Herdocia building, Historical venue in central San José, Costa Rica

The Herdocia building is a four-story structure at the corner of Second Street and Third Avenue with neoclassical columns and baroque window designs. The edifice combines brick and concrete materials across four symmetrical levels with a distinctive tower at its main corner.

The land passed through several owners from the mid-19th century until María del Carmen Herdocia Rojas inherited it in 1934 while studying in London. In 1945 a house on the site was demolished and Luis Llach Llagostera built the four-story building. Decree 7555 of 20 December 1999, published in La Gaceta on 23 February 2000, made it Architectural Heritage; the Ministry of Culture restored it in 2012 for about 90 million colones.

The building takes its name from Carmen Herdocia Rojas, who inherited the land in 1934 while studying in London and was its first owner. Since its completion in 1945 it has been used commercially, and it stands beside the Edificio Correos, forming one of the most recognized architectural ensembles of the Josefino neighbourhood.

The building sits north of the Edificio Correos and is easy to locate from the city center. Visitors should view the exterior to appreciate the neoclassical details and the distinctive corner tower that defines the structure.

Two spiral staircases inside wind up to the fourth floor, showing a rare architectural solution for the time. This was the architect's only project that reached more than two stories in height.