Central Colleges of the Philippines

The History of the CCP College of Architecture

In 1953, The Polytechnic Colleges of the Philippines (PCP) was established by a group of prominent Architects, Engineers, and Engineers, and Educators. The first President of PCP was Engineer Gonzalo T. Vales. At the onset, courses offered were the different disciplines of Engineering such as Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical Engineering and Surveying. A year later, several vocational or one - year courses and the High School were integrated.

In 1969 or 16 years later, Dr. Hermenegildo R. Reyes became the President of PCP and new courses were added to the first academic offerings. Industrial and Management Engineering, Secretarial, Business Administration, Arts and Sciences and Education were offered. It was also during this year that Architecture was added as an academic program under the College of Engineering. The college of Engineering then was headed by Dean Ricardo Mayuga and assisted by Vice Dean Juan Morales. Significantly, in January 1971, PCP changed its corporate name to the present CCP or the Central Colleges of the Philippines.

When the student population of Architecture reached 500 students, the CCP administration deemed it necessary to create a separate College for Architecture. In 1975, CCP hired Arch. Deogracias Atienza, then a recently retired DPWH employee to head the college. Thus, 1975 is considered as the official establishment of the College of Architecture in CCP. Arch. Atienza stayed on as the first Dean of the College until 1992 (17 years). He was later replaced by his vice Dean, Arch. Jesus Reyes, who steered the College as Dean from 1992 until 1993.

After Dean Reyes separated from CCP, the administration of the College of Architecture was temporarily vested under the College of Engineering, headed by Dean Glicerio Sicat.

In October 1995, CCP hired Arch. Abelardo E. Firmeza, a graduate of the University of the Philippines as Dean of the College of Architecture. Dean Firmeza (the third Dean of the College) is the current Dean of the College of Architecture.

The College of Architecture was housed on the 4th floor of the Antonino Hall for 20 years. When the Vales Hall was gutted by fire on November 1, 1993 a new building was built to replace it. Planning started immediately thereafter and for this purpose, Arch. Atienza was asked to design the building. Its construction started in August 1994 and was completed in November 1995. In the same year, the College transferred to its new facility at the 4th floor of the H.R. Reyes Computer Science Hall.

Today, the College of Architecture is 26 years old and growing. Its student population is nearly 500 students. The Architecture Program is now being implemented and supported by 16 Faculty members.

COURSES OFFERED

Bachelor of Science in Architecture (View BSArch Syllabus)

For more information, email the Dean or the Secretary.