St. La Salle Hall
| St. La Salle Hall | |
|---|---|
 |
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| General information | |
| Type | Classroom, office, chapel and convent space |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Location | De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue Malate, Manila, Philippines |
| Coordinates | 14°33′51.5″N 120°59′37.5″E / 14.564306°N 120.993750°ECoordinates: 14°33′51.5″N 120°59′37.5″E / 14.564306°N 120.993750°E |
| Named for | St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle |
| Groundbreaking | 1920 |
| Completed | 1924 |
| Renovated | 1948 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Tomás Mapúa |
St. La Salle Hall is an H-shaped four-storey structure built in neoclassical style in the Philippines. It was built from 1920 to 1924 to serve as the new campus of De La Salle College (De La Salle University) due to 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.
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 College, 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.
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