From the Lonja del Comercio to the Capitol: Purdy & Henderson in Havana

Havana would not be what it is today without the buildings constructed by Purdy & Henderson. The U.S. company, founded in Chicago in the 1890s, was responsible for the construction of several of the best-known and most important buildings in the Cuban capital in the first half of the 20th century.

Casteleiro y Vizoso building, built by the firm Purdy & Henderson. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

With branches in different cities inside and outside the United States, Purdy & Henderson opened its office in Havana at the beginning of the last century. Since then, it developed a notable amount of construction work, to the point that in around three decades it carried out works worth approximately 120 million pesos.

However, beyond its huge profits, what is most impressive is the list of notable Havana constructions associated with this U.S. engineering company.

In the center the Barraqué building, built by the firm Purdy & Henderson. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

From the Lonja del Comercio to the National Capitol, passing through the illustrious Hotel Nacional and the iconic staircase of the University of Havana, it was responsible for carrying out many works.

The list includes other no less notable buildings such as the mansions of the Centro Gallego, today home to the Alicia Alonso Grand Theater, and the Centro Asturiano, which currently houses the universal art building of the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Staircase of the University of Havana, built by Purdy & Henderson. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Along with them also appear the Plaza Hotel, the National Bank, the Royal Bank of Canada, the former Havana Yacht Club, and the CMQ Radio Centro building, currently the Yara Movie Theater, relevant buildings in the Cuban capital.

Debris falling from a building on Monte Street in Havana, as a result of the ravages of Hurricane Rafael. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

In addition, Purdy & Henderson was in charge of the construction of the Casteleiro y Vizoso, Barraqué, Ariosa and La Metropolitana buildings, perhaps less known today by their names, but undoubtedly of importance at the time.

The company also built some private residences of the Havana aristocracy, as well as buildings outside the capital, including almost all the branches of the Royal Bank of Canada and the National Bank in other provinces and the works on the state dock in Batabanó.

The first building for the National Bank of Cuba, built by the Purdy & Henderson firm. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Today we bring you closer to several of the most recognized and emblematic Purdy & Henderson buildings in Havana thanks to the lens of our photojournalist Otmaro Rodríguez.