In a hurried attempt to conceal the disastrous aftermath of multiple building collapses, the Cuban regime is hastily promoting the construction of a new headquarters for the Higher Institute of Design (ISDi) of the University of Havana. This comes after the final collapse of the iconic building that once housed the institute.
Esteban Lazo Hernández, the president of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State, visited the construction site on Saturday. The site is located on 1st Street between 32 and 34 in the Playa municipality of Miramar, as reported by the ISDi's Facebook page.
This visit occurred just six weeks after the state-owned company GEICONS demolished the historic building in Central Havana. The structure, dating back to 1860, had been the home of the institute since its founding in 1984, but years of neglect by the regime led to its decay.
Joining Lazo were key figures such as Deputy Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez Díaz, Havana's Governor Yanet Hernández Pérez, First Deputy Minister of Higher Education Modesto Ricardo Gómez, and Dr. Miriam Nicado García, Rector of the University of Havana, among other officials, according to the publication.
Dr. Sergio Luis Peña Martínez, the dean of ISDi, detailed the progress of the rehabilitation project. Construction representatives stated that the project is expected to be completed by September 2026, although many "revolutionary" construction endeavors notoriously miss deadlines and often result in subpar quality.
History of the Collapsed Building
The new facility is being built in response to the complete collapse of the historic headquarters at Belascoaín #710, between Estrella and Maloja. The building was closed in March 2022 due to a "severe architectural failure." A series of collapses followed: in July 2024, part of the interior façade fell, and on January 24, 2025, a partial collapse hospitalized a 78-year-old woman, leaving about 800 cubic meters of debris.
Further collapses occurred in December 2025 and February 2026, leading the Municipal Assembly of People's Power of Central Havana to officially demolish the site in March of the current year. The area was reduced to rubble, alarming nearby residents.
Neglect and Theft
The building's abandonment also included systematic looting. Between September and October 2025, graduate theses, historical archives, furniture, and equipment vanished from the closed site. Luis Lacosta, ICAIC's art director, documented how some ISDi documents were discarded like trash in Havana's Carlos J. Finlay Park. Authorities have not commented on these thefts.
The ISDi's Facebook post about Lazo's visit sparked a wave of critical comments. One user expressed, "It's good for students and professors to have a new place, but who is accountable for the loss of material goods from the other facility? Now, once again, the country has to invest and replace everything that was irresponsibly stolen."
Another commenter bluntly criticized the regime: "It's always the same. They can't maintain anything. They let buildings fall apart and then use state funds for a new one."
Nostalgia also surfaced among those who knew the original building. "That place had a magic from the moment you walked in, a special touch, a history that can never be felt again," lamented one commentator. Another summed up the collective sentiment: "It's a shame we couldn't preserve the historic value of the previous building, and now it's nothing but rubble and trash."
Founded in 1984 and part of the University of Havana, the ISDi offers programs in Industrial Design and Visual Communication Design. The historic headquarters underwent restoration between 2005 and 2007, but under the regime's management, deterioration was inevitable. Now, the regime showcases the construction of a new facility as an achievement, with no accountability for the lost heritage or stolen assets.
Key Concerns about the New ISDi Headquarters
Why is there criticism surrounding the new ISDi headquarters?
Criticism arises due to the regime's neglect leading to the collapse of the original building, along with the lack of accountability for the loss of assets and heritage.
What happened to the original ISDi building?
The original building suffered a series of collapses, leading to its demolition. It was left in ruins and subjected to looting, with no official response from authorities on the thefts.