Every feature of the building. the cafeteria, theatre, offices, ceilings, patio, flooring, walling, partitioning, promenade deck, wiring, artwork to mention a few been carefully thought out and pains- takingly executed.
carved
has
Planning started in 1953 after the acquisition of a two hectare pro- perty at the southeast corner of Isaac Peral and Florida streets formerly occupied by the U.P. High School. Building was begun in 1957 and completed in 1960. The building, excluding a central patio, covers an area of more than 12,000 square yards. The total floor area, includ- ing basement, is about 36,000 square yards. Provision has been made for the future addition of two more storeys.
EXCAVATION AND PILE DRIVING
The excavation and pile driving con- tract was awarded to A.M. Oreta & Company, one of the country's lead- ing builders, in January, 1957. Actual work on the building site was started on the last week of February, 1957, after the site had been cleared of the old school. Work on the excavation and driving of piles lasted for almost eleven months using D-8s, D-6s, turnapulls, carryalls, cranes, and other mechanised equipment. To make room for the concrete founda- tion and basement, 50,000 cubic yards. of earth was excavated.
A total of 4,024 wooden piles vary- ing in lengths from 50 teet to 95 feet, were driven. Fifty-foot piles were used to carry the one-storey portion while the seven-storey portion is car- ried by piles 75 to 95 feet long.
FOUNDATIONS
The
one-storey portion.
portion of the building is resting on isolated foot- ings tied together by cross beams. The seven-storey portion is resting on a 52-inch thick "flat slab" which also serves as the flooring of the basement. This slab is reinforced with eight- layers four layers each at the top and bottom of reinforcing steel bars with diameters ranging from seven eighths of an inch to one and a quarter inches and spaced five inches apart. A total of 760,000 lbs. of steel went into this flat slab and 6,000 cubic yards of concrete was poured.
All interior columns are veneered with solid Narra wood. Office areas, in- cluding the auditorium, have vinyl - asbestos tile flooring.
The office of the President of the Philamlife Company. All the executives have carpeted suites. Note the wood finishing and lighting system.
▲ A close up view of the auditorium's outside wall finished in mosaic tile.
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