Situated near downtown San Jose is the Escuelas Graduadas (Graduate School), also known as the “Metal Building.” The building is covered in molded metal plates, hence the nickname.
Segments of the school were constructed in Belgium and France and shipped to Puerto Limón in Costa Rica. In 1893 the building began to be assembled in San Jose and it took three years to complete its assembly. As you can see, it is an attractive structure. In 1896 it opened as St. Joseph’s Graduate School, an elementary school for girls and boys.
The structure continues as a middle school to this day. It underwent an extensive renovation about two decades ago, including a change in its color from yellow to purple. The school has become a popular spot for tourists to stop at and see the facade. Exploring its interior is generally not possible because of ongoing studies and the fact that it is locked after usual school hours.
Be sure to look around the Parque Espana, right across from the Metal School, where all these photos were snapped.
