During the American period, the city planner, Daniel Burnham, originally planned to make Santa Mesa the city's education hub, although the Americans wanted institutions to be located near the national government center in Rizal Park, with several institutions opening in Calle Rizal (present-day Taft Avenue), among them the University of the Philippines Manila, the oldest of the constituent universities of the University of the Philippines System, and De La Salle University.
During the American administration, city planner Daniel Burnham initially intended for Santa Mesa to be a major educational hub. However, the Americans preferred institutions to be located near the national government center in Rizal Park, with several institutions opening along Calle Rizal (now Taft Avenue), including the University of the Philippines Manila and De La Salle University.