Teatro La Perla

Ponce, Puerto Rico

FEMA Funded Post-Hurricane Repair & Mitigation Project

Teatro La Perla suffered extensive damage due to winds and water infiltration during the crossing of Hurricane Maria through Puerto Rico in September 2017. Repairs were conducted post-event by municipal government personnel and private contractors. The presence of water and excessive moisture inside the building during a period of approximately two weeks, soaking carpets, curtains, doors, seating and interior finish materials caused considerable damage to an extent that was not immediately apparent to MAP personnel conducting the first inspections and preparing a preliminary Damage Description and Dimensions document (DDD) for an official FEMA claim. The Autonomous Municipality of Ponce engaged the services of Ayala Rubio Arquitectura to prepare an Initial Task Report in order to assist in the definition of a detailed Scope of Work and the submittal of a final DDD. 

The original list of damages and project cost estimate does not compare with the estimate resulting from our evaluation, surpassing four million dollars in damages, not including A/E, testing and permitting expenses. This result is expected, as the evaluation conducted by MAP personnel was carried out shortly after the storm, during a period when MAP personnel was dealing with an extremely difficult situation, hurrying to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time and without the needed resources. The ITR was completed following MAP guidelines, producing a detailed list of damages documented through reference drawings, photographs and a detailed estimate of construction cost. The analysis of the project covers site, building shell, building interior, structure, electrical systems, mechanical systems, cultural and historic preservation issues, schedule, and construction and development cost. Concerns such as mitigation and resilience are also addressed.

The Teatro La Perla as it stands dates to 1938, when the theater was completely rebuilt after the original building collapsed as a result of the 1918 earthquakes that shook Ponce and the western side of the island. The building was not designed to comply with existing safety concerns and regulations, and the relatively recent adoption of modern building codes in Puerto Rico suggests that various improvements are required to make the building acceptable for safe and efficient use. 

Our evaluation considers the implementation of various improvements to achieve ADA compliance. The remodel of existing bathrooms to provide truly accessible facilities has been considered, and solutions analyzed in order to provide effective solutions during the design phase of the project. One of the proposed accessibility improvements is a new ramp that will provide wheelchair access from the main annex hallway to the theater lobby. Also, the modification of the elevator core and replacement of elevator with a two-door unit will permit accessible entrance to the 2nd level at the annex, which is impossible under the existing condition. Other measures are suggested to make the building safer, even though some of these improvements might not be strictly enforceable for existing historic buildings, as permitted by the IBC and the Existing Building Code. These include the installation of a fire alarm system, smoke detectors and better emergency lighting for pathways and doors. Mitigation concerns have been addressed through the replacement of existing windows to units that will reduce water infiltration due to high winds to a minimum and the implementation of strategies for energy efficiency.

THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED BY FEMA FOR THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS THROUGH THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.