Day 148: Francisco Q. Sanchez Elementary School, Humåtak, Guam
📌APIA Every Day (148) - The Francisco Q. Sanchez Elementary School, located in Humåtak, Guam, served as the only educational institution in the village. Built in 1953 by internationally known architect Richard Neutra, the school was named after its first principal, Francisco Q. Sanchez, an early pioneer of historic and cultural preservation from Humåtak. Unfortunately, the school closed in 2011 due to financial constraints, marking a significant loss for the community.
Neutra, who studied under prominent Modernists in Vienna and worked with architects like Frank Lloyd Wright in the United States, incorporated modern materials and techniques into the school's design. The structure features two one-story wings with views of Humåtak Bay and the island's flora and fauna, reflecting Neutra's philosophy of "biorealism," which emphasizes harmonizing human structures with nature. The school was part of an urban Master Plan under Governor Carleton Skinner, although the plan was later abolished, making F.Q. Sanchez Elementary the only intact building from that initiative.
The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and later nominated by the Guam Preservation Trust as one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2022. This designation, supported by the Guam Preservation Trust, Humåtak Mayor Johnny Quinata, Governor of Guam Lou Leon Guerrero, and other officials, brought national attention and preservation efforts to the site. Consequently, Public Law 36-82, signed in March 2022, allocated $3.5 million for the rehabilitation of the school. This past March, Mes Chamoru, the month to celebrate Chamoru history and culture, kicked off the building’s reconstruction. Several future uses for the site are being considered, including a charter school, a senior citizen center, a museum and café, or housing the Humåtak Mayor’s office. Ultimately, the local community will have input on the school’s future.
LEARN MORE:
Guam Pacific Daily News: F.Q. Sanchez designated one of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places
The Guam Daily Post: F.Q. Sanchez school makes list of 11 endangered historic sites
National Park Service: Francisco O. Sanchez Elementary School NRHP Form
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