SU inaugurates Uytengsu Transformative Learning Center
Dr. Betty Cernol McCann (left), Silliman University president; Mrs. Grace A. Ty, SU Board of Trustees (BoT) resident member; and Mr. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu formally open the Uytengsu Transformative Learning Center signage perched at the entrance to the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library.
Silliman University (SU) inaugurated the Uytengsu Transformative Learning Center at the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library on January 20, 2025.
The newly donated project by the Uytengsu Foundation, Inc., through Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, is set to transform the educational experience at SU. Equipped with integrative mini-laboratories, the facility is designed to foster interdisciplinary approaches to research, instruction, community engagement, and service-learning, reinforcing the University’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.
SU President Betty Cernol McCann articulated the constantly evolving educational landscape that necessitates revisiting the teaching-learning process to meet the needs of the time.
Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, SU president, extends her gratitude to the generous donation of the Uytengsu Foundation, Inc.
“The Uytengsu Transformative Learning Center is our response to the changing demands of education in the digital age…. This addition strengthens the University’s commitment to academic excellence, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation in education,” McCann said.
A hub of innovation and learning
The Silliman University Library has always been committed to its vision of being “… the Resource Center of Excellence in the fast delivery of relevant, updated and automated information and research services not only to the bonafide Silliman students, faculty and staff, but also to the larger community of professionals, scholars, and researchers here and abroad.” It started with only two bookcases in 1906, which then grew to over 100,000 collections, subscriptions, and pamphlets. In its history, it has undergone multiple relocations until its present building was constructed in 1977 through funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Dr. Dave E. Marcial, Director of the Dr. Mariano C. Lao Global Studies Center and proponent of transformative learning spaces at SU, acknowledges the Library’s decades of dedicated service. However, he underscores the need to evolve beyond traditional library operations by reimagining it as a dynamic hub for both learning and innovation.
Dr. Dave E. Marcial, Director of the Dr. Mariano C. Lao Global Studies Center, explains the exciting changes in store for students, faculty, and staff in the use of the new SU Library.
“Today’s libraries are more than repositories of knowledge. They are dynamic spaces where technology and human creativity converge to inspire innovation,” Marcial said.
He added that this Transformative Laboratory equips students and faculty with the tools to explore, create, and innovate. It is a pioneering initiative that embraces a transdisciplinary and holistic approach, integrating advanced mini-labs that redefine Silliman University’s library services. By prioritizing technology, collaboration, and adaptability, it ushers in a new era of learning and innovation.
Asst. Prof. Sarah Angiela A. Ragay credits the administration of McCann for the Library transformation. Since McCann assumed presidency in 2018, one of her major thrusts has been digital transformation, steering the University steadily toward this progressive goal.
(Left to right) Asst. Prof. Jane Annette L. Belarmino, Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, and Atty. Santiago Polido pose after the event.
Four years later, SU and the Uytengsu Foundation Inc. signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the creation of the Uytengsu Transformative Learning Center under then vice president for Development, Enterprise, and External Affairs (VPDEEA) Asst. Prof. Jane Annette L. Belarmino.
“The Library is a gift and a testament to the Lord’s love and faithfulness to Silliman University. Also, its transformation was a collaboration of many offices (the President’s Office, the Strategic Partnerships and Enterprise Development Office, the Mariano C. Lao Global Studies Center, SU Library, architects, engineers, finance and legal, suppliers and contractors, and so many more)” Belarmino said in a separate interview.
Ragay said that “the transformative library will have upgraded technology that will be complemented with competent librarians and staff who will facilitate the new services that the library will offer.”
Wilfred Steven Uytengsu (left); Asst. Prof. Sarah Angiela A. Ragay, SU Librarian; and Dr. Dave E. Marcial are seen chatting during the blessing of the SU Library.
The ground floor is divided into three major spaces: the STEAM Digital Library, the Allied Health Transformative Lab, and the Immersive Technology and Exhibition Lab. The second floor houses the library’s book collection, while the third floor serves as an open space for collaboration and learning activities.
“A provision of four discussion rooms on the 3rd floor will be available, for small and big groups. These rooms are intended for ideation, focus group discussions, study groups, virtual meetings, and the like,” she added.
With these transformations, the library has also developed innovative services, complementing the traditional offerings. These include Hybrid & Remote Access, Personalized Research Assistance, Digital Well-Tech Hub, Borrowing Beyond Books, Knowledge Curation Services, Community and Collaborative Spaces, and Immersive Hub.
