Don Roman Santos Building, Neoclassical building in Santa Cruz, Philippines.
The Don Roman Santos Building stands on Escolta Street with a striking yellow facade featuring ionic columns, a triangular pediment, and neoclassical architectural details. The ground floor now houses banking facilities, while the upper stories retain their original structural framework and decorative elements.
Completed in 1894, the structure initially housed the Monte de Piedad Savings Bank until 1937, then served as an American Red Cross hospital between 1945 and 1947. These shifts in use demonstrate the building's importance to Manila's economic development and its role during wartime.
The building's name honors a prominent local businessman, and its facade with ionic columns reflects the prosperity that defined this street during the early 1900s. Visitors can still observe how the architecture expresses the dignity and status this location held at that time.
The building is easily accessible from Escolta Street and sits in the heart of the Santa Cruz district where public transportation options are plentiful. The area is busier during business hours, so visitors can get a quieter view of the architecture on weekends.
The building was originally planned with five stories, but only three were completed before war disrupted construction in 1957. This unfinished expansion remains visible today and tells a story about how historical events interrupted development plans.
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