This was my very first project. At the time, I was in my fifth year as a Civil Engineering student at University of Sto Tomas (formerly, Aquinas University of Legaspi) when the late Arch. Jess Binaday entrusted me with the structural design of a proposed cantilevered choir loft.
Designing a cantilevered structure involves significant risk—any design error can lead to failure or even collapse. To illustrate, imagine a table with only two legs: it’s inherently unstable and difficult to balance. In contrast, a four-legged table, even with weaker legs, can still remain upright.
The main loft was supported by just two columns, cleverly concealed within the existing wall. To the best of my recollection, the structure was completed around the early months of 1989—making it over 30 years old now.
