El Tuque Transportation Terminal
Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1991
Manuel Bermúdez Blanquita Calzada Arquitectos and Agrait Bermúdez Betancourt Arquitectos
Manuel Bermúdez with Eda Díaz and Joaquín Berdasco

Program. Design of a public transportation terminal in an industrial district of the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Requirements stated need for vehicular access for drop-off and pick-up of passengers, waiting areas, cafeteria, rest rooms, driver's lounge area, administrative offices, vehicular repair areas and parking.

Solution. The location of project components in the site acknowledges both the utilitarian requirements and the character of the surrounds.

The main building is placed near the northern edge of the property maintaining the same setback as the neighboring ones; the trellis covering the vehicle parking echoes the undefined boundaries of the area on the southern edge.

The terminal building is an island where passenger pick-up and drop-off occur on opposite sides parallel to the platform. Reinforced concrete columns and walls support both the concrete side overhangs and the main steel trusses of the corrugated steel central vault. The building morphology typifies both its function and its industrial siting. The use of high vaulted ceiling with low lateral naves has been widespread throw the ages for both manufacturing and transportation terminals.