Banco de Ponce (building)
Encyclopedia
The Banco de Ponce building, a historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico
, was the first and main office of Banco de Ponce
until the company merged with Banco Popular in 1990. Though its headquarters had moved to a presumptous building in Hato Rey
's Milla de Oro by then, Banco de Ponce continued to consider this building its main office, until the company merged with Banco Popular in 1990. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
on June 25, 1987. It was built in 1924.
. The large structure occupies a small city block
. It is bounded by Mayor, Francisco Parra Duperon
(also known as Comercio), and Amor streets. Amor street was also called Callejon Amor, or Amor Alley; literally, Love Alley. In 1991, Amor street was converted into a promenade and renamed Paseo Antonio Arias Ventura, after the long-time employee of the bank who started as a custodian and rose to become the bank's general manager.
.
The Banco de Ponce building is a four-story brick and concrete structure. As it is set in a very narrow triangular lot defined by near-parallel Amor and Comercio Streets, the architect's solution to the lot's footprint geometry was the development of a continuous facade enveloping these two streets and the narrow front to Plaza Las Delicias
.
The predominant style is related to the Beaux art neoclassical
, with three
horizontal bands defining this wraparound facade. The base is made of a pinkish stone
extracted from a quarry close to the city. This stone has been commonly used in other
Ponce buildings.
The second and third floors house bank office. "These are rendered in elaborate plasterwork with square Corinthian columns, brackets, medallions and panels between the structural beams ornamented with paterae. Naturalistic motifs are ubiquitous." For a while, the building's third floor was used as a ballroom for Ponce's old casino
.
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, was the first and main office of Banco de Ponce
Banco de Ponce
Banco de Ponce was one the largest banks in Puerto Rico. In 1990 it merged with Banco Popular creating Puerto Rico's largest bank. At this time, Banco Popular's holding company changed its name to BanPonce Corporation. Banco de Ponce had established an agency in New York that it had converted to a...
until the company merged with Banco Popular in 1990. Though its headquarters had moved to a presumptous building in Hato Rey
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Hato Rey is a former ward located in the northwest part of the dissolved municipality of Río Piedras. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico:*Hato Rey Central*Hato Rey Norte*Hato Rey Sur...
's Milla de Oro by then, Banco de Ponce continued to consider this building its main office, until the company merged with Banco Popular in 1990. The building was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on June 25, 1987. It was built in 1924.
Location
The building is located facing Plaza DegetauPlaza Degetau
Plaza Degetau, formally Plaza Federico Degetau, is the larger of two plazas at Plaza Las Delicias, the main city square in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The other plaza is named Plaza Muñoz Rivera and is located north of Plaza Degetau. The square is notable for its fountains and for the various...
. The large structure occupies a small city block
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
. It is bounded by Mayor, Francisco Parra Duperon
Puerto Rico Highway 133
Puerto Rico Highway 133 , also known as Calle Comercio but officially Francisco Parra Duperón street, is a major access road in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The road has both of its endpoints, as well as all of its length, entirely within the Ponce city limits. It runs west to east...
(also known as Comercio), and Amor streets. Amor street was also called Callejon Amor, or Amor Alley; literally, Love Alley. In 1991, Amor street was converted into a promenade and renamed Paseo Antonio Arias Ventura, after the long-time employee of the bank who started as a custodian and rose to become the bank's general manager.
Architecture
The building's architect was Francisco Porrata DoriaFrancisco Porrata Doria
Francisco Porrata-Doria was a twentieth-century Puerto Rican architect from Ponce, Puerto Rico. Porrata-Doria was a pioneer in the development of the local modern architecture and one of the architects responsible for what has been called "Ponce Monumental Architecture", of which the Banco Crédito...
.
The Banco de Ponce building is a four-story brick and concrete structure. As it is set in a very narrow triangular lot defined by near-parallel Amor and Comercio Streets, the architect's solution to the lot's footprint geometry was the development of a continuous facade enveloping these two streets and the narrow front to Plaza Las Delicias
Plaza Las Delicias
Plaza Las Delicias is the main plaza in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The square is notable for its fountains and for the various monuments it contains. The historic Parque de Bombas and Ponce Cathedral buildings are located within Plaza Las Delicias. Plaza Las Delicias is actually composed of...
.
The predominant style is related to the Beaux art neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
, with three
horizontal bands defining this wraparound facade. The base is made of a pinkish stone
extracted from a quarry close to the city. This stone has been commonly used in other
Ponce buildings.
The second and third floors house bank office. "These are rendered in elaborate plasterwork with square Corinthian columns, brackets, medallions and panels between the structural beams ornamented with paterae. Naturalistic motifs are ubiquitous." For a while, the building's third floor was used as a ballroom for Ponce's old casino
Old Ponce Casino
The Antiguo Casino de Ponce , or simply the Casino de Ponce, is a historic structure, built in 1922 and located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Originally built as a social club for Ponce's elite, it is currently used as the premier reception center of "The Noble City of Puerto Rico"...
.
Contemporary use
Today, the first floor of the building houses a branch of Banco Popular, while the second floor houses the Parra, del Valle & Limeres law firm which has been operating there since before 1955. The fourth floor houses Banco Popular's regional offices and the Commercial Banking Center.External links
See also
- Banco de PonceBanco de PonceBanco de Ponce was one the largest banks in Puerto Rico. In 1990 it merged with Banco Popular creating Puerto Rico's largest bank. At this time, Banco Popular's holding company changed its name to BanPonce Corporation. Banco de Ponce had established an agency in New York that it had converted to a...
- Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (building)Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (building)The Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño building , a historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico, was the first and main office of the famed Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño , and represents one of the last examples of the once popular turn-of-the-century eclectic architecture. The building was listed on the...