Transformation challenges
“Transforming the Brutalist-inspired edifice into a modern, inclusive, and technology-driven hub was a challenging task entrusted to the design team,” said Arch. Vittorio Alejandro G. Vinarao, chair of the Department of Architecture at SU College of Engineering and Design.
Arch. Vittorio Alejandro G. Vinarao, chair of the Department of Architecture at SU College of Engineering and Design, walks the audience through the renovation of the SU Library.
He explained that the team recognized the importance of striking a balance between modernity and preserving the building’s architectural legacy. This understanding guided their design philosophy, which sought to address the evolving needs of the University by integrating technological advancements while safeguarding the structure’s iconic identity and historical significance.
Their design approach encompassed several key modifications. The exterior was modernized with the replacement of steel-framed awning windows with curtain-wall glazing, enhancing both the façade’s contemporary appeal and the flow of natural light. Interior renovations focused on functional improvements, including better circulation spaces and enhanced safety features such as widened fire exits. Accessibility and inclusivity were prioritized through the installation of an elevator and the renovation of restrooms to accommodate the needs of differently-abled individuals and the elderly. Additionally, the design introduced a transformative hub with flexible spaces and state-of-the-art technology, seamlessly integrated into designated areas to foster innovation and adaptability.
Uytengsu family legacy
Mr. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu delivers his message to the Silliman University community.
The Uytengsu Transformative Learning Center is the latest addition to the enduring legacy of the Uytengsu family at SU. For decades, the family has supported initiatives that inspire innovation and create opportunities for the Silliman community. The Wentworth Uytengsu Memorial Scholarship, established in 1953 by SU alumnus and former Trustee Don Tirso Uytengsu, honors his son Wentworth, a pre-law student who, during World War II, wanted to enlist in the military but was deemed ineligible due to his alien status and ended up making the ultimate sacrifice for his birthplace, supporting the resistance movement prior to his arrest and execution. Don Tirso also contributed significantly to the development of key university facilities, including the Uytengsu Hall for the College of Engineering and Design and the Alaska Basketball Court. The Uytengsu Foundation further enriched Silliman’s infrastructure with the construction of the Uytengsu Foundation Computer Center in 1994, the Computer Studies Hall in 2007, and the Apps Incubation and Development Laboratory in 2015, the latter in collaboration with Apple, Inc.
“[The Silliman Library] has now been transformed to a digital center that will feature a series of integrative mini laboratories designed to promote interdisciplinary approaches in research, instruction, community engagement, and service-learning, furthering the university’s dedication to academic excellence and innovation,” Uytengsu said in his message.
A section on the third floor of the SU Library is decked with benches and chairs for students to sit on.
Recounting his visit in 2019 to meet with McCann and “see how the Uytengsu Foundation could continue to do things to help Silliman University,” he noted that the building was “a darker image of itself than what it is today.”
“I’m really proud of these windows that bring in natural light. But I’m even prouder of the respect for the heritage of what was, and to contemporize that look to make it a comfortable and exciting place for students to come for many more years,” he added.
Meanwhile, Uytengsu also announced that the Foundation will be reactivating the Wentworth Uytengsu Memorial Scholarship so that we “can support many more law students in the years to come.”
The inauguration opened with a blessing led by Rev. Jonathan R. Pia, senior pastor of the SU Church Pastoral Team. Entertainment was provided by the Orkestra Sin Arko and the Campus Choristers, under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez, dean of the College of Performing and Visual Arts.
Wilfred Steven Uytengsu (center) poses with relatives (left to right) Ian Uymatiao, Arch. Gerard L. Uymatiao, Engr. Earnest Frend Y. Uy Matiao, Engr. Gregorio L. Uymatiao Jr.,, Engr. Gilbert L. Uymatiao, Engr. Gregorio S. Uymatiao III, and Engr. Richard U. Lao after the event.
The event was graced by members of the Uymatiao family, relatives of Uytengsu; Atty. Santiago Polido; University administrators; deans; faculty and staff members; the SU Board of Trustees, represented by resident trustee Mrs. Grace A. Ty; members of D’SolidAce Construction and Development Corporation; Engr. Porfirio Loo and Engr. Emmanuel Gerard Loo Chiu from Polaris Power Engineering; and student representatives.
The SU Library will open very soon. While it primarily serves the SU community, Ragay said that its doors are also open to Dumagueteños and Negrenses as a whole.
“We strive to provide access to educational resources… ensuring we meet the community’s information needs. Additionally, we aim to offer access to advanced technologies that outside users may avail but with an associated fee,” Ragay added.
