Estudio Damgo II: A Filipino Design-Build Studio

With only six weeks left until graduation, the Estudio Damgo team was able to shape up and make a lot of progress shrinking the gap in the construction schedule; from four weeks behind, to two weeks. The biggest tasks on site were finalizing the bamboo truss and roof framing and securing all the joints. The bamboo purlins were also fully installed. The structure was getting fastened with bamboo pegs, nylon, and non-slip epoxy at all the joints. After completing all the work, the team tied all the joints with rattan for additional strength and for aesthetics. Other works included filling in grout at the brick wall and welding and painting steel doorframes for the folding doors.

The students and FU workers were doing their best to get the building complete in time. They worked over time 7 days a week. The multipurpose has 100% of the bamboo roof structure and the GI Sheet roof is about halfway installed, two weeks before graduation. There are nearly 300 bamboo joints that needed to be tied with rattan or "uway" to cover the epoxy. And though it takes a lot of time to tie just one joint, the team doubled their work force and many tasks had been worked on simultaneously.

Wrapping it all up, the final week marked the week before graduation, March 22, 2014. Finishes were major priority: Bamboo structure is getting its final clear coat, black enamel paint finish at metal frames, and finish paint at the concrete walls. Electrical is being installed. Plumbing fixtures are finally in and CR tiles are grouted. It's getting there. Students are happy to see the light at the end of this tunnel. 

It has been amazing to see the progress at the multipurpose hall for the past few weeks. Thanks to the number of volunteers from Entheos IT and the Office of Administration, the long wait is finally over.