Nicolás Arroyo

Nicolás Arroyo was an architect before he became an ambassador. He graduated from the University of Havana in 1941 and formed a practice with his wife, Gabriela Menéndez. Their work included collaboration with Welton Becket’s firm on the Havana Hilton, opened in 1958. As minister of public works under Fulgencio Batista, Arroyo also worked on development projects before taking the Washington post. ^{1, 2}

In an April 1958 conversation with American officials, Arroyo described his earlier consultations with the Army Map Service and progress on aerial mapping of Cuba. He argued that the surveys would assist mineral and petroleum development and land tax collection. At the same meeting he defended the government’s plans for elections, while American officials emphasized widespread doubts about their credibility. ³

His December 1958 reporting remained optimistic about Batista’s position and Cuba’s ability to meet its sugar export commitments. He relayed General Eulogio Cantillo’s confidence that the army could defeat an attack on Santiago. ⁴

After the revolution, Arroyo settled in Washington and established an architectural practice handling residential and commercial projects. He served on the United States Commission of Fine Arts from 1971 to 1976. The University of Miami preserves photographs, sketches, and designs from his architectural partnership with Menéndez. ^{1, 5}