Following its much-anticipated launch on August 14, the University acknowledged that financial and structural setbacks delayed the opening of the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology (CEAT) building.

The facility, alongside the newly renovated College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (CTHM) building, are officially named Maria Salome Llanera Hall (MSLH) and Purificacion Borromeo Hall (PBH), respectively, to advance the notion of “shared facilities.”

Why it took six years

In an interview with The HERALDO FILIPINO, Buildings and Facilities Maintenance Office (BFMO) Director Engr. Jenina Aniel revealed that cracks were discovered in the CEAT building in 2022, prompting the previous administration to suspend construction. The project initially began in 2018.

“To make sure that everything is safe […] we hired an external structural consultant not really connected with DLSU-D or any La Salle schools […] just to make sure that there’s really no bias in judgment when it comes to structural integrity of the building,” Aniel explained. She added that three independent structural engineers later certified the building as safe, allowing construction to resume in early 2024.

Aniel also identified the COVID-19 pandemic as a major factor in the delay, noting that the University prioritized employee welfare during the crisis, which led to financial constraints that extended until 2024 and further stalled the project’s completion.

She explained that repeated announcements of an “imminent opening” were postponed because of the University’s limited resources.

“I believe all of the people who work behind the scenes really tried to push na ma-open ‘yung building, it’s just that the resources and the limitations that we have in terms of financial stability of the University,” Aniel said, alluding to what was supposed to be the building’s opening in the second semester of the previous academic year.

Students, meanwhile, expressed concern over whether building plans—drafted as early as 2017—would still align with the current curriculum.

In response to these concerns, Aniel shared that the University held multiple consultations with CEAT administrators and department chairs, particularly from Architecture, to ensure the new requirements were met. However, due to time constraints, some outdated rooms were converted into general-use lecture spaces to allow for quicker turnover, with all delivered facilities adjusted to CEAT’s present needs.

While the CEAT building’s classrooms are fully functional after the soft opening, minor rectification works are still expected to take place in hallways and other interior spaces until September to October 2025.

CTHM building renovation

Similarly, the CTHM building underwent a full-scale retrofitting starting 2022, which reinforced its structure while updating its design and facilities to preserve the building’s heritage. “If we were looking at the financial overall breakdown of both options, constructing a new one would really cost us a lot, and it would also cause a lot more resources and time,” Aniel stated when asked why the University went for retrofitting rather than a rebuild.

She added that student operations were also considered in the decision. Building a new structure would have displaced CTHM students for up to two years, making renovation the more viable option.

Retrofitting and renovating the CTHM building was deemed the most practical option to ensure faster turnover and minimal disruption. 

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On financial transparency, Aniel clarified that the building was fully funded through university fees, noting that a more comprehensive budget report would have to be requested from the administration.

She added that structural certifications and reports were submitted to upper management, including the Provost and deans, to guarantee the buildings’ safety. Whether these documents will be made available to students, however, depends on the administration’s decision.

In a statement aimed towards the student body, Aniel directly addressed circulating frustrations regarding the new buildings, clarifying that the buildings’ soft opening meant minor rectification works are still ongoing.

“Naiintindihan ko ‘yung frustration na nandyan na siya, nasa harapan na namin siya [pero] hindi namin siya magamit. I want the students to know that and na we are doing our best to really deliver […] we are going to ask na lang for more patience,” Engr. Aniel concluded.