Three years of planning and construction culminated Tuesday with the opening of the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico space-age structure in Altona.
With its dramatic three-story atrium, the building was called a jewel of the Caribbean by its architectural firm, William M. Karr & Associates.
The bank will consolidate three branches under one roof, including the former Waterfront branch. It also serves as the V.I. regional headquarters for Banco Popular.
The three-story, 40,000-square-foot building has hurricane proof glass, multiple conference rooms, a two-story parking garage, eight drive-through tellers, three ATMS, one drive-through ATM and a fiber-optic link to the V.I. Telephone Corp.
Gwendolyn Adams, chief operating officer for the bank, expressed pride in the building. There s nothing like it on the island, she said.
The grand opening is slated for March 6.