The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) will open next month the Peter D. Garuccho Jr. Innovation Institute (PDGii) along Pablo Ocampo street, Malate, Manila.
The four-storey building will house the college’s ‘Hub of Innovation For Inclusion (HiFi)’, and will serve as a business incubator for startups in the school.
The project is a partnership of the college with Peter D. Garrucho Jr., vice chairman of Franklin Baker company of the Philippines.
“Many have asked, what an Institute of Innovation is meant to do. I didn’t know then and I know a bit more now, and I still have a ways to go,” Garrucho explained. “Let me say that my contribution will not end with the payment of the check. I plan to continue to help with my network of experienced friends and businessmen, my many suggestions, and overall support.”
Incubating “desirable, viable, feasible” schemes
Designed by Javier Design Studios Manila, and built by Gain Construction and Development Corporation, the Institute hopes to incubates the scheme of innovations that are desirable, viable and feasible.
The facade is covered in glass louvres that reducing the need for power hungry electrical air-conditioning. The property also features solar panels which may provide for 100 percent of the lighting.
The lobby, also called the empathy hall, offers a common ground that is open to the public. It has a space for dialogue, presentations, public talks, meetings and film screenings.
The second floor dubbed the bright space, which contains the main office of HiFi and features function halls for social startups, aims to encourage collaboration. It has two huddle rooms and one conference room.
The third floor is the maker space with rooms for startups. It has a workshop area that is equipped with basic maker space tools like three-dimensional (3D) printers, and a training room to support in prototype development. There are also movable display walls which can be used for exhibits and presentations.
The roofdeck doubles as the breathing space, garden, and event hall which allows members to share relaxed conversations, reflect, synthesize ideas.
The overall motif of the building is PWD-friendly and will embody the ideals and objectives of innovation, collaboration and community improvement. It will provide accessible and affordable assembly spaces to both new and old innovators.
“To solve challenges, HiFi acknowledges that schools need to connect and collaborate with individuals and organizations from different sectors, locally and internationally,” explained HiFi director Abigail Mapua-Cabanilla. “HiFi brings together under its roof a cross-pollination of various disciplinary fields, industries, public and private organizations to partner in championing innovative solutions.”
