Restoration of the Casco Antiguo in Panama

In 1997, UNESCO included the Casco Antiguo of Panama City in the World Heritage List. That same year, the Panamanian government established a classification system for the buildings located in the Casco Antiguo according to their degree of conservation and heritage value.

This framework defined the levels of architectural and landscape intervention, as well as a special incentive regime for builders and restoration professionals in Panama who lead the recovery of the Casco Antiguo. The goal is to support the enhancement and restoration of the historic monumental complex, which consists mainly of the San Felipe district and, to a lesser extent, parts of the neighborhoods of Santa Ana and El Chorrillo.

Through Executive Decree 205 of the year 2000, the Ministry of Housing recognized the importance of the Historic Center of Panama City as a special area requiring specific plans and regulations. It proposed a strategy for preservation and restoration, while maintaining the prevailing urban densities and scale of the area.

In that same year, the Office of the Casco Antiguo of Panama was created. Together with the National Directorate of Historical Heritage and the Ministry of Housing, it proceeded to review and update the existing land-use regulations within the boundaries of the Casco Antiguo of Panama City. As a result of this initiative, Resolution 127 of 2003 approved the zoning and building regulations for the Casco Antiguo of Panama.

Later, in 2004, Executive Decree 51 approved the manual of standards and procedures for the restoration of the Casco Antiguo of Panama.

Beginning in 2012, the government implemented the restoration project for the Casco Antiguo of Panama. A modern system for wastewater and stormwater drainage was installed, and the entire potable water system throughout the area was rehabilitated.

The work also included the replacement of cobblestones on all streets and avenues, as well as the construction of utility corridors for the underground installation of electrical and communication networks. All of this transformed the Casco Antiguo of Panama into one of the first areas in the city where the scenic beauty of its buildings and residences can truly stand out. The district’s main plazas were also restored, with improvements to lighting, landscaping, paving, and urban furniture.

We are proudly among the builders who have contributed to numerous projects in the Casco Antiguo of Panama, helping to restore one of the most important tourist attractions in our country—the historic Casco Antiguo of Panama.