360º aerial view with drone. The Plaza de Francia was erected between 1921 and 1922 during the presidency of Belisario Porras in what until then was the parade ground of the Chiriqui Barracks to commemorate the French canal enterprise led by Ferdinand de Lesseps and in honor of the French Republic. The architect in charge of this project was Leonardo Villanueva Meyer. Previously known as Lesseps Square, by Law 48 of November 24, 1928 the square was renamed Roosevelt Square and the construction of a statue in honor of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was ordered.