November 29, 2019 — In June 2021, the new UP Manila University Library and Learning Commons (ULLC) Building will be available. Twelve stories high, it will have an open layout design to meet the customers’ need for space while drawing them deeper into its collections. Most importantly, it will be a conducive place for encouraging collaborations in research and other academic activities.
On 26 November 2019, UP Manila officials led by Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla unveiled the project to its guests in a groundbreaking ceremony.
The new building will have a roof deck and basement. “It is very much along UP’s thrust of providing an environment that is highly conducive to learning, research, and other student pursuits,” explained Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Michael L. Tee who spearheads such projects. Aside from the hundreds of books, ebooks, audio books, and other resource materials, the new building will have a Thesis Room and Dissertation Rooms, Discussion Room, Gallery Hall, Library Information area, Administration Office, and Ground Lobby.
Chancellor Padilla, in her message, revealed more features that are customer-centered. Since the ULLC is a replacement for the old University Library and other campus libraries, it will operate for longer hours (7am-12mn), with librarians working two shifts and have an RF ID-enabled entry. It will have Thesis and Dissertation Rooms which can be booked so one can leave necessary library materials there, quiet rooms for solo or independent study, rooms for small groups equipped with TVs, and areas for bigger groups doing collaborative discussions. It will have a coffee shop which will use only local beans and free drinking water.
According to Chancellor Padilla, additional plans are the setting up of the Medicine Library at the third floor to be connected to the College of Medicine and for all of the buildings of the campus to be connected by covered bridgeways.
Costing around Php230 million (secured by the former and current UP presidents), the ULLC is the 10th stand-alone building project of the current administration since it first started in 2014. The Chancellor said that the project was shelved for a while until the colleges’ need for new/better classrooms was satisfied and the backlogged projects endorsed by the previous chancellors were finished.
Vice Chancellor Tee said some of the latter are the UP- School of Health Sciences (SHS) Palo Administrative building, UP SHS Tacloban classrooms, UP SHS Baler Administrative Building, UP SHS Koronadal campus gym and dormitory, new UPM Dormitory, and Sport Science and Wellness Center. On the line are the Medical Sciences building and the National Institutes of Health. Chancellor Padilla made special mention of her vice chancellors for the hard work they did to make the projects come true.
Dr. Elvira Zamora, UP Vice President for Development, said that, “as the UP System’s epicenter for public health education, promotion, and services, UP Manila has always been at the forefront of infrastructure development. Key to UP Manila’s fast-paced development is the leadership’s initiative and impetus to coordinate with the appropriate offices. Chancellor Padilla’s open-mindedness and inclusive approach have brought positive changes in UP Manila’s move forward with its planned activities.”
The ceremony was attended by UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, Mrs. Carmen Pascual (representing her husband, former UP Pres. Alfredo E. Pascual), UP Executive Vice President Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa, and BF Corporation General Manager Ms. Luchi Vergara.
Fedelynn Jemena | Published in UP Manila Healthscape November – December 2019
