Former offices in ACB landings transformed into discussion rooms
By Engr. Paulino Lazarte
Former office spaces on the ACB’s 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 landings are being converted into six discussion rooms, giving students and faculty dedicated spaces for collaborative learning, small-group discussions, and small classes.
Each room measures approximately 16.5 square meters and accommodates up to eight persons. The rooms are equipped with a TV monitor for presentations and the sharing of digital learning materials, glass writing surfaces for brainstorming and working through ideas, and Wi-Fi connectivity to support online research and other technology-enabled activities.
The rooms currently run on the ACB’s existing centralized air-conditioning system while the University studies a permanent cooling solution. Under consideration are a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system and split-type air-conditioning units, with the University weighing efficiency, operational requirements, and long-term needs. Part of the rationale behind a dedicated system is to give the rooms independent cooling, so the centralized ACU no longer needs to operate just to serve these smaller spaces.
The conversion is part of the University’s broader effort to repurpose existing spaces for current academic needs, turning former offices into venues that support dialogue, teamwork, and small-class instruction.
The University Library will manage the six discussion rooms, overseeing their use and ensuring their availability for academic collaboration and learning.
It is hoped that the new discussion rooms are environments where ideas can be exchanged, questions can be explored, and students can learn from one another further strengthening the University’s commitment to a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and lifelong learning.