The Quadrangle (University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras)

The Quadrangle (Spanish: El Cuadrángulo) is the heart and main quadrangle of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Together with the Roosevelt Tower (La Torre), it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones as the University of Puerto Rico Tower and The Quadrangle, for its unique history which represents the union between Puerto Rican architecture with the Jeffersonian Neoclassical style often seen in American universities.^[2][3] It is famous for its lines of Puerto Rican royal palm (Roystonea borinquena) or palma real and the architecture of its surrounding buildings.^[4]

University of Puerto Rico Tower and The Quadrangle
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Puerto Rico Historic Sites and Zones
View of The Quadrangle with El Teatro in the background.
Location	University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus - Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Coordinates	18°24′10″N 66°03′01″W
Built	1935
Architect	Rafael Carmoega
Architectural style	Neoclassical Spanish Revival
NRHP reference No.	84003174[1]
RNSZH No.	2000-(RMSJ)-00-JP-SH
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 17, 1984
Designated RNSZH	February 3, 2000

The Quadrangle was designed by Puerto Rican architect Rafael Carmoega.^[2] The University of Puerto Rico Theater was first built on its eastern edge in 1939.^[5][6]

Construction of the UPR Theater and buildings around The Quadrangle.

The Quadrangle is the largest courtyard space in the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus. It is surrounding by buildings currently used by the University of Puerto Rico Administration and the College of Humanities. Its two most notable landmarks are the University Tower located on the western edge of the quad, and the University of Puerto Rico Theater, also known as the Roosevelt Theater,^[7] on its eastern edge. These buildings have an architectural style combining Spanish Revival styles such as Andalusian/Spanish Gothic and Baroque Revival. There is also a Banco Popular branch office and additional auditoriums.

Panoramic view of El Cuadrángulo.

See also

• La Torre, officially known in English as Roosevelt Tower
• University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "NPGallery Asset Detail". npgallery.nps.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
3. "ArquiRioPiedras y Cuadrángulo Histórico UPR". Puerto Rico Historic Buildings Drawings Society. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
4. "Llamado para reforestar el Paseo Real de la UPR de Río Piedras". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
5. "Teatro". Universidad de Puerto Rico (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-01-22.
6. "El Teatro UPR – Teatro UPR". Retrieved 2022-01-22.
7. "Teatro UPR – Universidad de Puerto Rico Recinto de Río Piedras". Retrieved 2022-01-22.