Structural demolitions trigger service changes and academic opposition

In the Dominican Republic, Hospital Dr. Salvador B. Gautier is reorganizing its medical services following a decision to perform a controlled demolition of its Professional Building. Technical evaluations by Guillén Rosa y Asociados identified structural risks that made renovation unfeasible. To maintain operations, the hospital is relocating medical consultations, emergency services, and administrative areas to the inpatient area and the first floor.

In Costa Rica, the School of Architecture at the University of Costa Rica (UCR) has expressed opposition to the planned demolition of the Jorge Manuel Dengo Obregón building, the central headquarters of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE). While ICE cited structural vulnerabilities and deficiencies in electrical and fire protection systems as reasons to build a new 21-story facility, the UCR is calling for the public release of technical studies. The academic unit argues that there is insufficient information to determine if reinforcement or rehabilitation of the existing structure was technically viable as an alternative to demolition.