The Banco Popular of Puerto Rico (BPPR) building in Hato Rey was designed in the decade of the 1960s by the firms of Toro-Ferrer and Kahn-Jacobs as part of the New Center of San Juan (NCSJ). The original idea was to have a series of raised pedestrian squares around the buildings connected by pedestrian bridges over the streets, and these would direct the movement of pedestrians toward the level where the squares were located. When that plan was set aside, some important buildings were left without an appropriate connection to the street. One of these was the BPPR building.

The expansion of the original building is intended to stimulate pedestrian activity by locating restaurants and other commercial locales on that level, and by constructing arcades and pedestrian connectors between the two principal avenues. On the northern side, there is a new parking facility, connected to the existing one, as well as offices and seven movie theaters on the upper level. The grand foyer of the structure looks out on the Hato Rey Tren Urbano Station and the Puerto Rico Coliseum. On the southern side, there is a dynamic and transparent pavilion for activities, illuminated at night with lights of  changing colors.