The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso took a new step in its process of Institutional growth with the Inauguration of the modern Sports Center, the new building of the Physical Education School and the Curauma Campus Lecture Hall B, facilities that become one of the most relevant milestones in the last years for this university and strengthens its commitment to an education that is integral, sustainable and connected with the community.
The ceremony gathered university authorities, scholars, students, alumni and representatives of the sports world, in an event that reflected not only the physical expansion of the university but also a definitive signal of institutional projections in the context of its centenary.
The new facilities were blessed by Bishop and Grand Chancellor of the PUCV, Monsignor Jorge Vega svd., in a ceremony that placed value on the identity and formative mark of the institution.
During the inauguration, rector Nelson Vásquez highlighted that these works represent much more than infrastructure. “This is not only the aperture of new facilities, but a vision of future and a tangible expression of what characterizes our university community and our beliefs”, he noted.
The official added that these spaces will strengthen a university experience focused on the well-being, community, and human development of new generations. “We are opening opportunities for a more holistic education, to cultivate health, sports, collaborative work, and university life,” he stated.
He also emphasized that “we must create these spaces where respect, community, healthy living, quality work, and the constant pursuit of excellence prevail. The value of Truth and keeping one's word is becoming increasingly significant in Chile and at the University. What is left for nations, institutions, and individuals when they betray Truth and their word? Very little. In institutions like ours, with values, we cannot publicly call for breaking our word. On the contrary, our strength in standing before society lies in fulfilling our commitments. In this way, we will earn everyone's respect.”
The project is especially relevant in the context of the sustained growth of the Curauma Campus and the strengthening of student life as an institutional core strategy. From this perspective, the new facilities not only expand academic and sports abilities, but also reinforces the sense of belonging and the building of a university community.
David Contreras, Vicerector of Community Engagement, underscored this impact, highlighting that the new center seeks to become an open space both for students and the Curauma community. “Physical activity is one of the drives of our Institutional Strategic Development Plan and this will have a direct impact on the holistic training of our students”, he pointed out.
The Regional Ministerial Secretary of Sports in the Valparaíso Region, Fernando López, also participated of the ceremony, and valued the contribution of these facilities to the regional sports development. “It is of great significance for Valparaíso and athletes in the region to have facilities of this level”, he explained.
A campus that grows with a vision for the future
One of the emblematic projects inaugurated was the new building of the School of Physical Education, a 5,135-sq.mt. building that includes a main gymnasium with a 450 people capacity, specialized rooms for dance, martial arts, fitness, muscle-building and artistic gymnastics, and also labs, workshops and spaces for student life.
In addition, there is the new Sports Field, that includes soccer, tennis and paddle courts, an athletic track and outdoor training areas, that also include more than 8,600 sq.mts of green areas under sustainability criteria and hydric efficiency.
The director of the School of Physical Education, Jorge Gálvez, stated that this progress places the university among the country’s leading institutions in sports and academic infrastructure. “Today we see the culmination of a long-awaited project that places us at the cutting-edge in sport centers, laboratories and training spaces” he noted.
The event also included the official inauguration of the new Lecture Hall B, a 4,600 sq.mt building that will significantly expand the capacity of the faculty on campus. The building includes 13 lecture rooms, science and computer labs, in addition to terraces and study areas designed under sustainability and energetic efficiency standards.
Student Community highlights impact on the university experience
The new facilities were greatly valued by students and alumni, who underscored the impact they will have in university life and community building.
The president of the PUCV Student Federation, Valeria Aguilera, highlighted the open and inclusive nature of the Curauma Campus. “It was always conceived as a space connected to the community and that deeply enriches the student experience and the development of the area”, she stated.
Ian Lermanda, Kinesiology student and member of the PUCV men’s basketball team, pointed out that the new facilities will allow to strengthen university sports development. “This provides us with more opportunities to continue to grow and compete in better conditions”, he commented.
From the graduate’s perspective, the former national team soccer player, Leonardo Véliz, rated the structure as being of “the highest level” and highlighted the formative contribution of sports to values and co-existence.
The new sports and academic complex represents one of the most important infrastructure projects recently undertaken by PUCV and reaffirms the institutional commitment to consolidating modern, inclusive environments focused on the comprehensive well-being of its students, while strengthening the university's identity and internal communication within a community preparing to face its second century of history.
By Daniela Lorca and Juan Pablo Guerra
Strategic Communications Department
