Five thousand seven hundred and ninety-two seats. That’s how many people the Quadricentennial Pavilion can hold. Imagine the roar of the crowd during a thrilling basketball game.
This isn’t just any gymnasium. It’s the Quadricentennial Pavilion a testament to the University of Santo Tomas’s 400th anniversary. Built in 2011 it replaced the old UST Gymnasium. That older gym was the biggest in its time. It stood for 78 years.
The Quadricentennial Pavilion wasn’t just a construction project. It’s a symbol. It embodies the university’s commitment to sports. It’s a monument to the unique holistic sports development program of UST. It’s the home of the UST Growling Tigers. The Vatican even gave its blessing to the project because UST is a pontifical university. Construction began on July 29 2008. The final cost was 788676000 pesos.
The building’s design is impressive. It’s four stories tall. The first floor is elevated to prevent flooding. The walls have a double-wall design for noise insulation. Louvers on the facade minimize solar heat. They also add a striking aesthetic element. The basketball court itself is a masterpiece. It’s made of maple wood surrounded by tiger-striped borders and seats in vibrant orange red and yellow. Retractable seating allows for flexible capacity.
But the Quadricentennial Pavilion is more than just a sports venue. It houses training facilities for various sports. There are dance halls lecture rooms and even a fitness center. It also serves as a museum displaying UST’s athletic trophies and memorabilia. The building even has retail spaces for banks and restaurants. It has hosted major events such as debates concerts and even the university mass. It’s a vibrant hub of activity.
The lobby features a stunning steel sculpture titled Campione which means champion in Spanish. Thomasian artist Joe Datuin created this piece. He won a 2008 Olympic Committee Sports and Arts contest. The Pavilion truly embodies the spirit of the university’s rich history and bright future. So much history happened within these walls. So much more will happen here in the years to come. This is the Quadricentennial Pavilion. A building full of stories. A building full of life.