The assembly hall (paraninfo) | Rafael Rumoroso

It could be said that the assembly hall building, by its singularity, gives the impression of an anomaly that surprises at first sight, seeming to contradict the rest of the façade, and yet it fits in perfectly with it.

This building was not envisaged in the first project of 1948, the modification dating from the beginning of 1950.

In 1950, at the request of Luis Moya Blanco and the rest of the team of architects, the Patronato engaged Mari Juana de Ontañón (a disciple of Moya), her husband Mateo Santure and Luis García Amorena as associate architects.

Some people attribute the design of this piece to Mari Juana de Ontañón, although there is no document to support this authorship.

THE ASSEMBLY HALL IS THE PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE THAT SURPRISES WITH ITS AVANT-GARDE CHARACTER. IT ADJOINS THE SOUTH FAÇADE; ITS PLAN RESEMBLES THE BOW OF A SHIP AND ENDS IN A SEMICIRCLE.

We have found no written documentation indicating or acknowledging that the design of this piece of modern architecture was the work of Juana de Ontañón and her husband Mateo Santure. However, we do know that at the architectural critique session of 1955 the architect Juan Corominas stated

" there is a more modern part whose designs seem to me to be due to Mateos and Marijuana; frankly, the difference is noticeable. I, at least, like it better "

The interior space is divided into two levels. The upper one is the assembly hall proper, with fan-shaped tiered seating.

One goes up to the assembly hall by a spectacular spiral staircase that starts from the premises below (the cafeteria). The roof is curved and metal sheets were used for it.

The two levels rest on a network of exposed beams supported on large columns.