Frassati Building
{{Short description|Academic building in Manila, Philippines}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Frassati Building
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| former_names =
| alternate_names = Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building (full)
| awards =
| image = Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building.jpg
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| location = corner of Cayco Street and Extramadura Street
| location_town = Sampaloc, Manila
| location_country = Philippines
| coordinates = {{coord|14.6086|120.9921|display=inline,title}}
| altitude =
| status = Completed
| start_date = 2017
| completion_date = 2021
| opened_date = 2019
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| architect = Casas Architects
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| owner = University of Santo Tomas
| cost = ₱4.0 billion
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| floor_count = 23
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| map_type = Metro Manila
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| building_type = {{hlist|School building}}
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| current_tenants = UST Senior High School, UST College of Information and Computing Sciences, Santo Tomas e-Service Providers, UST Educational Technology Center, DOST-TOMASInno Center
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}}
The Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building, or simply the Frassati Building, is a 23-storey building in Sampaloc, Manila in the Philippines. It is part of the building complex of the University of Santo Tomas.
The University will rename the building from 'blessed' to 'saint' once Frassati is canonized on 3 August 2025.{{Cite web |last=Tamio |first=Trisha |last2=Serrano |first2=Mc Neil Zyh |last3=Serrano |first3=Trisha Tamio and Mc Neil Zyh |date=2024-05-03 |title=From blessed to saint: UST to rename Frassati bldg |url=https://abtheflame.net/news/2024/05/from-blessed-to-saint-ust-to-rename-frassati-bldg/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Flame |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1= Mares|first1= Courtney |title=Pope Francis announces 2025 canonizations for Carlo Acutis, Pier Giorgio Frassati|url= https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260581/carlo-acutis-and-pier-giorgio-frassati-to-be-canonized-in-2025-pope-francis-announces-dates|accessdate=March 25, 2025 |work= Catholic News Agency|date=November 20, 2024}}
Background
The Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building is one of the major educational facility located at the corner of Extremadura and Cayco Streets within the University of Santo Tomas (UST) campus in Manila, Philippines. The building is named in honor of Pier Giorgio Frassati, a venerated religious figure in Catholicism, was officially completed and blessed on December 10, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Malgapu |first=Hans |date=2022-02-23 |title=UST formally inaugurates Frassati Building; drainage system, link bridge also blessed |url=https://www.ust.edu.ph/ust-formally-inaugurates-frassati-building-drainage-system-link-bridge-also-blessed/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=University of Santo Tomas |language=en-US}}
The inauguration was also in line the of several key campus developments, including the UST Link Bridge and the campus Stormwater Drainage System.{{Cite web |last=Solano |first=Dawn Danielle |date=2021-12-10 |title=UST marks final construction of Frassati bldg through blessing rites |url=https://abtheflame.net/news/2021/12/ust-marks-final-construction-of-frassati-bldg-through-blessing-rites/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=The Flame |language=en-US}}
Spanning 23 storeys, the Frassati Building also houses various academic units within UST, mainly accommodating the UST Senior High School, established in 2016.{{Cite web |title=Senior High School |url=https://www.ust.edu.ph/senior-high-school/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=University of Santo Tomas |language=en-US}}
Additionally, the building also houses the UST College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS), DOST-TOMASInno Center,{{Cite web |date=2024-03-19 |title=University of Santo Tomas propels deep tech innovation as the official University Partner for TECH PLANTER in the Philippines 2024 |url=https://global.lne.st/news/ph/2024/03/19/tpph2024ustpartnership/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=Leave a Nest |language=en-US}} Santo Tomas e-Service Providers (STePs), and the Educational Technology Center.{{Cite web |last=Solano |first=Dawn Danielle |date=2021-12-10 |title=UST marks final construction of Frassati bldg through blessing rites |url=https://abtheflame.net/news/2021/12/ust-marks-final-construction-of-frassati-bldg-through-blessing-rites/ |access-date=2024-04-15 |website=The Flame |language=en-US}}
On August 9, 2023, the UST CICS together with the Miguel de Benavides Library launched BiblioTech Ai a interactive library on its 19th floor.{{Cite news |last=Cabato |first=Luisa |date=August 9, 2023 |title=UST unveils 'interactive' library for CICS students |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/9/ust-unveils-interactive-library-for-cics-students |access-date=April 16, 2024 |work=Manila Bulletin}}
Features and facilities
The architectural design of the Frassati Building incorporates state-of-the-art amenities, including:
- Smart classrooms
- A two-storey library
- An auditorium
- A cafeteria
- A chapel
- Gymnasium
- Laboratories
- Parking facilities
Inauguration and blessing
The completion of the Frassati Building was marked by a series of blessing rites conducted on December 10, 2021, presided over by UST Vice Rector Rev. Fr. Isaias D. Tiongco, O.P., along with Dominican Fathers. Following the external blessings, a Eucharistic Celebration was held, signifying the building's consecration and commitment to the University's mission.
Patronage
The building is named after Pier Giorgio Frassati, an Italian activist who is considered as a saint in Roman Catholicism, for embodying "a legacy of social justice and service to the marginalized". Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990, Frassati serves as the patron of UST's Senior High School, reflecting the institution's commitment to "holistic education and moral formation".