History of el PanamaBack in 1946, Panama was a quiet, uneventful city, having less than a million inhabitants and a social life that was nearly non-existent as compared to the activity of current day. At that time, a group of visionary businessmen decided to buy a plot of land of more than 60 hectares in the area known as “El Cangrejo,” — land owned by a Panamanian lady who resided in Paris. These businessmen bought this land for a ridiculously low price — quoted at 0.10 or 0.15 cents per meter. At that time, the President of Panama was Mr. Enrique Jimenez, who upon hearing of these negotiations, asked the buyers to donate part of this large terrain to create what is now the University of Panama. He also asked them to sell six of their best acres to a company named “Hoteles Interamericanos” in the best location at a cost of 0.50 cents per meter. This became the corner of the area where the first large hotel at that time would be built: El Panama. |
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Approximately $6 million dollars was the total investment to build this hotel, plus $900,000 as the initial working capital. American architect Edmond D. Stone, renowned for his remarkable designs of several buildings around the world, started this project, while Engineer Fred Severand, a Norwegian naturalized American citizen, took charge of the construction. Eventually, Stone was recognized with the gold medal for design in the 55th annual exhibition organized by the Architectural League of New York for Hotel El Panama. |
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The ground of the chosen terrain was so rough and uneven, that it was necessary to drill down 18” diameter holes to pierce the rock bottom to insert the foundations, which doubled the labor and operational costs by $400,000, at that time — a very significant amount and a considerable delay, since the construction started on September 1946, and the opening took place on January 15, 1951. From its beginning, the hotel design conceived by Stone and Associates was to make use of the tropical climate. The swimming pool area is, by far, the biggest and most beautiful in the country. They improved upon an existing system of natural cross-ventilation by positioning the guest rooms to serve as hundreds of small wind tunnels for the northwest air currents from the Atlantic. |
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Another fascinating concept was that the lobby was designed without doors or windows, and within that spacious area, restaurants, bars, a lounge, and other related outlets were situated to offer the sensation of wideness and individuality. |
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A national contest was carried out to select the name of the hotel. The legend of the El Panama continues — like a good Panamanian citizen who has outlived 50 years of ups-and-downs in political, economic, and social settings. Some events that occurred in the country had notable influence in this hotel, as much as its closing for several years until 1990, when it was reopened with new management that brought forward renewable policies to update its operational structure and technology as required by modern times; hence this year is considered its revival. |
