Garrote, Leigh-ann
Gorospe, Roneleen Anjanette
12 STEM M Architecture
GERARD DECAESTECKER (GD) BUILDING
The Gerard Decaestecker (GD)
Building undergoed through
construction in the year 2012 and was
finished in the year 2013. The building
was used by the School of Humanities
of Saint Louis University back then and
currently, it is occupied by the SLUs
Senior High Department. As observed,
students find it hard to be comfortable
especially with the growing population
of students. Most of them display
complaints. Thus despite the aesthetics
of the Gerard Decaestecker building, it
still appears to be not well planned.
The location of the GD building
can be described to be not strategized
properly. Not only that the school
seems to be hidden and a bit far from
the city proper, traffic cannot be
avoided due to the huge population of
senior high school and junior high
school students who shares one road
in and out of the school premises. The
rooms also are quite dark making
people think that the interior design is
not well planned.
A STEM (future
architect) student point
of view:
The design of the
building is quite
elegant however it
seems to be dangerous.
The corridors are not
wide that all students
inside the building
would find it hard to
evacuate when an
inevitable earthquake
occurs.
Studying the other parts of the
GD Building specifically the
canteen, it is quite impractical to
have only 5 stalls because of the
large community of the Senior High
Department. Although satellite
canteens placed on each floor
lessened the problem, another
problem rose for it only narrows the
space of the building, specifically the
corridors that might cause some
problems when an earthquake
occurs.
There are some positive Contrasting to the positive
response to the Gerard comments on the building, there
Decaestecker Building. One are also negative ones. First, due
of it is the structural design of to the vast amount of students
the building whish places a and staffs, the building is not
good ambiance inside the enough to hold all of the people
rooms in different floors. inside. The noise is also
The design being symmetrical amplified given that each rooms
and like one of the big have a great number of students
libraries in England makes its and a not enough space in the
features unique. Also, the corridors for them to stay during
building looks respectable breaks. The temperature also
when viewed through the increases due to thousands of
open court. Lastly, the people occupying the GD
foundation of the building is Building.
well focused.
Judging the whole review, the RATING:
specified grievance was the space in
each floors of the GD Building. A
normal person would find it just right The
but practically, when danger comes, administration needs
everyone inside might be involved in to make
dangerous situations. Lastly, despite of improvements and
the grievances that the architect who address effectively
planned the building committed, the the problems
design is good. He only needed to mentioned since it
improve some problems especially the cannot be
spaces in order for the students and reconstructed again.
staffs to be comfortable.