Governor inspects work at Central Visual Arts School in Santurce

The first phase of renovations at Central School of Visual Arts in Santurce includes the partial demolition of the third-floor roof, and the removal of plaster, wood and metal mesh on the roof of the gymnasium, where affected columns will also be addressed.

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, along with Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés, inspected the structural improvement work at the Central School of Visual Arts in Santurce this week.

The initial projected investment amounts to $18 million.

“It has been about eight years since Hurricane Maria passed through and it was not until April 30 that the demolition work began in this school,” the governor said in a written statement. “It is an honor that under our government we can provide peace of mind to the students and staff of the Central with this important project.”

The first phase includes the partial demolition of the roof of the third floor, and the removal of plaster, wood and metal mesh on the roof of the gymnasium, where affected columns will also be addressed. The work, necessitated by the damage caused by leaks after Hurricane Maria, involves an estimated investment of $505,351 and should be completed by November.

The second phase, projected to begin in January 2026, includes the installation of a new roof with tiles from the original manufacturer, improvements to the electrical system, renovation of doors and windows, remodeling of bathrooms under the rules of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, interior and exterior painting, and improvements to the drainage system.

Ramos Parés noted that a schedule was agreed upon that allows the work to be carried out without interrupting the school calendar. “La Central is a school with a historical value that is not only important for the agency, but also for the culture of Puerto Rico,” he said.

Present during the visit were the school’s director, Juan Carlos Caraballo, Sen. Nitza Morán Trinidad, Reps. Eddie Charbonier Chinea and Tatiana Pérez Ramírez, Tourism Company Executive Director Willianette Robles Cancel, staff from the Office for the Improvement of Public Schools, and contractors from Salicrup Construction.

The second phase is projected to be completed in 2027. Tuesday’s announcement was in addition to the start of the demolition of Áurea Quiles School in Guánica and the upcoming work at Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos School in Toa Baja, scheduled to begin in June.