Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila has restored its Administration Building, the largest Art Deco ensemble in the country. The 75-year-old structure, designed by Filipino architect Pablo Antonio Sr., is one of six FEU buildings named National Cultural Treasures by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and was awarded the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Asia-Pacific Honorable Mention Heritage Award in 2005.
“We restored the wallpaper and conducted tile restoration on the ground floor. While doing this, we made sure to retain the integrity of the original design to preserve the building’s status as an important heritage site not just in FEU but also in the entire country,” said Nida B. Bulanhagui, manager of Facilities and Technical Services Civil Engineering and Architectural Design Department (FTS CEADD).
Bulanhagui described the painstaking process of restoring the marble tiles in the main building, where each tile was carefully dismantled, numbered, and handled to maintain its original arrangement and value. The tiles were cleaned to preserve their colors and designs before being reinstalled in their original positions.
The university allotted P1.2 million for the restoration project. Essential in the process was the jet grouting of the Administration Building to maintain the structural integrity of the heritage structure.
Aside from Italian sculptor Francesco Ricardo Monti’s “bas reliefs” depicting the various Philippine historical eras, the Administration Building also houses the country’s most giant Art Deco mural, Antonio Dumlao’s “Sarimanok Triptych” in crushed glass and resin, and some Fernando Amorsolo paintings, all of which carry an essential parcel of Filipino memory.
It is also the venue of the FEU Auditorium, which served as the first Cultural Center of the Philippines during the post-war years. It now serves as a venue for culture and the arts, thus enriching the students’ university experience.
Continuing the university’s legacy as a heritage site preservation and protection champion, the FTS CEADD is also expecting the restoration of the Science Building and the Architecture and Fine Arts Building this year. In 2025, Nicanor Reyes Sr. Hall is scheduled for jet grouting.
“Expect more renovations and building projects in our campus in the following years. We want to give our students state-of-the-art experience in our campus while maintaining our promise in preserving important heritage sites,” said Bulanhagui.
Aside from the restoration projects, FEU hosts symposiums on cultural preservation and innovation. FEU’s Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts recently held ArtX, “Konsepto: Innovations of Filipino Arts, Fashion and Architecture.”
The symposium featured respected architects and an owner of a design and construction firm, who are pioneers in local arts, fashion, and architecture.
“The greenest building is the one that is already built. That was a quote by Carl Elefante that captured my attention. As an architect who happens to have a passion for arts and history, restoration of heritage buildings is my way of preserving our rich culture and history,” said Gerard Lico, principal architect of ARC Lico and a professor of architecture, during the symposium,
FEU Manila offers free art appreciation tours for anyone interested in personally experiencing the richness of Filipino cultural heritage and memory on campus. These tours are available on Wednesdays by appointment. To book a slot, you may sign up at https://bit.ly/FEUCampusTours.
