GMH to be converted as a ‘student engagement center’
The current administration building, Gregoria Montoya Hall (GMH), is set to be converted into a student engagement center “very soon” into the future, as per Office of Student Services (OSS) Dean Arch. Antonio Gutierrez Jr.
“Very soon, the administration will be leaving the building (GMH) so this will be turned over [to] the OSS and different student organizations,” Gutierrez said.
Regarding the facility plans for the engagement center, the OSS Dean said it will hold vocation engagement centers, session halls for the University Student Council, study areas, and a multipurpose hall for students.
Gutierrez also stressed the need for individual studio units for the seven Performing Arts Groups (PAG). “Basically i-ccentralize natin sila (PAG) para secured sila at mas convenient para sa kanila,” Gutierrez stated, emphasizing the need of PAG to have their own units so they no longer utilize the GMH Square for rehearsals.
Moreover, a ‘Student Center Spatial Design Committee’ initiated by OSS comprised of selected student leaders and members of the administration will spearhead the spatial design of the proposed center.
“The goal of this (Student Center Spatial Design Committee) is to help the administration in determining the different space allocations needed by the different offices [and] different organizations,” Gutierrez said.
However, he clarified that the committee is not in charge of GMH’s architecture design, but rather the spaces that organizations need.
The OSS Dean plans to have the committee’s proposal completed within the first semester. The plan will then be forwarded to the Buildings and Facilities Maintenance Office (BFMO) and put into consideration for the renovation of GMH.
*ERRATUM: The conversion of GMH into a student engagement center is not scheduled for the second semester of academic year 2018 – 2019, as mentioned in The HERALDO FILIPINO broadsheet Volume 33 Issue 1 article titled “GMH to be converted as a ‘student engagement center’ next sem”. We apologize for this oversight.
