ADZU inaugurates new Grade School Complex
The Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) will have the blessing and inauguration of the new Grade School Complex at the Fr. William H Kreutz SJ campus in Tumaga, Zamboanga City on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
The inauguration and blessing will be led by Fr. Antonio F. Moreno SJ, Provincial of the Society of Jesus in the Philippines and ADZU President Fr. Karel S. San Juan, SJ. Local government officials and friends of the university community are expected to grace the event.
The inauguration and blessing will begin with a ceremonial unveiling of a building marker and ribbon cutting. These will be followed by a eucharistic celebration at the Regis Multi-Purpose Hall then an inaugural program at the same venue.
The building marker states: “The Ateneo de Zamboanga University Grade School Complex was designed to be an environment conducive to the total formation of young students into men and women for others. The sprawling complex consists of a main building with three wings and two smaller buildings for the administration offices and the kindergarten school. The buildings house well-lighted and airy classrooms, a two-story library, chapel, theater, cafeteria, and other activity areas. The buildings have a total floor area of 12,972 square meters and sit on 2.9 hectares of sprawling grounds. The complex was designed following the green building concept, maximizing the utilization of sun, wind, and other natural resources”.
The transfer of the Grade School to the new campus is a milestone for the entire school community. University President Fr. Karel San Juan, in his memo dated June 10, 2015, thanked “the men and women who have been instrumental in the realization of this dream for a better and more conducive place for our young Ateneans to grow and develop”.
The complex is composed of three interconnected buildings. The glass and concrete administration building houses the administration offices and the faculty and coordinators’ workroom; the main building, nearest to the main entrance, is where the library, chapel and multi-purpose hall and spacious cafeteria are located; three wings off this building accommodate the classrooms of grade one to grade six students. A single- storey building separated from the other facilites by a central quadrangle is where classes for pre-school and kindergarten students will be held.
Ground breaking for the complex was held July 31, 2012, an event that was part of the Centennial Celebration of the university. Construction started on August 15, 2013 and ended March 13, 2015.
The building was designed by Manila-based firm Arce Bailon Arce with AIMM Builders as contractors.
Classes will be held for the first time in the complex on June 15, 2015 when 1,241 students troop to the grade school to begin the new school year.
