Plaza Terminal Jesús Ramírez Arroyo

Peñuelas, Puerto Rico

Upon completion of the Posada Peñuelas hotel project, the Municipal Government of Peñuelas asked us to design a small terminal for public transportation in the adjacent lot. The municipality provides public transportation with open vehicles and vans, through routes connecting the center of town to other sectors. Like the Convention Center and Posada, this service is part of a strategy to maintain commercial, civic and social activity in the center of town, without neglecting the needs of Peñolanos that live in the surrounding areas. The terminal is expected to function as a comfortable waiting space that can also be used for social or cultural activities, perhaps as an extension to the public space provided by the municipal plaza located right in front.

The Plaza Terminal works as a hub where drivers can rest and meet in between shifts, and where passengers can wait for service. The proposed pavilion is a reinforced concrete structure, open on all sides, refreshed by breezes and a garden that will feature a ‘flamboyán’ tree in the very center of the project. Overhangs are generous but there is enough open space for greenery, and built-in benches provide opportunities for passengers to sit and talk while waiting. The structure is all reinforced concrete, with exposed and cement plaster finishes.