Benilde to open 4th campus in Manila by December

DE LA SALLE-COLLEGE of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) is targeting to open its Academic Building 4 (AB4) by December 2019.

In a statement, DLS-CSB said the 10-storey building, which will rise between Arellano and Ayala Streets in Manila, will house the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM).

“With this fourth campus, we will be able to decongest our classrooms in the different campuses. We are going to have some high-end culinary arts laboratories and specialized experimental-experiential classrooms, where can be visited to see what it means to be teaching in the future,” Brother Dennis Magbanua FSC, president of DLS-CSB, was quoted as saying.

Designed by Architect Dan Lichauco of Archion Architects, AB4 will also have a Master Chef-inspired kitchen area and the first school-based Oenology Center which will be used to study wines. It will have a Learning Resource Center, a chapel, cafeteria and a student-run bistro called Solomon Restaurant.

Aside from SHRIM, the new building will host the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPaCE), and support offices such as the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration, Office of the Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life, satellite server of the Information Technology Department, as well as the satellite office of Finance, Registrar, General Administration and Services Departments.

“For inclusion, we are making sure that all of our facilities are PWD-ready and deaf and blind-friendly.” Benhur A. Ong, vice president for Administration, said.

D.M. Consunji, Inc. was tapped to construct the academic building. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang