ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 8

Case study

UNIVERSITY OF STO. THOMAS HOSPITAL PROFILE:

MEDICAL PHILOSOPHY:

Where the patient is human and the service is humane

DESCRIPTION:

The UST Hospital, a premier medical facility, is a non-stock, non-profit hospital. Its primary
mission is to provide the best quality healthcare possible, especially to the less fortunate
brothers and sisters.

The UST Hospital trains young men and women in the medical arts and science, through clinical
exposure and research, and ultimately molds them towards the professional care of patients,
with compassion and love.

The Hospital currently maintains 460 dedicated beds for charity or clinical patients. These are
financially sustained by just 352 private patient beds, of which the resulting revenues support
and delimit the extent of charity to the sick and poor in the clinical or charity beds.

LOCATION:

A.H. Lacson Avenue, Sampaloc, Manila, NCR, Philippines

HOSPITAL TYPE:

Private, charity, teaching

CAPACITY:

352 private patient beds

460 charity or clinical beds

Location of UST Hospital

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HISTORY

The San Juan de Dios Hospital, the precursor of the USTH, was founded in 1577 by a Franciscan
lay brother, Fray Juan Clemente. On October 29, 1875, his royal highness King Alfonso of Spain
decreed that the three-centuries-old hospital, located in Intramuros, become the clinical
training institution for medical students of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the
University of Santo Tomas, which was then located at Intramuros. On March 23, 1887, Dean
Mariano Marti, M.D., established residency and externship programs at the San Juan de Dios
Hospital.

World War I and II became a major turning point for the San Juan de Dios Hospital. During the
Japanese occupation, the Quezon Institute was transferred to the San Juan de Dios Hospital. St.
Paul's Hospital, located in the Walled City, was later ceded to UST for its clinical training for the
duration of the war. It was the first time that the university operated a hospital of its own.

The official history of the current University of Santo

Tomas Hospital is traced to the formal opening of its
charity unit on February 15, 1945, in a building which
stood at the rear of the Main Building. The building
house classrooms for the medical school and became
the site of the first charity hospital. When the medical
school later transferred to its current location, the
building became the UST High School until it was razed
to the ground by a fire in 1975.

Today, sixty years from when it first opened its doors

with a goal of service, the vision and mission of the
University of Santo Tomas Hospital have become more
formidable than ever.
UST Hospital during American Colonial Era; 1945

With a staff of over 500 consultants of various specialties and subspecialties, residency and
fellowship programs at par with its Asian counterparts, visiting professor staff from
distinguished institutions worldwide, and medical graduates that constantly top the licensure
examinations for physicians, nursing, medical technology, and pharmacy, the horizon that
stretches out before the USTH with promise and challenge.
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ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER AND STYLE

UST Hospital conserved rear faade constituted by Renaissance style Modern UST Hospital front facade

The building is highly inspired by Renaissance Architecture and Modern Design. The buildings rear
faade has detailed corbels, canopy and porches. It is also adorned by detailed sculptural elements
inspired in the Renaissance Period. The front faade of the hospital has more modern approach. The
modern look of large glass windows are mixed with minimal renaissance details.

The basis for the implementation of Renaissance style is to preserve the architecture of the University
because UST is a well-known landmark and institution not only in the Philippines but in the world,

UNIQUENESS OF THE PROJECT/DISTINCT FEATURES:

Aside from the collective aura granted by the structure, the planning and site development are essential
features of the Benavides Cancer Institute. The position of the structure, albeit its massive presence,
gave a fresh approach and development to the then-constricting drop-off points and access ways of the
existing hospital. There was a sudden surge of elegance and space to the whole area, granting a sense of
warmth and compassion to the users.

The canopy added grandeur to the entrance coinciding with a fountain featuring a modern twist of
sculptural art. This low spout water feature made of green slate stones symbolizes the life and vigor.

The column capital and base of the main building were employed as unifying design elements. The glass
fenestrations were incorporated in order to give the architectural period without being tied up to the
history. The interior colors projected a lively ambience.

The BCI addition truly revitalized the hospital faade and connecting its design character to that of the
university. Thus, maintaining the USTs historical significance and architectural integrity.
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Architect YOLANDA DAVID-REYES

Architect and Environmental Planner YOLANDA DAVID

REYES specializes in architectural design and facility planning.
She finished her Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture in
1975 and her Master of Science Degree in Architecture in 1986 at
the University Of Santo Tomas College Of Architecture and Fine
Arts and the UST Graduate School. She completed her Doctor of
Philosophy academic units at the famous School of Urban and
Regional Planning of the University of the

Reyes was the first female to hold top positions in two big
organizations of architects. She became the 14th president of the United Architects of the
Philippines in 1998, and was elected chairman of the Architects Regional Council of Asia last
year.

Reyes said she is most proud of her architectural

work in the Caleruega Retreat House in Batangas,
which earned her the United Architects of the
Philippines Design Award for Architecture in 1996
for achieving a graceful blending the of natural and
built environment, according to the citation.

What I am now, all has been influenced by my

Thomasian upbringing, Reyes said, who obtained
her degree in Architecture in 1975 and her masteral
degree in Architecture in 1986, also in the Caleruega Retreat House: Reyess most renowned work
University. She believes that Thomasian architects are way ahead of the pack because of their
values, morals, ethics, and amiability.

In recognition of her achievements, UST gave Reyes the Dangal Award in 1997 for her
exemplary service as dean of CAFA, and the first Diamond Award from the Graduate School in
1998. She also received the Outstanding Thomasian Alumna Award for Architecture in 2002.
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DESIGN PHILOSOPY

Modern, classic and natural architecture combines altogether

-Ar. Yolanda david-reyes

DESIGN CONCEPTs

The functional design of the UST Hospital was to have smooth traffic flow of patients and
medical staff as well as to attain privacy and convenience, while the challenge of the aesthetic
design was to revitalize the 90 year old faade of the existing hospital structure.

GRACEFUL DESIGNS (VITALITY + FUNCTIONALITY)

The UST Hospital continues to draw attention because of its aesthetic appeal.

Reyes has managed to successfully combine VITALITY and FUNCTIONALITY. The different
treatment rooms are walled by glass for visual transparency of physician-client activity.

Its a hospital, so we have to impress on the patient that there is full of life and activity in it,
Reyes said. I dont want it to look like a gloomy place because it can be depressing for the
patients.

The low-spout green slate fountain

that gracefully adorns the center of
the pond in front of the UST
Hospital driveway aims to illustrate
the energy of life. When you
arrive there, you want to see that
theres life, Reyes said.
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Reyes used Main Bldg. - inspired columns, adapting its capital and base to unify the
architectural details and moldings of the USTH to that of the Universitys architectural concept.
She also used cornices and dados, both decorative elements of columns of classic architecture.
We have to preserve the architecture of the University because UST is a well-known landmark
and institution not only in the Philippines but in the world, Reyes said.

She made the UST Hospital green with various

ornamental plants along the hospital exterior. Her work
on UST Hospital is supposed to serve as a catalyst in the
planned expansion of the UST whose centerpiece is the
construction of two 17-storey towers. Although
according to Thomasian architects, there is an unwritten
architectural rule that no building will be constructed
higher than the Main Bldg.s cross, USTH administrators
seek to finish it by 2009.

Architectural uniformity within the campus was also regarded in Reyes project. The classical
arches in the buildings entrance were inspired by the bows of the Fr. Miguel de Benavides
Library (formerly UST Central Library). This, alongside Reyes choice of soft hues, helped in
toning down the buildings institutional look. It also incorporates parapets or overhanging wall
portions to cover its sloping roof. It provides a Filipino feel with its stylized models of the Manila
hemp or abaca.

DESIGNING BY EXPERIENCE

Reyes said she encountered several hurdles along the way.

People discouraged me from taking Architecture believing I didnt belong in this manly
profession, Reyes said. But it was something I really wanted all my life.

A year after being appointed dean in 1991, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her
physicians recommended chemotherapy and the treatment proved to be successful. She is now
in remission for 14 years.

Reyes bout with cancer guided her in designing the UST Hospital. Planning out the cancer unit,
she was particularly concerned about room placements and transitions.

I have been a cancer survivor myself, so I know very well how a patient feels upon entering a
place where he will be treated, Reyes said. This is what I wanted to see and feel if I were the
cancer patient when I drew the plan of BCI.
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UNIVERSITY OF STO. THOMAS HOSPITAL BUILDING DETAILS

UNIVERSITY OF STO. THOMAS MAP

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LOCATION MAP
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FLOOR PLANS

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

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THIRD FLOOR PLAN

FOURTH FLOOR PLAN

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FIFTH FLOOR PLAN

REAR FAADE
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PEDIMENT DETAIL BALCONY DETAIL

ENTRANCE CANOPY DETAIL CORBEL DETAIL

UNIVERSITY OF STO. THOMAS HOSPITAL