 hectare lot in Malate in the city of Manila. It is bounded by Estrada Street on the north, P...
, a girls' school
Girls' School
Girls' School is a single by Wings released in 1977.Written and produced by McCartney, it is the other side of the double A-side with "Mull of Kintyre" and was the band's sole UK number one, spending nine weeks at the top in December 1977 and January 1978. The song was in complete contrast to the...
located about 200 meters from the new campus. The two schools, one for boys and one for girls, would allow parents to send their children to a single area. Another reason for the selection is its close location to a streetcar station of the Manila Electric Railroad And Light Company
Meralco
The Manila Electric Company , also known as MERALCO or Meralco, is the Philippines' largest distributor of electrical power.The word MERALCO, is an acronym for Manila Electric Railroad And Light COmpany, which was the company's original name from 1903 to 1919.MERALCO is the Metro Manila's only...
allowing quick transport for the students.
Opposition from constructing the college at the new site came from certain American parties who had financial stakes on the properties that were supposed to be developed under the municipal planning scheme for the area. Another problem, concerning the Bronan Plan, arose regarding the site. According to the plan, Taft Avenue would be further extended, in line with identifying the roads leading from Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to Pasay
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
. If a building were built on the site, it would block the planned extension of Taft Avenue. Acisclus Michael, a La Sallian brother
Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic religious teaching congregation, founded in France by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle and now based in Rome...
, appealed directly to Governor General Francis Burton Harrison
Francis Burton Harrison
Francis Burton Harrison was an American statesman who served in the United States House of Representatives and appointed Governor-General of the Philippines by President of the United States Woodrow Wilson...
, and expressed that a college ought to be constructed in the area. Harrison failed to get the approval of the municipal board, however. The building plan was only pushed through a year later, when the composition of the board changed. In order to get approval, the Brothers themselves took the initiative to donate a piece of the property on the other end of Taft Avenue.
Construction
A competition was held to determine the design of the building. Tomás Mapúa, the first FilipinoFilipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
registered architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and subsequent founder of the Mapúa Institute of Technology
Mapúa Institute of Technology
Mapúa Institute of Technology is a private, non-sectarian, Filipino tertiary institute located in Intramuros, Manila and in Makati....
, won the competition against 9 other architects, and was awarded ₱5,000 (US$116).
Michael J. O'Doherty
Monsignor Michael J. O'Doherty was Archbishop of Manila from 6 Sep 1916 until his death.He was born in Charlestown, County Mayo and educated at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, the Royal College of Science, Dublin and the Irish College, Salamanca.He was Professor of Classics at Maynooth, and later...
on March 19, 1920. On the same day, the Paco site was sold under the condition that the school be allowed to continue operation for 18 months before completely moving to the Taft campus. An amount of ₱260,000 (US$6,020) was spent for the first phase of the construction that took half a year. Classes on the new campus formally started on October 3, 1921. On February 22, 1922, only the first floor and half of the second floor were finished while the rest of the building was still uncompleted due to exhaustion of funds. The building was finally completed on December 15, 1924. Meanwhile, the chapel was completed on November 17, 1939, and was dedicated
Dedication
Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church or other sacred building. It also refers to the inscription of books or other artifacts when these are specifically addressed or presented to a particular person. This practice, which once was used to gain the patronage and support of...
to St. Joseph.
World War II
The building sustained heavy damages during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Numerous civilians took refuge in the building for protection. It was under shell fire for almost one week. Japanese forces took possession of the building, and transformed it into a headquarters. Sixteen Brothers and 25 other civilians were massacred by Japanese troops inside the school chapel on February 12, 1945.
Reconstruction of the building was made from September 1946 to December 31, 1948 at the cost of ₱246,883 (US$5,710). Permission was received from Archbishop O'Doherty on December 1946 to have the chapel re-dedicated to the Most Blessed Sacrament. The chapel was blessed
Blessing
A blessing, is the infusion of something with holiness, spiritual redemption, divine will, or one's hope or approval.- Etymology and Germanic paganism :...
a year later.