Brass high-relief mural by Dundao in the theatre lounge. Lounge decor by Mrs. Zaragoza
wall-to-wall carpeting and sculptural this requirement with the provision of artwork. The Lighthouse level is parti a theatre in which the staff and the cularly lavish and is floored in 2in. general public could also enjoy music thick solid timber table tops.
and the performing arts.
Theatre
A special 'supervisory data control' office maintains the piped-in music, lighting and air conditioning systems. Air conditioning is supplied by two Carrier centrifugal hermetic units, each rated at 1,051.6 tons, or an aggregate capacity of 2,031.2 tons the biggest in the Philippines. Power is supplied to the building through two 2,500-KVA transformers, interconnected for maxi- mum reliability.
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It was foreseen that the Lopez Building would become a centre for international conferences and the Meralco management decided to meet
a
The elegant Meralco Theatre separate structure connected to the main building by a bridge-passage has seating for 1,080. It is equipped with floodlighting, dimmer control and associated equipment, a five-lan- guage simultaneous translator system and a closed TV circuit. The whole theatre interior is provided with a net. work of sound transducers, producing a perspecta-stereophonic effect with- out exaggerating sound from live
sources.
Access to the theatre is through an impressive, glass-ceilinged cocktail lounge taking up the whole of the area below the theatre. The lounge, featur-
ing hand-carved timber columns, stained glass panels and pea gravel floor, was designed by Mrs. Zaragoza. It contains a magnificent Dundao wall-length mural of the Harvest Fes- tival in brass set against black glass.
There are also six service entrances
at the sides and a side-walk passenger/ freight elevator for the use of the stage and the kitchen of the employees cafe- teria in the basement. All electrical, electronic and mechanical devices are controlled from a central control room at the rear and some may be simul- taneously manipulated on the stage.
The theatre is of the stadium-type with balcony, loge and orchestra form- ing one sweeping arc, and the architect has achieved excellent acoustics by de- signing the ceiling in an elongated half- pylon, saw-toothed shape of medium
Cafeteria in basement beneath the theatre
Far East BUILDER, December 1969
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