Puerto Rico Convention Center District invests $24M+ in phased upgrades
The Puerto Rico Convention Center District Authority has launched a phased maintenance initiative at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, aimed at ensuring the facility’s structural integrity, energy efficiency and continued competitiveness as a premier venue.
More than $24 million has been invested in capital improvements since fiscal year 2018, with the latest efforts focusing on the skylight system, the center’s iconic Wave structure and repairs to the roof’s waterproofing membrane.
“The planning and execution of these works are part of a phased, non-reactive strategy that seeks to protect the value of an asset critical to the island’s economic development,” said Executive Director Verónica Ferraiuoli-Hornedo. She emphasized that structural components exposed to time and environmental wear require consistent technical attention.
Current work on the skylight includes glass cleaning, sealing, leak repair and hardware replacement. A 2022 budget allocation allowed exterior skylight sections to be incorporated into the plan.
Simultaneously, the Wave structure is undergoing deep cleaning, anti-corrosion treatment, and the application of specialized protective coatings. The latest phase, a $1.4 million project awarded through public bidding, is expected to finish by the end of the year.
Previous investments in the structure include $650,000 in 2017, $237,000 in 2018, $80,000 in 2021, and more than $80,000 this year. A separate $1.7 million was spent in 2016 on broader metal maintenance.
Ferraiuoli-Hornedo clarified that surface stains do not signal structural danger. “At no time has the structural integrity of the ‘Wave’ or its components been compromised,” she said, citing evaluations by structural engineers.
The Convention Center’s original roof, which was damaged by hurricanes Irma and María in 2017, is also being repaired. In September 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency allocated $2.8 million for roof restoration, and the Authority has requested an additional $3.5 million.
Eco-Logical Group LLC was awarded a $6.06 million contract for the repair, with $300,000 set aside for removing and reinstalling solar panels. Work is being conducted in phases to avoid disrupting the center’s operations.
Capital investments have also targeted essential mechanical systems, including air conditioning units, chillers, cooling towers and machine rooms. Preventive maintenance has been scheduled and documented on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis since 2019.
Since 2022, operator AEG Management PR LLC has provided executive summaries and risk assessments to help guide the Authority’s long-term planning strategy.
