Hotel Ponce Intercontinental
Encyclopedia
The Hotel Ponce Intercontinental (also known as "El Ponce") is an abandoned hotel with a still existing structure. The structure, and what it once was, is considered a historic landmark and a National Icon in the city of Ponce
and Puerto Rico
. The property is currently owned by PRIDCO
who bought it from a group of local Ponce industrialists.
named Salón Ponciana, a cocktail bar named Bar Coquí; and a restaurant called El Cafetal.
, FAIA
. Tabler, whose offices were in New York City
, designed hotels worldwide for the Statler chain, Hilton, and Intercontinental.
Tabler designed the Ponce Intercontinental in a modern style with ample space for cross ventilation and light, interior details, and quasi-futuristic traits. The design takes advantage of the location of the building for natural ventilation and exposure to large and spacious panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea
from the top sector of the El Vigia Hill in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
The architectural design of this hotel is simple but consistent with a curvilinear theme which is unique in Puerto Rico. The concrete shells that housed the restaurant, and activities rooms are geared to take advantage of large open spaces with majestic views of the Caribbean Sea. The use of ornamental
roofs is typical of modern architecture of the mid-1950s era.
in a financially deprieved neighborhood north of the city. High operating costs and its location were also reported as reasons for its demise.
In 1985, and under government guidelines, Puerto Rico's Compañia de Fomento Industrial
("PRIDCO") decides to buy the structure on 7 November 1985, with the goal of remodeling it, expanding its facilities, and providing the city of Ponce with world-class accommodations. PRIDCO commissioned the architectural firm of Pablo Quinones & Associates to initiate investigations and studies on the condition of the main structure with the intention of upgrading it to modern design codes. The design team, consisting of personnel with expertise in all phases of architecture and engineering, generated its recommendations, which were delivered to the PRIDCO. Simultaneously, the team traveled to New York City
in 1985-86, where it was able to locate the original plans of the hotel at the offices of William B. Tabler
. As a design strategy for its architectural features, they decided to remodel the essence of its the main structure and proposed an enlargement to accommodate a modern convention center
within the premises.
On 7 October 1985, however, and as a result of the landslide in Mameyes, the hotel was used as temporary accommodation for the people affected by the rain floods. As the time of the relocation of those affected by the floods became longer than anticipated, the plans to enlarge and re-model the hotel were abandoned.
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...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The property is currently owned by PRIDCO
Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company
The Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company , along with the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank , was created by the government of Puerto Rico in 1942, during the administration of Governor Rexford G...
who bought it from a group of local Ponce industrialists.
Location and features
The hotel is located north of the city of Ponce, on a hill just north of the El Vigia Hill, behind Cruceta del Vigía and Castillo Serralles. The hotel had a large circular outdoors swimming pool, a ballroomBallroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
named Salón Ponciana, a cocktail bar named Bar Coquí; and a restaurant called El Cafetal.
Design
The hotel was designed in 1957-58 by American architect William B. TablerWilliam B. Tabler
William B. Tabler Sr. was an American architect who designed more than 400 hotels. He was best known for giving Hilton hotels the clean but sometimes stark face of corporate America, most notably in the 46-story slablike New York Hilton near Rockefeller Center.-Personal life :Mr...
, FAIA
FAIA
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects is a postnomial, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects...
. Tabler, whose offices were in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, designed hotels worldwide for the Statler chain, Hilton, and Intercontinental.
Tabler designed the Ponce Intercontinental in a modern style with ample space for cross ventilation and light, interior details, and quasi-futuristic traits. The design takes advantage of the location of the building for natural ventilation and exposure to large and spacious panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
from the top sector of the El Vigia Hill in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
The architectural design of this hotel is simple but consistent with a curvilinear theme which is unique in Puerto Rico. The concrete shells that housed the restaurant, and activities rooms are geared to take advantage of large open spaces with majestic views of the Caribbean Sea. The use of ornamental
Ornamental
Ornamental may refer to:*Ornamental grass, a type of grass grown as a decoration*Ornamental iron, mild steel that has been formed into decorative shapes, similar to wrought iron work*Ornamental plant, a plant that is grown for its ornamental qualities...
roofs is typical of modern architecture of the mid-1950s era.
History
The first stone of the Hotel was placed on January 6, 1958, and the Hotel opened as a luxury hotel in 1 February 1960. The Hotel operated for 15 years (from 1960 to 1975) and was of particular importance in the collective memory of the Ponce's popular society in the 1960s through the 1970s. The hotel was a bustling center of entertainment that stood out as a center of large musical events of those years. The Ponce Intercontinental is remembered for being the birthplace of great artistic, social and political events of its time.Closing
The hotel closed down in 1975 for reasons that continue to be unknown. Speculation was that there were labor conflicts as well as that the management of the hotel was disappointed with the Government of Puerto Rico's failure to build a better access road to the hotel. The hotel's only access road was through a narrow one-way, one-lane alleyAlley
An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane found in urban areas, often for pedestrians only, which usually runs between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting...
in a financially deprieved neighborhood north of the city. High operating costs and its location were also reported as reasons for its demise.
Re-construction
In 1981, a group of Puerto Rican and American investors were reportedly looking into purchasing the property. However, no other developments were subsequently reported.In 1985, and under government guidelines, Puerto Rico's Compañia de Fomento Industrial
Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company
The Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company , along with the Puerto Rico Government Development Bank , was created by the government of Puerto Rico in 1942, during the administration of Governor Rexford G...
("PRIDCO") decides to buy the structure on 7 November 1985, with the goal of remodeling it, expanding its facilities, and providing the city of Ponce with world-class accommodations. PRIDCO commissioned the architectural firm of Pablo Quinones & Associates to initiate investigations and studies on the condition of the main structure with the intention of upgrading it to modern design codes. The design team, consisting of personnel with expertise in all phases of architecture and engineering, generated its recommendations, which were delivered to the PRIDCO. Simultaneously, the team traveled to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1985-86, where it was able to locate the original plans of the hotel at the offices of William B. Tabler
William B. Tabler
William B. Tabler Sr. was an American architect who designed more than 400 hotels. He was best known for giving Hilton hotels the clean but sometimes stark face of corporate America, most notably in the 46-story slablike New York Hilton near Rockefeller Center.-Personal life :Mr...
. As a design strategy for its architectural features, they decided to remodel the essence of its the main structure and proposed an enlargement to accommodate a modern convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
within the premises.
On 7 October 1985, however, and as a result of the landslide in Mameyes, the hotel was used as temporary accommodation for the people affected by the rain floods. As the time of the relocation of those affected by the floods became longer than anticipated, the plans to enlarge and re-model the hotel were abandoned.
See also
- History of the Autonomous City of PoncePonce, Puerto RicoPonce 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...
- Intercontinental-Hotels
- Hotel Ponce Intercontinental